Handmade Tile Association
December 2006 Newsletter

2007 Directory Preview
New Tile Book from Lark
Fine Home Building Magazine Kitchens & Baths Annual Issue
National tile directory?
Ripple River Show
Next meeting

Side bar - Holiday Shows by members

2007 Directory Preview
The HTA directory has grown four pages this year to a final size of 36 pages!  We have many new artists and advertisers as part of the 2007 directory as well as two excellent articles submitted by the Tile Heritage Foundation.   Twelve members came to proof the directory and vote on the cover and board members. All five board members were re-elected to another one year term. The cover image was taken by Judy Sell of tiles at The Great Hall of Cafe Braure a historical Chicago landmark. Sorry no sneak peaks on the image you will have to see it when it gets printed.
Every year I look forward to putting together the directories to see what new work people will submit and get a feel of where we are headed as an organization.  My general overview at this point is that we are expanding our Minneapolis and St. Paul borders.  We have always had members from all across Minnesota, Wisconsin and a couple in Iowa but this year the Duluth area has become more prominent in both artists and advertisers.  This is definitely attributed to the national tile conference having a major component in the Duluth and Superior area.  One of the keys will be to see if these new groups and old for that matter feel like they are getting response from the directory to keep them coming back year to year.  We thank all of you that have participated in the 2007 directory and we look forward to a great year ahead.  

New Tile Book from Lark. Submissions Sought

Lark Books is taking submissions for an upcoming book, "500 Tiles," that will focus on ceramic tiles and mosaics. The deadline is February 1st, 2007 and there is no entry fee. Angelica Pozo will serve as juror.

For more information: http://www.larkbooks.com/submissions/ArtistsEntryForms.asp

Fine Home Building Magazine Kitchens & Baths Annual Issue

Call for Entries
It's a year away, but we're already scouting for next year's issue of Kitchens & Baths. We're interested in brand-new or remodeled projects of every style from all over the country. And we're not looking for just big, expensive kitchens and baths (well-designed projects that are done on a tight budget are dear to our hearts). But big or small, expensive or thrifty, they must be well thought out and beautifully crafted.

Don't worry about professional photos. Right now, we just need decent printed color photographs and a brief cover letter explaining which aspects of your project might prove interesting to our readers.

Entries deadline: February 16, 2007

Please send your projects along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:
Kitchens & Baths, Fine Homebuilding, 63 S. Main St., PO Box 5506,
Newtown, CT 06470-5506

Advice on How to Submit
We get a lot of submissions for our Kitchens & Baths issue, and we study every one of them. But some submissions are much easier to evaluate than others, and thereby gain an edge. Here's what you can do to ensure that your entry gets the most editor eyeball time. If you're sending multiple projects, do this for each one.

1. Put the materials in an 8-1/2-in. x 11-in. folder.

2. Include a typed cover letter that describes the project, and what our readers can learn from it that they can apply to their own situations.

3. Send a simple floor plan of the project, and label the parts that are most important to the story.

4. Make photos as large as possible. One big photo per page is best, and no more than two or three per page.

5. If you're submitting a remodel project and you've got "before" photos, include copies of them as well.

6. Please don't send photos by email. They quickly clog the system.

7. If the project contains a particular material, structural or design detail that you think might be right for one of our Feedback features, please note them in your submission.

Following these guidelines doesn't guarantee getting into the next issue of Kitchens & Baths, but it will improve the odds. Thanks for taking the time to read this and for considering Fine Homebuilding as a worthy forum for presenting your work.

National tile directory?
During this tile conference and many years before national artists and organizations have expressed interest in either participating in the HTA directory or creating their own directory in their respective area.  This has been a major quandary to try to resolve over the years for the HTA.  One of the issues in the handmade tile landscape is there is not really a national tile directory or even regional directories outside the Midwest to speak of that deal with handmade tile issues, event listings, workshop opportunities, tile business issues, installation issues, and promotion.  There are many great groups in the country that are promoting tiles like the Tile Heritage Foundation, Friends of Terra Cotta, and SAMA but when tile artists try to find information on tile events it takes a lot of hop scotching around to get info.  There is no one central organization that has all the basic information on artisan tile.  Ceramics Monthly, Clay Times, and others really cover pottery and have tiles incorporated but we can never be sure as organizations that they will write about our events or issues and even if they do cover it with calendar listings or a bio it does not talk about the tile community as a whole.  Web sites have been very helpful both to the consumers and to the artists but as time goes on those who have money or are computer savvy will rise to the top and other excellent artists and information is hard to find once again.  The HTA would be considered by some uniquely positioned to start the process of creating a national directory because it has figured out many of the printing issues and has a structure to work with.  Bigger issues like distribution, participation, and costs would be the biggest challenges to overcome.    

