Blog
Take a look into my studio days, with my latest musings on making pottery, and my life as a potter.
23rd Annual Holiday Open Studio and Seconds Sale
The holiday season is fast approaching, and I am thrilled to invite you to the 23rd Annual Holiday Open Studio and Seconds Sale at Lucy Fagella Pottery! Mark your calendar for a special two-day event on December 14th and 15th, where my studio doors will open to the community for a celebration of handmade pottery, unique gifts, and artistic inspiration.
You’re a Potter and Your Back Hurts
The wheel spins, and I feel the familiar tension in my lower back, but as the day goes on it becomes pain. The physicality of pottery takes its toll, day after day, year after year.
Handmade Hardwood Pottery Tools
When I teach a workshop I bring my pottery tools with me. Students kept asking me if I would sell the wooden tools that I make. So a few years ago I made a few to sell at my workshops. I then decided to make enough for my website shop page ... they always sell pretty quickly.
Zoom Workshop, Making and Fitting Lids on the Potters Wheel.
I hope you can join me at Pocosin Arts, School of Fine Craft. where I will be giving a Zoom workshop on Lidded forms. August 17th from 10am - 12:30 pm.
20th Annual Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail
Join me at my Greenfield, MA studio for our annual event which brings together nationally known potters and pottery lovers from all around to celebrate the beauty and craftsmanship of handmade pottery. This year the trail will take place on April 27th and 28th, 10-5 both days.
Free Shipping, is it Really Free?
Thanks to Amazon and Etsy many consumers now expect free shipping when making online purchases. This is a tough one for small businesses and craftspeople like myself. Shipping prices and shipping supplies have gone up, just like everything else the past few years, and it needs to be paid at one end of the transaction.
22nd Annual Holiday Open Studio and Seconds Sale
There will be a new line of work this season. I've been happily working in a brown stoneware clay and applying a slip decoration over the clay. The slip is made from clay that I dug from the riverbank in my backyard.
Lucy’s Interview on Tales of a Red Clay Rambler
I recently had the privilege of being interviewed on the renowned podcast, Tales of a Red Clay Rambler. I have been an admirer of Ben Carter and his long standing podcast about ceramics for years.
20 Reasons a Handmade Pottery Mug Costs more than a Mug from a Big Box Store
When a non-potter sees a potter making a mug at the wheel they usually say, you made that so quick. My response… this is only one tiny step in the whole process. This part appears to be quick because I have been practicing my craft for over 35 years.
Getting Ready for Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail
The annual Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail is a tour of eight studios with 20+ nationally recognized potters.
Online Pottery Shopping and the Scarcity Mindset
I quietly filled my online shop today with this and lots of other goodies. I say quietly because I’m not a big fan of the scarcity mindset… the big buildup to the “online shop update”, where people have to make an instant decision and click the add to cart button before someone else does. I personally like to have a little bit more time to think about my purchase.
Holiday Open Studio and Sale 2022
Time once again to open my studio to the public for my 21st Annual Holiday Sale! Join me at my studio in Greenfield, MA. Come and find your perfect, handmade gift! The shelves will be stocked with lots of pottery. Red tag discontinued/seconds will be available.
Online Shop Update
I am updating my website shop page with over 50 items this Sunday August 28th at Noon EDT! There will also be new urns in my LuciaUrns.com website too!
Learn about Lucy Fagella on The Maker’s Playbook Podcast
I was happy to sit down recently with Rebecca Ickes Carra from The Maker’s Playbook Podcast. We had an in depth conversation about making a living as a full time potter. We cover everything from parenting to the impact that pottery making has on the environment.
What you Will Find on the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail this Weekend
The 18th Annual Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail is this weekend April 30th and May 1st in person!
I am located in Greenfield on the northern section of the Trail. Be sure to visit me and my guest potters Cara Taylor and Noel Bailey.
Making for the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail
The Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail is coming right up on April 30th-May 1st, 2022. The Trail is a self guided tour of 8 pottery studios in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. It’s a two hour drive from Boston and two and a half hour drive from the New York metro area.
Pottery Instructional Video Series!
I make pottery instructional videos because I want to see the long honored craft of pottery continue. I know that not everyone has access to pottery classes where they live, and not everyone can afford to, or may not want go to college for an art degree like I did.
Butter Keeper or Butter Dish
What’s the difference between a butter dish and a butter keeper? I get asked this question so often.
Also who says a butter dish has to be long and narrow to fit a stick of butter?
My Homemade Spray Booth
Typically I dip my finished pottery into a large bucket of glaze that I’ve made. When I want some special effects I spray glazes. The only problem with spraying glazes is that the glaze particles get in the air, and your lungs… not a good thing.
Holiday Open Studio, One More Weekend
My pottery has been going to lots of new homes the past two weekends for my open studio days. It was about time I kept one for my own kitchen! Sometimes you just have to keep a a special one for yourself..