Plates 911!

I got the call.  She was breathless and animated with a sense of worry and despair..."We need plates!" she shrieked. "We're serving a 10 course New Year's Eve meal and we need to warm all plates prior to serving and we're low on the dinner plates!".  I told her to calm down..help was on the way..

As you may know, I have been creating all of the tableware for the fabulous Station 1 restaurant in Woodside. As they get busier and busier and have some plate casualties- as you can imagine in a restaurant setting when the kitchen starts to resemble a scene from a battlefield, the call is on for more plates.
And with a New Year's special celebration, and a very carefully curated meal, there is no fooling around.
Fortunately, I was well into making them some additional dinner plates and was able to quickly glaze and pop them into the kiln in time for a New Year's Eve early am pick up--just in time and hot out of the fire.

A few years ago I was fortunate enough to have a lovely correspondence with Alice Waters. She confided in her very gracious notes to me that she always fantasized about having a potter living behind the restaurant who could churn out the tableware that they would use nightly- handmade, finely crafted, locally sourced- to match the sensibility of the food and culture she was creating at Chez Panisse.
I will have to float this idea by Zu and Kristi- the lovely owners of Station 1--perhaps there is a spot for me behind the old fire house.....

Again..a joyous New Year to all and here's to answering the ceramicist's call of duty!

And a happy new year to all...

Here's to the best for all in 2012 in every way.. 
Happy happy new year...fly free and enjoy peace.

More curios for the end of the year at Silver Oak..

Just in time for the holiday and new year, newly delivered plates commissioned by Silver Oak Vineyards up in Napa..as I mentioned in a previous post..love the idea of creating these high end mementos for folks to collect when they visit the truly lovely Silver Oak. 

 A fine outing it is to the historic vines and stone buildings. I highly recommend a visit if you're in the area...

Giving thanks and giving back 2011...

As I mentioned this time last year, I am a firm believer in giving back in whatever way you can. It does not mean that you must wait until you have amassed "wealth" to give, it means that you give back in whatever way you can. It may mean volunteering locally, or helping your neighbors, or anything that gives you a sense of your place in the world and the larger community you may reside in- physically or emotionally. It has been an interesting year of burgeoning movements and political awareness around the inequity that exists in our affluent american culture. For those of us spending our time working hard to create, to raise children, to maintain sanity (!), take a moment to consider what else we can do.
I choose to at years end give what I can, to targeted groups that have some meaning for me and my family. Now mind you, my donations will not enable a new wing to be built or massive change, but I believe even the smallest donation makes a difference. And again, it keeps you in shape for future giving and volunteering.


This year, I am donating to the following groups: 


Meritus College Fund: Meritus College Fund invests in socio-economically disadvantaged, yet high-potential, San Francisco public high school students by providing four-year scholarships and individualized support to help them realize their potential through a college degree.


National Public Radio: I go to school on NPR daily. It provides an important voice and perspective and it is free. It's important to support our local stations or radio will go the way of the post office. 

Grass Roots Soccer: Grassroots Soccer uses the power of soccer to educate, inspire, and mobilize communities to stop the spread of HIV.

San Francisco Food Bank: Hit with historic high need this year- local food banks need our support more than ever.

Black Star Development: A real grass roots organization started by kids right out of college, Black Star Development aims to design, organize and implement specialized development projects in small communities in Ghana. Love supporting social entrepreneurship.