From our wood shop located in the beautiful Western North Carolina mountain town of Brasstown, we have created a variety of hand crafted wooden products. We try to utilize local salvaged wood, from windfall trees, other wood shop projects, or recently cut wood that would normally go into a landfill.
With the fall season coming, and October Festivals being celebrated all over, I decided to create a few beer steins. However, I did learn something. You can not call it a stein unless it has a top on it. I did not know this, and never gave it much thought. I am going to call my mugs a stein, even though they do not fit the full definition. I will have several sizes, in varying heights and thicknesses. I figure that there are all types of beer drinkers and will try to make a stein (mug) for everyone.
They are made out of a brown clay, that makes a great earthy-looking finish when done in Yellows and Greens. I plan to finish them in Fall colors, and highlight the imprint on the steins (BEER).
Please give me your thoughts on color and possible decorations on the out side of the steins. I have placed a thumb rest on the top of each handle to help in controlling this large stein. Each stein measures 5 1/2 inches to 7 inches tall, and the openings are 3 inches to 4 inches round.
Thanks for looking and let me hear from you on your suggestions.
Pottery comes to Lavonia! Local artist Jerry Beatty is starting a new career from an old passion. Art has always been a part of his life and he always wanted to be an artist, but making a living got in the way of his passion.
Back in the late 70’s Jerry started painting in oils but decided that getting a job was necessary, as the term “starving artist” was too close to the truth and that was no way to make a living and support a family. However after slowing down, Jerry decided to take up the arts again and bring art to downtown Lavoina. He went over to the Art Institute in Anderson and studied pottery under the instruction of a local artist. Soon after enrolling in the class, he created Jaybeescrafts, the name under which he operates and sells his pottery. “After just the fist class, I realized that pottery is my new passion,” Jerry said. “The process of creating something beautiful with my hands is very rewarding and I really enjoy it.” Jerry’s pottery is made from several different types of clay and glazes. “Experimenting with different glazes and colors is where the real artistry comes out. Each piece is as unique as they are beautiful.”
The pottery is all hand thrown and created in the same manner that pottery has been for thousands of years. Pottery is an art that besides having been made safer by removing the lead from the glazes has not changed dramatically over the years. All the pieces made by Jaybeescrafts are food and dishwasher safe.
Along with pottery, Jaybeescrafts offers wood turned art. Jerry has been working with woodturning for over 25 years and continues to create bowls, pens and wine stoppers. Most of the wood art is made from wind fallen trees and salvaged limbs that normally would end up in landfills or chopped up for mulch or firewood. “It’s so much nicer to see them turned into works of art,” he comments. The woods Jerry loves working with most are Cherry, Pecan and Walnut.
The doors are always open at Jerry’s office and he invites you to stop by and see the pottery and woodturning anytime. His office is located at 725 Grogan Street, just off the square in the heart of downtown Lavonia. If the wheel is going, you can see a technique that has been passed down over the ages and maybe you can try your hand at throwing clay.
