Return of the Raku Fish – Hooray!
We are so happy to once again offer the fabulous hanging raku fish! As some of you may know, the artist responsible for the fish, Risk Ellsworth, has retired (boo!). But Mr. Ellsworth has trained a new artist in his technique for making the fish (hooray!). The new artist is Madd Mud Pottery. Isn’t that a perfect name for the maker of these kooky fish?
We’ve been quite sad while these fish have been missing from the store, as they have such personality and quirkiness. Each fish has a different expression on its face, and it’s always a joy to uncover each one as we pull it out of its shipping box. We usually try to match each fish with one of our relatives. (“Oh, this one looks just like so-and-so!” Um, please don’t tell so-and-so I said that.)
If you’ve missed out on getting a fish that looks just like one of your relatives, or if you just want to put a smile on your face, please come on down to the store. I’m sure we have a fish for you!
Live Music on Thursday Evenings
If you enjoy the classic hits that Hank and Paul play for us at Brooke Pottery during First Friday, then you’ll be pleased to know that Hank will join us for Thursdays on Kentucky. Brooke Pottery is now open late every Thursday 6-9 pm. Come by after work and shop to the pleasant melodies of Hank’s guitar solos. As always, we offer helpful gift ideas and free gift wrapping.
Our month-long August clearance ends this week. It’s the last chance to save 50% on selected jewelry, pottery, glassware, pewter table accessories, garden stakes,wine racks, candles and wood dancers. Wanna get the scoop on future sales? Sign up for our e-newsletter to get news and seasonal coupons by e-mail.
Brooke Pottery is now open late on Thursdays
Brooke Pottery will be staying open until 9 pm every Thursday night to better serve our customers and give them a fun shopping opportunity. Several businesses in the North Kentucky Avenue area will be staying open late every Thursday (hence, “Thursdays on Kentucky”), including the Black Swan Bazaar, Reflections of the Past, and Bay Street Bistro (with a five-course wine pairing menu!). Other stores will be joining us as the year progresses. We hope you’ll come down and join us.
The Cats are Back! New arrivals from Dewey Studios
Raku cats by Mary Gates Dewey are back in the shop and they are as rascally and humorous as ever! When a shipment from Dewey Studios arrives, we rush to open the box. What will the cats be up to this time?! Mary’s highly collectible raku cat sculptures capture the grace and impishness witnessed in the daily feats and follies of her feline friends. Click here to browse or shop for Dewey cats.
Mary Gates Dewey’s stylized cat sculptures are handmade of clay. The color and patterns are produced by an ancient method of firing called raku sawdust or “pit” firing. Once the piece has been bisque fired in a kiln, it is buried in sawdust and the sawdust is burned. The smoke from the sawdust produces permanent colors in the clay at random.
About the artist:
Mary Gates Dewey was born in South Florida, attended the Cleveland Institute of Art, and studied ceramics at the University of Alabama. She moved to the Appalachian foothills in the 1970′s, building a house and studio in the midst of the woods. Mary Gates Dewey created her first raku cat in 1982, and today only cats are produced in her studio.
It is tradition among potters that a new kiln have a kiln god made of clay to ensure successful firings. On the day of the firing of Mary’s new kiln, a cat came marching through the woods. Kaygee, short for “kiln god”, presided over that first firing and dedicated his life thereafter to inspiring Mary’s cat designs. Mary now lives and works in southeastern Ohio, continuing to find peace and inspiration in the woodlands. For decades, her Raku Cats have delighted and enchanted animal lovers around the world.
Now Shop Online for Allan Ditton Pottery
Now you can shop for Allan Ditton’s high-fire stoneware online at brookepottery.com. Each week we add new products to our online shop with the hope of providing out-of-town customers with better access to their favorite American Craft Artists. Not familiar with Allan Ditton’s work? Have fun browsing. Allan’s high-fire stoneware is characterized by rich textures of overlapping lines and concentric spirals beneath vibrant crackle glazes of cobalt blue, celedon green, soft red and earthy black. 
The matte textured terra cotta on rims and tops of pots is actually a watertight and food-safe glaze. The pottery is safe for the dishwasher, microwave (mugs and bowls) and oven. Simply start in a cold oven and bring the baking dish up to temperature. Allan Ditton Pottery is handmade in upstate New York.
