Ms. Buesgen’s passion for ceramics ranges from hand-built pots to finely crafted jewelry, with the jewelry being a relatively new venture. “I have recently started to work on the smaller scale of ceramics,” says Buesgen, “I enjoy making delicate things.” Also, she is well-known for her dynamic glazes and organic, nature-inspired motifs. “I’m always…experimenting with glazes, textures and styles,” she says.

Although, it’s a fact (at least here at OOOH) that pottery sells WAY better in the fall/winter.  Customers picture wrapping their hands around a beautifully-glazed mug of cocoa.  They imagine a bubbling hot pie coming out of the oven in a vibrant pie plate.  They smell the stick-to-your-ribs mac n’ cheese baking in their uniquely designed casserole dish.  It’s not often that the average customer decides to purchase pottery in the blazing hot summer.

Well!  I’m here to tell you that our pottery, especially our traditional glazed stoneware by Monica and Ray Sommerville (the artisans that we’re featuring), most certainly has a use for many of your spring and summer needs.  Here are some (exquisite, if I do say so myself) photos of how to put your pottery to good use during these seasons.  Please enjoy…I’ve taken time to let you know exactly how I envisioned each piece being used.  Maybe it will inspire some pottery sales for us.

As a side note, I ran into some lovely ladies today purchasing some unique items for a wedding shower they were attending.  In talking with them, we all agree…the typical registries are a BORE.  I do admit…when my husband and I were about to be wed, we went around with the “gun” and scanned all of your typical glassware, dishes, serving ware, etc for our personal registry.  Our generous guests obliged, purchasing many of the practical items we had so carefully chosen.  However…I must say, now with 3 years of marriage under my belt, I have used many of those dishes…but I’m more than likely to break open a fun serving dish that someone went out on a limb for.  The stark, white, cookie-cutter dishware that I imagined myself using whenever we had our fancy dinner parties (what a laugh!) pretty much always gets forgotten.  My point is….as I continue to babble…that the bride and groom you’re purchasing for will appreciate something fun and exciting.  Our Sommerville pottery is not over-the-top-crazy, but adds a handcrafted and warm addition to any table.  Trust me.

So here are those photos I was promising…enjoy!

When Beth isn’t making pots, she works in human services in Allentown.  She lives in Macungie with her husband and two school-aged children.

The majority of my work is thrown on the wheel, but I have recently been experimenting with hand building methods, and I’m happy with the results.  I use both porcelain and stoneware clay and a variety of glazing techniques.  The bulk of my work is high-fired and is safe for food, drink, dishwasher, and microwave use.

I have been finding the debate between “fine art” vs. functionality very interesting of late.  Why can’t a work be both functional as well as a piece of art?  I’m working on making that line between fashion and function all that much finer.

My pieces are primarily made with polymer clay which is shaped and then baked in order to solidify. I occasionally add elements to the clay such as paint and found items. The beads or pendants I create are then strung and sometimes complimented with metal beads. I incorporate classic elements into my modern styles so that they might appeal to a broad audience.

I dabble in many forms of art, and I like to incorporate my experience and knowledge into my jewelry and experiment with different techniques. I hope you enjoy wearing my jewelry!

After more than 20 years as a landscaper, Ray Sommerville transitioned into working with clay and glazes helping to launch Sommerville Pottery. Initially in Allentown, Sommerville Pottery is now located in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York.

Sommerville Pottery is wheel-thrown and hand-built stoneware. Using dark and light clay bodies, each piece is fired at approximately 2000 degrees and then glazed in earth-tone browns, tans, greens and blues. It is traditional, practical, well-made pottery. Each piece is functional, dishwasher safe, and very durable.

My goal is to create functional pottery that is also aesthetically pleasing to the eye. My work is wheel thrown porcelain with images carved into the pieces and carved directional lines covering the background.