Bonsai pots for air plants at Shiho ceramic studio show next week

史火陶芸教室の展示会のために、カラフラな盆栽の植木鉢を作り終わるところです。エアープラントを中に入れる予定です。陶芸の先生も生徒さんも作品を見せて、販売します。西荻窪で、１１月２３日から２７日まで。時間があれば、是非、見にきてください。

Above are some of the colorful bonsai pots for air plants that I am finishing for the Shiho ceramic studio annual show in Nishi-Ogikubo. It takes place just south of the JR station from Friday Nov 23 through Tuesday Nov 27. The teachers Yoshiko and Yoshiichiro Kuge will display and sell their works, as well as ten students and a doll maker.

As you can see in the card below, this year’s theme is spouts. Mine is the only spout full of holes. They provide drainage for after you’ve dunked the air plant in water.

Please come if you’re interested in ceramics! Gallery Hiko, 3-37-21 Shoan, Suginami-ku. Google Map.

Update: Tokyo Weekender featured this show in their events listings!

Dill adds luxury flavor to home-cooked meals

ディルというハーブは贅沢な味がします。４年前に作った植木鉢は東京に来たばかりの頃、史火陶芸教室で勉強して作りました。

This dill has been providing a nice flavor to our food for the past months. It tastes so expensive, and it’s fun to walk a few steps from the kitchen and grab some leaves. This ceramic pot is from the first series I made when I first came to Tokyo four years ago and began studying at Shiho ceramic studio.

Kintsugi pot adds metallic charm to balcony garden

金継ぎという技術はこわれた器を直す方法で。史火陶芸教室の久家先生の専門です。ベランダに、銀色と花が素敵ですね。

This kintsugi pot adds a bright metallic shine to the balcony garden. Here I’ve planted this long-blooming flower. I like the pink-red flowers, which have bloomed for months. Kintsugi, which is the decorative repair of usually old pottery, is a specialty of my teacher at Shiho ceramic studio.

I don’t know the name of this plant, and frankly bought it as “filler.” The husband thinks that “filler” is a harsh name, but don’t most gardens also rely on having a few plants purchased for their immediate appeal with minimal money and thought? Since it’s thrived so long, I should probably learn its name.

Update: The Japanese name is Seroshia (セロシア), and it’s called Celosia argentea, plumed cockscomb, and Prince of Wales Feathers and Flamingo Feathers.

Spout theme at this year’s Shiho ceramic studio show

史火陶芸教室の展示会のためにつくった、私の片口です。西荻窪のギャラリーで、１１月２２日から２７日まで展示会があります。もうすぐ、住所も地図をのせます。

This year, for the Shiho ceramic studio show in Nishi Ogikubo (November 22 to 27), all the students and the teachers made ceramics with spouts. Everyone did something very different.

I am not sure why, but I decided to apply lots of holes, and use them as air plant “bonsai pots.” Air plants are so much easier to grow than moss and almost any other house plant.

If you’re in Tokyo, please come to the show. I’ll post a digital version of the flyer with the address and map soon.

Balcony cutting garden brings mint and flowers indoors

ベランダの庭からの切り花がすてきです。室内は、ミントもいいです。史火陶芸教室の友だちが作った花瓶をよく使います。ガラスの花瓶はペンシルバニア州のリサイクルショップで買いました。

I like the idea of using balcony plants indoors. This mint and bright flower are from my cutting garden.

The ceramic vase was made by a friend and fellow student at Shiho ceramic studio, the glass one picked up at a Pennsylvania thrift store.

Mini red pepper grown on balcony and set in bonsai pot

この赤唐辛子は大きくてならなかったけれど、盆栽の植木鉢に、サイズは完璧です。

I was a little sad that this red pepper never grew past mini-size. But its the perfect size for this bonsai pot that I also use for air plants.

Adding holes to the ceramic studio challenge of making something with a spout

今年の史火陶芸教室のテーマは注ぎ口のついたものです。私の作品には、いっぱい穴があります。注ぎ口を使わないから、ちょっと矛盾しています。生徒の展覧会のために、エアプラントを中に置くつもりです。

This year, the Shiho ceramic studio‘s student show in November will feature everyone making a spout. Every student has their own style, but for the annual show we are all making at least one thing in common. This year’s theme is spouts. I decided to make a few with lots and lots of holes. Since spouts are about pouring liquids, I like the contradiction. I’ll pair them with air plants for the show.

Shiho ceramic teachers and students make sake bottle character

180度開脚しているのが一番好きです。史火陶芸教室の先生と生徒さんが「とっくりとっくん」という日本酒のキャラクターの陶芸を作りました。このキャラクターのことをあまり知りませんでしたが、面白いですね。

This sake bottle character is named Tokkuri Tokkun (とっくりとっくん). The Shiho ceramic studio teachers and students each made one. I like Tokkuri Tokkun’s super-flexible limbs, particularly the one doing the splits.