Open Classes still available, just let us know you are coming: Monday @ 6:00, Wednesday @ 11:30 and 6:00.
Second Saturday (as discussed in the last post) at least through April: Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter themes plus other pieces
Thursday Night Lives continue on the new schedule: 1st wk = non-fired. 2nd wk =play with clay, 3rd wk = underglazes, 4th wk = glazes
Technique workshop, Date Night, and Kids Krafts are postponed. The creativity needed to put together these classes is alive and well. However, the marketing and publicity is a challenge, and we haven’t been able to get a supply of bisque on the shelf.
completing a large start-up order for another shop
repairing and painting large carousel horses
getting a supply of bisque on the shelf
working on the Second Saturday pieces
cleaning and organizing the studio — there is never enough time for this
updating master catalog, website catalog, and Etsy stores to include missing items and to make sure prices are current and consistent across all. Losing our slip and paint suppliers is causing an increase in costs and will necessitate an increase in prices.
If you have a group that wants to come and paint at another time just let us know.
If you want to work in the studio, we can always use more help. We currently have a paid employee for pouring molds and another for cleaning greenware who gets paid in product.
The second Saturday of each month we will be at the Courtyard Square Small Business & Artisan Market, 645 E State St, Salem, OH from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. (I know that I mentioned this before and you can scroll down to see our January events.) News article:
The Small Business & Artisan Market is held in the Courtyard Square on the second Saturday of every month from 11:00am-4:00pm. The event is organized by Killy’s Kauldron, with special thanks to Salem entrepreneurs, Scott & Lisa Cahill, for the use of the Courtyard space at no cost to the vendors. The Cahills purchased and have been renovating Salem’s historic Courtyard Square since 2013.This month’s event will feature local author Robert Greier, Spiritualist Minister and Medium Brandee Todd, several local artists, and the following vendors:• Jessie’s Closet Boutique (Salem) • The Cuckoo Bin (Akron) • Creations by Sheena Marie (North Lima) • Canning Creations (Salem) • Bees & Teas Farm Crafts (Salem) • Carol’s Carousel Creations (Austintown) • Nani Soaps (Broadview Heights)• Aura Mind and Body (Salem)
Yesterday was the first time we participated in the market. Since Winter Wonderland was our theme, we took snowmen, penguins, sleds, sleighs, icicles, and more. We actually did not sell very much but it was rather cold and there wasn’t much traffic for any of the vendors. It was also our first time and business usually picks up once you are better established. What did sell was mostly bisque for folks to paint at home. That leads me to think we might do more sales with “to-go” kits which include paints and brushes along with bisque.
There are a few permanent shops in Courtyard Square:
Killy’s Kauldron is our granddaughter’s shop. She had her grand reopening yesterday and they moved to a new space that is about three times as large. Here is a news article about her shop.
January 5, 2022. Killy’s Kauldron Announces Grand Re-Opening and Small Business / Artisan Market on Saturday, January 8thKilly’s Kauldron is a specialty shop, owned and operated by lifelong Salem residents Courtney Bosworth, and her mother, Toña Warneke. The shop, which is named after Bosworth’s son, Killian, specializes in handcrafted crystal and herb infused soy candles, which they create right in the store. Courtney Bosworth said in an interview that, “In addition to our own creations, we also carry a wide variety of crystals, herbs, essential oils, books and tarot cards. We also have items on consignment from other local crafters, such as handmade jewelry and crocheted dolls. ”Killy’s Kauldron is located within the Courtyard Square at 645 E. State St, the same building as Coaches Burger Bar. If entering from within the Courtyard, just look for the purple door! Hours of operation are Tuesday-Friday 5:30pm-8:00pm and 11:00am-8:00pm on Saturdays. You could also check them out on their Killy’s Kauldron facebook page or their website,
Knit Wits has tons of yarn and everything else for the crocheter or knitter. From their webpage:
Knit-Wit Knits is located in Salem Ohio, a quaint town in North Eastern Ohio. Customer service, quality yarns, accessories and patterns for knitting and crochet are our trademarks. Individual help and group classes are scheduled year round. We can ship all of our quality products anywhere in the USA. Please take time to explore our pages then send us your comments and requests!
