First up will be the Oregon Potters Association’s Ceramic Showcase– with over 220 potters you’re sure to find something you love.  As usual we’ll be over at the Oregon Convention Center with the Gathering of the Guilds on Friday the 24th – Sunday the 26th. I’ll be sharing booth #29 with my inspiring studiomate Sarah Chenoweth Davis. That’s in the first row of booths to your right as you enter the ceramics show area. Look for all our bright and cheerful colors and patterns. As always: FREE entry, demos, kids clay area and more!

The very next weekend I’ll be back at the Convention Center for my first foray of Crafty Wonderland’s Spring Art + Craft Market! This will be an extra fabulous show, as they’re celebrating their 20th anniversary. Special giveaways and over 250 artists of all kinds will grace the hall bringing our very best to you. I’m excited to be participating and hope you’ll come support me. Tickets are required for timed entry but they’re only $4 on Saturday or $20 for first-pick Friday night. More details in the link above.

And last on my hat trick/trifecta of shows is the Spring Clayfolk Show at EdenVale Winery on Mother’s Day weekend. This year we’re pulling out all the stops for a two day show with over 50 booths of beautiful handmade ceramics. Make an easy day of it with your mom and stroll the show with wine in hand on the grounds and in the gardens of the historic Voorhies Mansion. I’m betting you’ll find her the perfect gift while giving her what she really wants- more time with you!

A teaser of some of the things I’ll have with me at the upcoming shows. I can’t wait to see you all!

Making new friends at the Anacortes Arts Festival in August, and my booth set up.

Firstly, I just want to thank everyone who supports me in any way, large or small. Sales are awesome, and I appreciate that extra boost, but so many support me in between, during, and after. I had a random buyer contact me recently who had purchased a mug from me this summer during my best show ever at the Anacortes Arts Festival just to let me know how happy it made her and that she just wanted me to know. That’s the little extra bit of “income” that makes me feel like my work matters – and who of us doesn’t want to feel that?! Other folks randomly bought something off of my website then wrote to tell me how much they love my products. It’s the combination of all of these things that make me feel so lucky to be able to be living my dream of being a maker. It’s what I envisioned for myself back in the 80’s taking my first ceramics class in college and dreaming up designs for teapots and cups. So THANK YOU each and every one of you for making my humble dreams come true. I could not be doing this without YOU.

Secondly, so much shifted this year- I created my final mosaic commission for Talent Maker City in Talent, OR along with community members’ help, sold off almost all of my mosaic making supplies, and focused in on my ceramics. I did my largest number of shows, markets, and pop-ups yet- from Medford in Southern Oregon up to Anacortes in Washington State. I joined up with some friends to start showing at The Memory Den‘s “Artist Alley” to allow me to have a local retail presence in Portland.

And I started showing and selling my things over on the coast in my first ceramics gallery, Mossy Creek Pottery outside Lincoln City, OR. Oh, and I moved house (I’ve got windows again!) plus got 3 new studios mates during all of it!

One of my 3 new roommates and his sweet ol’ dog Bailey

One of my 3 new studio mates, ceramic artist Sarah Chenoweth Davis, with Tess (who adores her)

So it’s no wonder I’m feeling a bit worn out and ready for a rest. Hopefully this slow time will allow me to assess and move forward towards an even better 2026. I’m still making almost daily in my Buckman studio to restock and get a head start on the new year. I’ll be applying to tons of shows, old and new (to me) and I really hope to see some of you there. Making connections during shows is one of the things I love the most. My work is meant to bring a little bit of joy into your everyday life. Whether with a fun cozy bowl for soup, a mug for your morning coffee, or a tiny animal sculpture to make you smile as you work away at your desk, it’s the human connections of handmade objects that make art and craft so important in our lives. I’ll keep creating with your support!

Have a Wonderful Holiday Season and fantastic New Year, and I’ll see you all soon I hope!

A full beautiful rainbow out our front window in the Overlook neighborhood after a recent storm. it was so much brighter and more vibrant in real life. Oh, and I love being able to see things out the window again!

Stay tuned for a “Fresh Loaf” in the New Year!

Bread and Butter Studios at Memory Den’s Artist Alley!

Next up on my roster of dates is the annual Oregon Potters Association (OPA) Ceramic Showcase at the Oregon Convention Center. This show is FREE and all are welcome. Happening April 25-27, I’ll be sharing a booth with Michaelyn Chess for her first show and we are so excited to see everyone and the many new things that are being created.

Then in May I’ll be traveling down to Southern Oregon to install my final community mosaic mural at Talent Maker City in my ol’ home town before heading over to Edenvale Winery for the Clayfolk Spring Show and Sale! A one day, outdoor, rain or shine extravaganza on May 15th of fine art, music, wine, and good times. I’ll be there with my wares from 10-5 and can’t wait to see all my old and new friends!

WIP Talent Maker City’s mosaic created with help from the 2024 summer school kids of Talent/Phoenix as well as community members in Portland!

First up is Ceramics Northwest, our own (temporary) shop in Pioneer Place Mall! This year is bigger and better with around 70 artists bringing you their seasonal best. Open Everyday 11-7 and staffed by REAL potters! Come support our wonderful organization – the Oregon Potters Association- and us. Free parking in the garages nearby on Sat/Sun. Note my turquoise cups and platter on the post below!