Big Sale Tonight – Rain or Shine!
Are you ready for the big sale? Don’t miss Brooke Pottery’s 50% Off Sidewalk Sale this evening 6-8:30 pm during First Friday. Selected pottery, jewelry, glassware, garden art and housewares are marked and ready to go! If it rains, we’ll simply move the Sidewalk Sale indoors. Shop early for the best selection and please note that Brooke Pottery will close at 8:30 in time for everyone to enjoy the fireworks at 9pm.
To coincide with Independence Day, we are excited to announce that we are extending our 5% discount program, which we currently provide to teachers, to members of the military. All members of the military, including veterans, are all eligible for this discount. To sign up, just ask any of our associates during your next visit to the store. We thank you all for your brave service to our country.
Brooke Pottery will be closed on Monday, July 4, and reopen Tuesday at 9 am. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!
First Friday June 3-Bicycle Night Downtown
The shop will be open late 6-9 pm on First Friday June 3. This month’s theme is Bicycle Night, so ride your bike to Downtown Lakeland and enjoy the fun family atmosphere of First Friday. Learn about biking trails throughout the city and efforts to increase bike racks in Downtown. Plus, there will be trick bike demos on Kentucky Avenue!
These photos were taken at last year's event by Tammy Wright aka the Lakeland Pedaller. Check the Lakeland Pedaller column on the Lakeland Local blog to find out more about biking in Lakeland.
We have lots of new work by American potters to share this month. New arrivals include Popcorn Studios, Dock 6, Kent Follette, Wellman and Welsch, and San Antonio. Now is a great time to add to your collection of these potters while we have a great selection of their work. Plus, we are introducing a new potter, Palms Up Pottery from New Smyrna Beach. Stop in Brooke Pottery 6-9 pm on First Friday and enjoy a taste of wine & cheese or juice & cookies while you shop.
Last Call for Raku Fish Ornaments
June 3 Update: That’s it for the Raku Fish. They have all found good homes!
It nearly breaks our hearts to announce that the Ellsworth Raku Fish is an endangered species. Rick Ellsworth and Paula Kenworthy of Mountain River Arts recently announced their retirement, and Brooke Pottery was lucky enough to get some of their very last Raku Fish hanging ornaments. 
Brooke Pottery has carried these wonderful, whimsical clay creations since Gloria Brooke started the shop in 1988. Gloria met the Ellsworths at an art show in Washington State, and the Raku Fish have been offered at Brooke Pottery ever since. Whether slim or round, with puckered lips or wide-mouth grins, the hanging clay ornaments have been a tremendous hit with customers over the years. Orca whales and puffin birds in a similar style debuted in the 2000′s but the original Raku Fish is the most beloved.
History of the Raku Fish from an article by Stephen Reed published in The Ledger, May 1991:
The fish are a strange success story for the Ellsworths, who have built a business around them. In 1975, Sharon and Rick Ellsworth were making more serious pottery when, during a late-night rush to meed a production deadline, they got a little giddy.
“We were just being silly one night,” Sharon Ellsworth said. “We just started playing around, not with the purpose of making anything.” From a glob of clay on the potter’s wheel, “someone pinched a face. And somebody else added eyeballs. All of a sudden, we had this stupid little face.” Fins were added and a booming business was….hatched.
The raku fish are formed on a potter’s wheel from soft white clay, starting with a small vase-like structure. Their characteristic grins and puts are shaped with a pinch of the fingers. Small, rolled eyes and clay-slab fins are added. After an initial firing in an electric kiln and the addition of some bright spots of yellow, green, blue or red glaze, the fish are fired in an outdoor gas kiln at 2,000 degrees. They are removed from the kiln with tongs and settled on a bed of dried oats, which smolder to give the creatures a smudged appearance.
The process takes about two weeks, and each handmade fish is one of a kind. While Rick and Paula hope to find another artist to carry on the Ellsworth Raku Fish designs, we certainly will miss their indelible mark on these special clay ornaments. Their Raku Fish have brought amusement and joy to hundreds of people around the world, including many Lakeland residents and visitors. Thank you for sharing your talents with us over the past twenty-three years!
