EDP: 2015

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Autumn/ Winter 2015 class schedule!

Nice Autumn weather make it easier to focus. Art Farm is a good place for kids and adults to be creative. The experience itself is priceless! We’ve planned some seasonal theme workshops, and trying a new technique class, and another ceramics and Japanese culture workshop. Please check them out! Do you have something else you would like to make? Our “One day handbuilding class” is open for you! No experience necessary!

One day group handbuilding classes

The holiday season is coming! You can make a one of a kind gift that you would never be able to buy in the store for somebody special, or use your very own tableware to prepare for the holiday dinner. You can decorate your house with an art piece you make. A great activity for family and friends. There is no theme, just bring your ideas!

Monday-Friday 9:30-11:30, 1:00- 3:00, 3:30-5:30

Saturday 1:00-3:00

Minimum 2 people, 6 people maximum $25 per person
2lbs of clay, glaze, firing fee included $10 for each additional 2 lbs of clay

Please send me (Momoko Cotter) an email to register including your name and two choices of what date and time you would like. I will let you know if your requested time is open or occupied, and get back to you as soon as possible with more information.

Handbuilding Workshop

October 10th ~ December 19th/ 2015

We also offer workshops! But don’t wait, the table is 6 people maximum!
Workshops will run if 2 or more people sign up. All classes are $25 person and include 2lbs of clay, glaze, and firing fee unless it’s listed. +$10 for additional 2 lbs of clay.

✿ Ceramic Jack-O-Lantern

Let’s make funny scary special Jack-O-Lantern, and get ready for Halloween! Strong for a candle, and doesn’t get smelly. You need to show this every year!

Saturday, Oct. 10th
9:30-11:30

✿ Tree Face

We will make face fixture for your tree to invite people. Finished pieces will be able to hang from a tree by nails or screws.

Saturday, Oct. 17th
9:30-11:30

These are some ideas.

✿ Sake set (Evening class)

Sake really goes well at night like this. We will make a sake bottle and Ocyoko (small cups) to go with. So you can enjoy warm or cold sake as you like when it’s done. Taste of sake provided.

Saturday, Nov. 7th
7:00pm-9:00pm

✿ Birds feeder

It’s winter. There are no berries around any more. We will make a hanging bird feeder, and feed them in your back yard.

Saturday, Nov. 14th
9:30- 11:30

These are examples.

✿ Sgraffito

Sgraffito is one of the popular decoration techniques for ceramics. We will decorate with slip on pre-made leather-hard pieces.

$35 per person

Saturday, Nov. 21st
9:30-11:30

This is an example.

✿ Mug

Do you like hot coffee, hot cocoa and hot soup? Let’s make an original mug that fits well in your hand.

Saturday, Nov. 28th
9:30-11:30

✿ Christmas ornaments

Let’s decorate your Christmas tree with lovely ornaments you make this year.

Saturday, Dec. 5th
9:30-11:30

✿ A pair of cups
We will make a pair of cups from slab of clay. This will be great for a gift!

Saturday, Dec.12th
9:30-11:30

✿ Salt and papper

Small but important for everyday table and for special gathering. The plug will be provided.

Saturday, Dec. 19th
9:30-11:30

Art Farm will take a winter break. This will be the last class schedule until next spring comes. One day group hand building class will be available upon request. So don’t hesitate to contact me!

Please register by a week before the class is scheduled to begin.

**classes are for all ages**
**Cancelation may occar due to inclement weather.**
**kids ages 8 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult**
**Please allow a month to finish firing and processing. If you intend to make your piece as a gift, please keep this time schedule in mind. **

Registration and questions:
email: artfarm.barnard@gmail.com (preferred)
phone: 660-652-3065

Instructor: Momoko Usami (Cotter)

After this session I will continue update new workshops/ class schedules on this blog: http://albinoleviathan.blogspot.com and Facebook page: “Momoko Usami Ceramics”.