Over the next couple of years and starting this year the HTA is going to try to fill the void of some of the most pressing issues by creating calendars of events and asking organizations, artists, and tile companies to be more active in the development of larger handmade tile issues.  A national tile directory will not take off over night but if we all start working toward a common goal of quality tile information and resources a directory like the HTA’s can have more impact and influence on tile issues than we currently have. To accomplish this goal we will need to ask tile artists and groups from outside the Upper Midwest to help us by submitting events, articles, history, tile installation guides, collecting questions, gallery guides, book opportunities, travel, workshops, tile business, marketing,  advertising and sponsorship on a regular basis. The HTA will continue to interview and upgrade its services to accommodate new information.  We hope that we find receptive audiences for this concept. It would be a very positive development if the tile community had a common voice and promotion tool that could really help develop a pool of quality tile artists, tile setters, historical information, and resources that could be easily accessible and highly useful to both artists and consumers.  Please contact the HTA if you are interested in a concept like this and we will document your interest and keep you informed of progress.

Ripple River Show
Karin Kraemer will be bringing their work that didn't sell at the Ripple River gallery to our next meeting, and if they need it sooner, they should let me know.  She can ship it at their cost, if necessary.  Thanks!
Karin Kraemer
Duluth Pottery, Superior Division
916 Hammond Ave.
Superior, WI 54880
715-399-0921

Next Handmade Tile Association Meeting

When - January 17th
Time: 6pm
Where - Continental Clay
1101 Stinson Blvd
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413
Phone: 612-331-9326

Agenda
The 2007 Directory will be available
Tour of behinds the scenes of Continental Clay
Minneapolis Tile Festival Applications available
ABC Accounting presentation on accounting needs and questions artist have on accounting
Marketing committee set up for the MN tile Festival

Pot Luck

Holiday Sales
Here is a list of where many of the HTA members will be showing.

4th Annual Christmas Boutique at Blackberry Hills
The Christmas Boutique is in conjunction with "Holiday on 87". Polk County, WI
www.blackberryhills.com

December 9th and 10th, 2006
10 am-5 pm
Jerry and Loretta Pedersen
Stone Hollow Tile is offering as a special Holiday Thank you
to her customers 10% off all purchases.

2150 - 220th Street
St. Croix Falls, WI 54024
715-483-9434
www.blackberrvhills.com

Located in the scenic St. Croix Valley. We are just over an hour out of the twin cities. Directions from St. Croix Falls: Go north on Highway 87 eight miles to 215th Avenue (just past Eureka Center). Take a right (east) and go two miles. Our drive is a sharp turn to the right (south) as the road turns sharply to the left. You can not see the house from the road. Watch for signs!

Last Minute Holiday Sale at SoMi Tileworks
Friday December 8th 10 -6 and Saturday December 9th 10 - 4
Live music and good food
3920 Nicollet Ave. S., #400 · Minneapolis, MN 55409 · 612.824.7604
www.somitileworks.com

4th Annual Handmade in Minnesota Ornament Show

November 9th - December 31st

Monday -Saturday    11am - 5pm

Customer Appreciation Days
December 9th 11 - 5 10% off your entire purchase
www.claysquared.com

One of a kind ornaments by over 30 local artists and HTA members Sharra Frank, Jane Swan, Sheryl Tuorila, Michelle Rock, Linda Mix, SoMi, FK Art Glass, and Lakota Tile creating their unique vision of the holiday ornaments in ceramic, polymer, glass, fiber, mosaic and paper.  Many of these miniature artworks can be displayed year round.  There is something for everyone in this show.

First Thursdays in the Arts District

december 7 , 2006, 5:00-9:00 PM

First Thursday
Join us for First Thursdays in the Arts District as a multitude of tile artists, painters, sculptors, printmakers, photographers, ceramists, textile and fiber artists, jewelers, furniture showrooms and more open their studios at the Northrup King Building located in the heart of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. Come see Sheryl Tuorila, Sharra Frank, and Lucy Grantz.
www.northrupkingbuilding.com

Holiday Shopping at the Northrup King Building

December 2nd, 9th and 16th -- Noon - 5:00 PM

North End Arts and Red Mug Espresso Gallery  Broadway and Hammond
"NOT SLATED FOR DEMOLITION" annual exhibit by the artists that work in the old city Hall of Superior,  open Monday through Saturdays.
December 9

Exhibition kicks off with a reception from 6pm - 8pm, followed by music with blues by Azure d'Jour
Open Studios with Karin Kraemer and Duluth Pottery, Superior Division
Dan Edmunds Pottery/ kiln opening
Richard Gruchalla and Carrin Rosetti, Raku Pottery Erik Pearson Painting studio Erika Mock Fiber Studio

OPEN STUDIOS SALE  ALSO SUNDAY, DEC. 10 - 15 2PM - 6PM.