Next up is the Annual event of the year in Southern Oregon, Clayfolk Pottery Show and Sale in Medford! I’ll be there in the group booth this year – just to the right as you walk into the main gallery/show area. Booth (shelf) K. I always look forward to seeing my old friends, so come on over to the Medford Armory! Note my vase with tulips in the post below

The following weekend finds me back up in Portland for the Annual Holiday Sale at Portland Nursery(on Stark St.) with over 40 potters giving you all the handmade things! Come stick it to Jeff Bezos and help us celebrate an all handmade local small biz extravaganza!!

Lastly, I’ve applied to a Hannukah Craft Fair over at Leikam Brewing set for Dec. 8th from 1-6pm, but won’t know for a few days whether I’m in or not. Fingers crossed! But if no, still go see them and support the artists. There is enough to go around, and I will still have my work available through the Ceramics Northwest shop (above) until Dec. 24th for all you late shoppers. I see you!

Okay! Now that you have all the details, I hope to see you all soon!

I hope you will BEE happy to help and happy to have one of these cuties in your home, or to gift to a friend or Family member!

Back in 2022, I am in my studio continuing to slowly create some new things for the world and also seek out new avenues for getting my work out in Portland. Over the summer I decided to take on creating three giant mosaic concrete pots using the garden-planter shop right on the corner from my studio: Little-Baja. Little Baja has been selling garden pots and garden accessories for well over 30 years on the corner of SE Burnside and 15th St. in Portland – even longer than I’ve been doing mosaics! Now they will be acting as my outdoor “gallery” for mosaics on pots and perhaps more. Tell them I sent you.

If you have followed me on Facebook or Instagram you’ve likely seen these garden pieces in progress, but WoW do they shine in the outdoor light. Please take a look at your first chance and let me know what you think. The largest pot is 36” tall and decorated “in the round” with a contemporary red dogwood theme, one of my favorite Spring trees. The second largest pot is 24” tall and decorated “in the round” with yellow prairie coneflowers blowing in the wind. I definitely drew on my childhood memories with this one! I think I even sang a few bars of ”Oklahoma” while I was working! It took me back to the many summer walks we took out on the section line roads, picking wildflower bouquets for my mom and collecting the ”new” aluminum cans for pennies for our piggy banks. The smallest pot is 12” tall and decorated with my favorite flower, the daisy, in three tones of white with a bright green background. I will forever think of the movie Harold and Maude every time I see daisies in bloom. Beautiful simplicity.

These three differently styled pots will give folks a good idea of what I can do with ceramic tile, but I plan to do some smaller examples using marble, stone, and stained glass as well. So far I am sticking with flat-sided pots in order to allow the pieces to be larger, and the process to be simpler. Lifting and moving these heavy-walled pots has been incredibly challenging. Being able to lay them on their sides has been very helpful. I imagine these pots in your garden acting as focal points – adding a splash of color and interest even during times the plants themselves are dormant.

I also create and install mosaic designs for stair risers, concrete walls, patios, and other touches to enhance your environments. My fifteen years as a landscape gardener is passed, but the garden is still one of my favorite places to be. Adding art to your garden is one of my passions.

I am currently creating a table/stool made of styrofoam encased in fiberglass mesh and concrete of a similar style. It’s ready for it’s mosaic as soon as I decide on a design.

Additionally,I have nine small concrete pots I will be decorating with mosaic in the coming month, all in preparation for the Holiday season that always seems to take me by surprise. I hope you’ll keep me in mind as you plan your gifting. Although these pots are a bit heavy for mailing, I have a lot of beautiful things in my online shop. Welp, back to it!

Abstract Mosaics by Karen Rycheck

Mosaics: Driven to Abstraction will be taking place for the first time at the beautiful Sitka Center for Art and Ecology in Otis, Oregon. This PNW coastal location makes for an exciting and relaxing destination to learn, explore, and get your feet wet (and sandy) while learning some new ways to stretch yourself and your art-making. This two day course is created for all levels of students of mosaics, including those that are brand-new to the process. We will be using the principles of design, value, color, texture, and placement to create four little mosaics that’ll knock your socks off and keep you excited to explore more on your own.

I’ll be supplying lots of fun odds and ends tesserae from my studio, as well as less expected bits and bobs to get your brain swirling out its box. Expect to leave with new ideas, new ways of looking at old things, and a great new opening up of your mosaic world!

No experience is necessary – just a willingness to experiment and have a good time while communing with nature, art, and new friends! I have missed teaching so much – this will be so FUNNNNN!!!!!

You can sign up NOW over at the Sitka Center website and start planning your summer. I look forward to seeing some old friends, making new ones, and just having a great time.

xxoo Karen

I am so excited to be able to offer you locally made gifts for the holidays. I’ve been learning new things during this last year and am slowly incorporating new techniques and new ways of doing business. I hope to share more with you in the new year, but for now… here is my latest work for all of you.

The USPS claims it can still get packages there by Christmas if I get it in the mail by Dec. 18th- so you still have time to get your special one-of-a-kind gifts for friends and family.

Lots of new bowls, charcuterie boards, ornaments for your home as well as your tree, and new pots for your beloved plants or for forcing bulbs.