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Shiso juice /赤紫蘇ジュース

Recently I found this Japanese herb called Shiso is growing in the house Josh's grandma used to live. It called Perilla frutescens in America. Here is a link to Wikipedia. There are two kinds of Shiso leaves. One is this red one use for making plum pickles, seasoning for rice, etc, but more for color than just eat. The other one is green leave. I actually have green one in my garden. We use with whatever from noodle to sushi, sashimi, with chicken, pork, tofu, even in a spaghetti in this season. And we all love it. And it is very good for your health. It used as natural medicine.
先日ジョッシュのおばあちゃんが昔住んでた家の庭に赤紫蘇が大量に生えているのを発見！青紫蘇とゴマの葉はアメリカでも食べたいを庭に植えて、そのうちにわさわさと毎年でるようになってほしいと思っているのですが、あまりに世話をしないのでぼちぼち食べれるくらい。その発見した赤紫蘇は群生!しかも誰もなぜそこに生えているのかわからない。

So I was so excited when I found this. And it reminds me of my childhood. When I went to my friends house in this season, everybody have this Mom made Shiso juice in there refrigerator. My mother didn't have a time to make things like this. So this was a drink I only can have in my friends house.
発見してから夜な夜な、子供のときに友達の家に遊びに行ったら割とどこの家にもおいてある「お母さんの紫蘇ジュース」の味が頭の中をぐるぐるして寝付けない。

So I made this Shiso juice.
Put washed 200 Shiso leaves in 1.5L of boiling water. After 10 minutes or so this red leaves all turned to green. Pick all the leaves out, and continue boiling for 20 more minutes. Then add about half cup of honey and about 150ml of lemon juice. And done! You mix with sparkling water, or just water, or with liquor when you drink.
ということでついにお母さんになった私が紫蘇ジュースを作ることにしました。
コジコジは大好き！ジョッシュは青紫蘇が嫌いですがムリヤリ少し飲ませて、うむ、思いのほか悪くないということでした！

Fuurin (wind chime) Class

Fuurin (風鈴) is a Japanese wind chime that most of houses hung in this season in my country. Japanese summer is very hot, humid and stickey. But this simple sound from fuurin soothe your mind.

日本の夏と言えばの風鈴！

This idea is actually from my father. And this class filled up so quick. Mose of us made multiple fuurins.
父提案のこのワークショップは思いのほか人気があった。すぐに人数いっぱい、そのうちまた第２弾も計画して欲しいとの声が。ほとんどの人は並べてつけたいと二つ三つ作りました。

Here is finished pieces. There are two small holes on each bottom piece on top and bottom. So they can put fancy origami paper each picked on the bottom, or hung few in row.
ぶら下げる部分の上下に穴をあけたので、いくつか縦に並べてぶら下げることもできるし、下にそれぞれ選んでもらった千代紙をつけることもできる。これが焼き上がり！

This is how assembled mine! Ready to catch the wind!

私が作ったのも完成！

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Summer 2015 Art Farm class schedule!

School is over! Don’t get stuck in the house. Art Farm is a good place for kids to be creative. We’ve planned an evening class for parents to get away from kids, too. Also we will have another ceramics and Japanese culture workshop. Please check them out! Do you have something else you would like to make? Our “One day handbuilding class” is open for you! No experience necessary!

One day group handbuilding classes
June 20th ~ Sep. 26th/ 2015

You can make an unique handmade gift that you would never be able to buy in the store for somebody special. You can use your very own tableware for a get together. You can decorate your house with an art piece you made. It’s not only what you make that is special, but the experience itself will be priceless! A great activity for family and friends. There is no theme, just bring your ideas!

Monday-Friday 9:30-11:30, 1:00- 3:00, 3:30-5:30

Saturday 1:00-3:00

Minimum 2 people, 6 people maximum $25 per person
2lbs of clay, glaze, firing fee included $10 for each additional 2 lbs of clay

We also offer workshops! But don’t wait, the table is 6 people maximum!
Workshops will run if 2 or more people sign up. All classes are $25 person and include 2lbs of clay, glaze, and firing fee unless it’s listed. +$10 for additional 2 lbs of clay.

✿ Treasure box

Use slab building methods to create your own special box to hide your treasures.

