"LIfe of An Architect" shares his thoughts on Franciscan Ware... Enjoy!

"What I have is Franciscan Ware, or Franciscan Pottery as it was first named in 1934. It was manufactured by Gladding-McBean and Company of Glendale, California and they literally made thousands of patterns. The most popular now is probably the “Starburst” pattern they made between 1954 and 1957. If 1950′s modernism is something that you have even a remote interest in, you have either heard of or seen this pattern before."

Read the full article  here.

He's got some really nice photographs.  Here's a sample.  See them all at his blog.

We are envious!

What is that garage sale item worth anyway...?

Handy pointers if you're putting on a Garage Sale -- or going to one!  

Some excerpts:

"1.   Avoid the "it's old" trap. Just because something is old does not mean it is valuable. (This is especially true in the clothes department.) Old is not automatically vintage nor antique. Something is not technically an antique unless it dates over 100 years ago. It may be vintage if it is from a certain generation and regarded as "collectible." Familiarize yourself with some tell tale signs of age, such as marks, imprints, zip codes, and the like."

...

Five more helpful hints. 

Remember that value is always in the eye of the beholder. And fair market value is what "a ready, willing and able buyer is willing to pay." Sure as shooting, the quarter items tend to march out the door faster the $5.00 ones. On the other hand, the Franciscan pottery marked at $5.00 is going to leave in a hurry as well.  

Article by Lisa Payne in the Kansas CIty Examiner. Read the whole article here.

Fundamentals of Pottery in Tulsa

 C.J. "Jeff" Wells teaches aspiring ceramic artists the joys of working with clay.

"We opened up about seven years ago as a teaching studio rather than just as a production studio," said Jeff.  "In fact the class here right now is a TCC class, the students come over here to take the class."

Check it out if you're in the area...

Tulsa's 3rd Street Clayworks Makes Pottery And Ceramic Artists As Well

Franciscan aAt your service service

Savvy 'Franciscan Ware' buyers

"Chris and Rose Burke are buying Desert Rose Franciscan Ware. 'Look at the mark on the bottom,' Chris Burke says. His interest in the dinnerware began when his mother gave him her set. 'The value of all this is probably $350,' he says. They are paying substantially less."

So much stuff! So much stuff! Home sales are the ticket

By 

Mary Kunz Goldman 

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

Franciscan Pottery

Savvy Franciscan Ware buyers...

"Chris and Rose Burke are buying Desert Rose Franciscan Ware. 'Look at the mark on the bottom,' Chris Burke says. His interest in the dinnerware began when his mother gave him her set. 'The value of all this is probably $350,' he says. They are paying substantially less."

So much stuff! So much stuff! Home sales are the ticket

By Mary Kunz Goldman NEWS STAFF REPORTER

Arts Gala, Pottery Festival kick off autumn activities

Franciscan Pottery is happy to promote 

The Richmond (Ky.) Area Arts Council will get things going on Friday with its 20th annual Arts Gala at the home of Marilyn and Ralph Hacker, beginning at 5 p.m. It will be highlighted by a 6:30 p.m. dinner show with the Cool Waters cowboy band. For tickets, visit  www.artsinrichmond.org or call 624-4242.

On Saturday and Sunday, the sixth annual Great American Pottery Festival with eight potters demonstrating their craft will take place in Richmond’s Irvine McDowell Park. More than 40 arts and crafts vendors will have their wares for purchase. 

Full article (and more upcoming Richmond events) By Bill Robinson, Senior News Writer:  Arts Gala, Pottery Festival