Our commitment is for January through April and then we will decide if the Market is worthwhile for our business. The themes are Winter Wonderland, Romance in the Air, Luck of the Irish, and Easter Parade. Our son Jesse (who pours molds for us) has agreed to run our table at the Market for us. Yesterday we both went as I wanted to scout out the setup, see our granddaughter’s shop, and decide on a strategy for sales.
Vendor sales is another possibility since we have items that may help out some of the others: Bees & Teas Farm Crafts can use some teapots and planters, Knit Wits can use some yarn bowls, and Killy’s Kauldron can use some wax melters and dragons. Or I can set up a shelf in Kelly’s Kauldron to sell other pieces on commission.
Carol’s Carousel Creations
Where having Fun is why we come!
Next month, why not check us out at Second Saturday in Salem!
When Jim got up and asked what I had been doing all day, I told him I never made it downstairs to the studio but instead did come computer work. He said, “Oh, so you had a Red Chair Day!” If you have ever been in our family family room, you know that we each have our own red leather chair (mine has a footstool and his is a recliner).
Salem Second Saturday
This coming Saturday, January 9th, Jesse and I will have a table at the event Courtyard Square Small Business & Artisan Market, 645 East State Street, Salem, Ohio. I spent some time today searching the catalog for snowmen, sleighs, penguins, and other items that we can take. Pulled out the bin yesterday and just need to price everything and pack to take. This event takes place the second Saturday of each month from 11 to 4, so we are going to try it for several months to see if it is worthwhile.
January Calendar
Facebook Live Events
Thursday 1/6 Nonfired Techniques = Azure markers on a pre-glazed unicorn
Thursday 1/13 Play with Clay = building a tree on a cone puzzle mold
Thursday 1/20 Underglazes= Silkscreen Valentine Truck plate & mug set
Thursday 1/27 Glazes = snowman with cobblestone
Workshop Events
Wednesday 1/5 MVCT Paint Party
Saturday 1/8 Salem Second Saturday = Winter Wonderland craft show
Sunday 1/9 Technique workshop = brushstrokes: Country Friends (snowman) plate
Tuesday 1/11 Renegade Paint Party
Saturday 1/15 Date Night = Little Folks Puppy Love OR Boy & Girl Valentine Plaque
Friday 1/28 Kids Krafts = Valentine boxes
Posters
Today I also made posters for the three workshop events listed above. We can post these on Facebook pages and also share at the Second Saturday market.
Carol’s Carousel Creations
Where having Fun is why we come!
Regular Open Classes Monday & Wednesdays @ 6:00 and Wednesdays @ 11:30
Please remember to let us know what events and open classes you are coming to.
Wow! it has been a hectic end of year trying to get all our orders shipped and our personal gifts finished. Unfortunately, I have yet to learn the art of pacing and time-management suitable for folks in their seventies. We held our family celebration on Christmas Eve and then spent the last two days reading, relaxing, and recuperating.
As mentioned last time, this week between Christmas and New Year’s is optional for open classes. Please contact us if you wish to come and let us know what day and time.
There will be a Thursday Live on Carol’s Carousel Classes Facebook page. We will be doing Kwanza Kids at 7:30 so please join us.
Two weeks ago, we outlined some ideas for 2022. It would be nice to have some feedback on what you might be interested in.
The shipping deadline for FedEx was Wednesday and for USPS was Saturday. So, we engaged some helpers and tried to get all the orders out for folks for Christmas. Even though it involved an all-nighter and a last-minute trip to USPS, we made it with only a couple of pieces backordered.