Saturday, June 20th
9:30-11:30

✿ Animal bowl
Animals were shaped in ceramics from ancient times as a partner of survival, as sacred symbols, and with many other reasons. We can create our own existing/ non-existing animal pots.

Saturday, June 27th
9:30-11:30

These are some ideas.

✿ Mug with lid
Everybody needs their own special mug. You don’t have one? Why don’t you sign up? Great for one-of-a-kind gift, too!

Saturday, July 11th
9:30-11:30

✿ Wine goblet ( Evening class)
You deserve a relaxing evening with your friends and clay. We can not use the wine goblet we will make in this class yet, but taste of wine is provided.

Saturday, July 18th
7:00pm- 9:00pm

These are examples.

✿ Pour-over coffee maker
You already have your special mug? We can make your own pour-over coffee maker to go with!

Saturday, Aug. 1st
9:30-11:30

✿ Name plate
Original name plate for the entrance to welcome your family, on your room’s door to shut out your little brother, or on the mailbox to greet the mailman.

Saturday, Aug. 22nd
9:30-11:30

✿ Stamp on plates
Stamp stamp stamp on clay and make plates! Easy project for kids, too! You can make a nice size dinner plate, or several cake plates, or lots of small plates!

Saturday, Aug. 29th
9:30-11:30

✿ Ocarina (ceramic whistle)
The ocarina is an old instrument that has been around for 12,000 years. Make your favorite shape from a pinch pot out of clay.

Saturday, Sep. 5th
9:30-11:30

✿ Sushi set (ceramics in Japanese culture)
Sushi is one of the common Japanese foods that Americans think of. Let’s make a tableware set for sushi to eat more authentic! We will make Yunimi for tea, flat plate for sushi, small plate for soy sauce, and can’t forget chopsticks rest! This class is a little longer than usual.

$45 person include 4lbs of clay, glaze, and firing fee.

Saturday, Sep. 12th
9:00-12:00

Here is a example. Just missing a chop stick rest that called "Hashioki". This could be whatever shape from cute to cool to funny! In Japan, it's actually a bad manner to rest your chopstick on your plate.

✿ Tea strainer and tea bag caddy
We have been offering workshops for tea lovers. Here is one more to make your tea time happier.

Saturday, Sep. 26th
9:30-11:30

Please register by a week before the class is scheduled to begin.

**classes are for all ages**
**Cancelation may occar due to inclement weather.**
**kids ages 8 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult**
**Please allow a month to finish firing and processing. If you intend to make your piece as a gift, please keep this time schedule in mind. **

Registration and questions:
email: artfarm.barnard@gmail.com (preferred)
phone: 660-652-3065

Berry bowl class

We made fancy colanders. So we can wash berries in it, and just bring it to table on it!

Different colors, different handles.

I am ready to use mine!

Family one day group class

These are from one day family class we had the other day. Everybody had something they want to make in their mind.

The father made a beer cup. The mother made a nice size plate, and a butterfly.

She was a quick worker, faster than anybody else. She made 2 plates, and few pendant tops.

She made a heart flower pot, wall piece for her father, and a rain drop pendant top! Well done everyone! It was fun time!

The mom is blogging about their life in America. She posted about these clay class on her blog. Here is a link to "Ohisama to Nanohana" which means "sunshine and field mustard", and that's her kids name. I love the photos. I'm glad they enjoyed it!

Friday, May 29, 2015

Kid's day / こどもの日

Here comes May 5th, Kid's day again! I wrote about this tradition last year. Here is the link for Kid's Day / Kodomo no hi. Last year it was only for our son. This year where is all these Japanese kids coming from!? Well, we found each other! Surprisingly they all live around here! Hope they could help each other to learn Japanese and Japanese culture.

今年も５月５日、こどもの日がやってきました。去年は初めてのこどもの日、うちの息子に鯉のぼりをあげてみせるだけでした。今年はどこから湧いてでたのか、こんなに日本人の子供達が！最近つながったこの辺りに住む日本人達です。ピクニックにして何とも楽しいこどもの日が送れました！！この調子で、一緒に楽しく日本語や日本の文化を学べたらな〜。日本には楽しい行事がいっぱいだから。