New Pottery by David Voll
We are delighted to welcome new work by New Jersey potter David Voll. For a lighter step this spring, we ordered stoneware bowls, pictures and vases in Voll’s gorgeous yellow ash and moss green glazes. Completely made by hand, each piece is wheel thrown, hand shaped or carved with details, glazed and then fired to over 2200 degrees. David Voll’s pottery is safe for use in the oven, microwave and dishwasher.
Left: Pierced Rim Bowl in Moss Green, 11″ diameter, $213.
David Voll established his pottery studio at Batsto Village in southern New Jersey in 1976. Located within Wharton State Forest, Batsto Village is a historic community that has been preserved as a state park to exemplify early American history. The original Batsto community formed around an ironworks in the 1760′s, transformed into a window glassblowing community in the mid 1800′s, and then became a source of forestry and agricultural industry in the 1900′s.
Left: Tulip Vases in Moss Green, Small $70 and Large $95.
That history strongly intertwines with Voll’s pottery. David built his first kiln at Batsto from bricks salvaged from the abandoned Winslow brick works and spent a career working with local clays and developing glazes from local bog iron. David and his wife Lorraine, a weaver, lived and worked at Batsto Village park for over 20 years. In 1999, Voll moved his studio to Port Republic, NJ, where he can be found “practicing traditional techniques, balancing creativity and craftsmanship and trying to run a successful studio at the same time.” Bravo!
Left: 11″ oval shaped Waverly Bowl, $213.
David Voll’s serving bowls strike an elegant balance between strong lines and graceful curves.Five Sided 10″ Serving Bowl in Moss,$113. Square 5″ Salad/Soup Bowl, $30. Small 4″ Square Dip/Dessert Bowl, $20.
Shop for David Voll Pottery now……
The Old World Charm of Cornwall Bridge Pottery
We are excited to share new work by Cornwall Bridge Pottery from Connecticut. With over 35 years of experience throwing clay, Cornwall Bridge has developed a wonderful assortment of tableware, baking dishes, lamps and garden pots. The pottery is also a haven for visiting artists, fostering a community love for clay. Cornwall Bridge Pottery’s unique 35 foot long woodfired tube kiln is based on a design used in 10th century China. Founder Todd Spiker believes that “the potter’s challenge is to use nature’s palette — air, earth, water and fire — to create settings for domestic treasures, whether cooked, gathered or arranged that are as timeless as they are beautiful.” Hold a mug or casserole by Cornwall Bridge and you will feel what he means – it exudes an unmatched old world charm. Come see Brooke Pottery’s new selection of Cornwall Bridge Pottery, including the beautiful blue bird pattern shown below.
Woven Stoneware Fruit and Bread Baskets Are Classic Gifts
Our top-selling woven stoneware fruit bowls and bread baskets are back in stock! The oval bread baskets, french loaf baskets, butter scooters, handled oval trays and round fruit bowls are available in 16 colors to match any decor. Handmade in the USA for over 30 years, these versatile ceramic bowls are a classic blend of artisan craftsmanship and usefulness. To keep bread or dinner rolls warm on the table in the heat-retaining stoneware basket, simply heat the basket while you are warming or baking breads. Or choose the round bowl for a stylish fruit container. Paired with a matching butter scooter, the white bread basket is one of our most popular wedding gifts. And the heart-shaped baskets make special gifts for both moms and grandmothers. Easy care, oven and dishwasher safe.
New Pottery by Gene Gandee
The Artful Living show on First Friday was fantastic! Thanks to all of the artists who participated and to everyone who came out to show appreciation for local art. If you missed Florida potter Gene Gandee at the show, stop by Brooke Pottery to see a new selection of his work. We have a variety of serving pieces – pitchers, vases, napkin holders, spoon rests, berry bowls, mugs and chip & dip platters – in beautiful colors, including the new glazes sand and forest green.
Small chip and dip platters are the perfect gift size
New Pottery by Gene Gandee
Clay and Glass Fusion: Pottery by Kerry Brooks
Fused Glass and Pottery Bowl
Blue Plate and Serving Bowls