This week — Getting Ready
We have one local order to finish up and then our own Christmas gifts for family and friends. Plus, wrapping gifts and cleaning the house and baking. Friday is our traditional Christmas Eve Day Brunch at noon with twenty-three expected. We will all eat and open gifts and eat some more and play games and then have dessert!
The last week of the year — Relaxing and recuperating
Classes are optional but we will be open if you would like to come and paint. Just let me know what day and time works for you and if you need something poured. The kids are home from school and the stress of getting ready for the holidays is over. So, bring the kids along and let them each bring a friend. Projects start at $10 for one piece or $15 for two.
Second Sunday Technique Workshops — brushstroke project, glaze combos, play with clay, and more. Cost is $20.00 and registration is required.
Third Saturday Date Night — couples projects. $35 per couple includes two complimentary projects. Examples are Mickey & Minnie Mouse, His & Hers Beer Steins, Flirting Owls & Home Sweet Home plates.
Fourth Friday Kids Krafts — for kids of all ages (preschoolers need adult to assist) banks, mugs, critters, play with clay. $10 each painter.
Salem Second Saturday Craft Fair — we can sell finished products, take-home kits, or have a make-it-take-it workshop. Costs vary depending on project of the day. Courtyard Square Small Business & Artisan Market. 645 East State Street, Salem, OH
Every Thursday Night at 7:30 Eastern Time we share a ceramics lesson on Carol’s Carousel Classes Group page on Facebook. For the year 2021 we have been focusing on unusual holidays. Thanksgiving’s Live was to be Red Mitten Day. Because of the holiday and being busy on Friday, we did not do that session. Here is what is to come:
National Red Mitten Day 11/25
We have two different stories to share with you: one about a mom who knitted mittens for the whole school and another about Red Mitten Day in Canada, which supports the Olympics program. I have painted a Red Mitten mug with Concepts and will share that the next time we meet.
Rosa Parks Day 12/2
Rosa Parks is remembered for her unwillingness to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. Since she was a seamstress, we will be painting the Old Woman Quilting. That mold has two heads — one white and one black. Of course, we will do the black one since Rosa Parks was a black woman. However, if you would like to paint along with us, order your bisque as soon as possible and state which version you want.
St. Nicholas Day 12/9
We have a selection of Old World Santas and will be painting one for this Live. If you want to paint along, I can tell you which ones are already available in bisque.
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 12/16
We will be using Fashenhues to paint the Doc Holliday praying Mary who stands 10″ tall. Order yours today to paint along and let me know of you want colors.
December Solstice 12/23
This is the time for a Yule Log which holds three candles. We will paint with underglazes and glazes. Order yours today.
Kwanza 12/30
This is a week-long celebration and we will be painting our Kwanza Kids with stains. If ordering please state whether you want angel wings on them or not.
Coming Next Year
We will be moving away from the unusual holiday theme and focusing instead on different media and techniques. The plan is to have a focus for each week for example:
1st Thursday is non-fired products such as Fashenhues, stains, metallics, azure, chalks, and watercolors.
2nd Thursday is play with clay day, including cutouts, slab building, and puzzling molds (no wheel)
3rd Thursday is underglazes including cover coats, EZ strokes, Concepts, and Mayco products.,
4th Thursday is glazes including semi-transluscent, crystal glazes, glaze combinations, cascade, cobblestone, etc.
Carol’s Carousel Creations
Where having Fun is why we come!
So, keep on watching our Lives and paint along with us if you can.
Today was a day to forget all about work — taking orders, pouring, cleaning, painting, firing, and packing. We hosted the Warneke Family Thanksgiving Feast here this afternoon. Some of the grandkids had to work, some had out-of-town plans, some had last minute complications, and yet there were still thirteen here for dinner. Each family brought goodies to share and we had a nice dinner with lots of desserts. Then we played The Logo Game a couple of times, always the guys against the gals. I don’t even remember who won!
So, tomorrow is back to work, open class at 6:00, and packing trees to ship. Thursday will just be another work day here but our kids will be celebrating with their in-laws and eating more turkey then!
Check out our new Facebook page Carol’s Carousel Tree Farm where we have listed many of our finished trees for sale. Want to make your own? That’s fine, too. Check the page for tree descriptions, sizes, and decorating ideas.
Carols Carousel Creations is our studio page where we are listing different trees for sale daily. Then we share to other pages such as Ceramic Christmas Trees for Sale, Ceramic Christmas Trees Group, Ceramics Finished, Ceramics Network of Ohio, etc.
New Trees
faceted tree (this year)
funky tree (this year)
tree box (this year)
jolly tree (last year)
Large Trees
Nowell 342 is our largest tree 16-1/2″ with no branches,
Nowell 342 is 19″ with one branch,
Nowell 342 is 22-1/2″ with two branches.
Snowman tree is 16″ tall
Penguin tree is16″ tall
Large sierra Spruce is 15″ tall
Clay Magic 2258 & 2259 Tree Light has cutouts for the light to shine through, 15“
Nowell 1368 is a flat window tree, 16″ tall
Small Trees
Nowell 341 is just like 342 but only 9-1/2″ tall
Nowell 1681 is a Small Sierra spruce, just like the large but only 8-1/2″ tall
Doc Holliday 255 is 8″ tall
Soft Trees
Doc Holliday 222 & 226 is an 8″ tree that takes a music box
Scioto 1015 is a 125″ soft tree
Specialty Trees
Nowell 1139 has a flat oval for pictures or cutouts. We use it for football trees and other logos, scenes such as the Grinch, and cutout for a small nativity set
Holland 705 is 11″ tall (or 12″ with the added branch). We use it as is or for add-ons such as dog bones, lollipops, candy canes, princesses, and so on.
Most other trees can have add-ons as well, choosing pieces that fit the size of the tree. For example the small spruce has a collection of ornaments and tree toppers. We made the 341 into a Mardi Gras tree and the 1139 into a Fishing with Friends scene.
Not a Tree
You may want to make our Elf on a Shelf this year. We even painted one as Spock since he has pointed ears!
Mini trees — tiny trees for scenes, Santas holding trees, small nightlight trees, tree salt & pepper shakers
Tree dishes — holly tree dish, holly leaf dish, three sizes of tree candy dishes
Tree scenes — multilayered lighted scene with cabin or other focus
Carol’s Carousel Creations
Where having Fun is why we come!
Bring your friends, bring your kids Trees can be easy to paint or a challenge if you are painting a scene. Open classes Monday & Wednesday at 6 p.m., Wednesday at 11 a.m. or call to set up a special time
Wow! It is hard to believe that we are already into November and the holiday season. And the countdown begins with only 47 more days until Christmas. Here is how we can help with that:
Make a Gift You can make something special for everyone on your list. It could be as small as a coffee cup or candy dish or as large as a whole canister set or nativity. Most things can be personalized with names, team colors, or logos. You can make them here in the studio or purchase supplies to work at home.
Purchase a Gift We can make something for you in whatever medium and colors you like. Just give us enough lead time or choose something already finished from the shelf.
Give a Gift Certificate We can make up certificates for any dollar amount that suits your budget. Certificates can be used for class fees including bisque paints, and firing or to purchase a finished item of their choosing.
Give a Craft Kit We can help you create a to-go kit with bisque, paints, and brushes to complete just about any of our pieces. Utility pieces such as mugs, plates, and so on need to be painted in glazes or underglazes and returned to the studio for firing. Decorative pieces can be painted with acrylic stains and do not need to be fired. Kids of all ages will like to get something to create at home. At least my kids always did.
Carol’s Carousel Creations
Where having Fun is why we come!
So this year do your holiday shopping at our Ceramic Store!
Carol's Carousel Creations 