A Visit to Pewabic Pottery

Pewabic Pottery is one of the Motor City's true gems. It was founded in 1903 by Mary Chase Perry Stratton, making it one of the oldest existing potteries in the United States. It has thrived at its current location (pictured below) since 1907. The building is a National Historic Landmark ~ it houses a museum, design center, production facilities and galleries where contemporary works are displayed. The pottery is open to visitors and admission is free, although it is nearly impossible to walk out of the place without purchasing a piece of art from the gift shop, as I learned on a recent visit. Most recently, Pewabic earned national attention when some of its tiles were featured in Anna Sui's Fall collection, which debuted during NYC's Fashion Week. Sui's collection was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement of the early 20th century. This artist movement placed emphasis on quality over quantity. To this day, Pewabic uses the same production methods as it did in those early days.

Pictured below are some vases from the museum's historic collection.

A photo of the founder, Mary Chase Perry Stratton. I cannot imagine doing any type of work in a long dress like the one she is wearing. Gimme some sweatpants, please!

A peacock tile, inscribed with the initials "MCS"

Pewabic tiles can be found in private residences and public places all across the country. Their beauty never fails to amaze me. Here is an example of how some were used to adorn the outside of Comerica Park in Detroit, where my Tigers play baseball.

I now own my own Pewabic pottery! There is something to fit every budget at the gift shop. The two pieces on the left were created by independent artists. Pewabic also sells the work of artists from across the country. The light green tile on the right is authentic Pewabic. The lotus motif is a historic design (c. 1910-1919) by Mary Stratton. It was originally used as a 6x6" tile in her residence in Detroit.

Our Adventures in DC

I've been MIA, and that's because Mr. V and I took a trip to Washington D.C. It was part vacation/part American History class refresher, but seeing that we are both huge history buffs, we didn't mind in the least. In less than one week, we covered so much ground and saw most of this beautiful city and its amazing architecture, museums, and landmarks. Here are a few highlights from our adventures in the nation's capital. I snapped over 600 photos during the trip, but I'll spare you from having to sit through them all!

It rained for the first 3.5 days, which we were not prepared for, at all. Luckily a $15 umbrella from the Smithsonian got us through. Now we can sit back and laugh about our adventures in the DC rain. The reward for enduring all that rain was picture perfect weather during the last few days. Here's a shot of the sun shining on the reflecting pool, with the Lincoln Memorial in the background.

Everyone knows this structure ~ the Washington Monument.

A Day of Reflection

With today being the 7th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, I wouldn’t deem it appropriate to blog about anything else. Much has been written and spoken about the events of that day, and even though life has gone on, it has changed in so many ways. On this day I find myself recalling where I was at the moment I learned of the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. Seven years later, the memories are still vivid. This morning on the drive into work, the radio station I listen to was interviewing the author of “Tower Stories”. I found myself completely drawn into the gripping accounts of those who survived the WTC attack. It brought me back to the events of that day as if they were happening all over again. I find it very hard to focus on anything else today; I suppose it all seems so insignificant in the scheme of things. Personally, I think 9/11 should be declared a “National Day of Reflection”, but that’s just my two cents. Let us not forget the innocent lives that were lost on that day ~ those who were simply going about their routine and never made it out alive. Likewise, let us not forget our Service men & women who fight for our security every day, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. God Bless them all, and their families!

Unspoken Hero

I read about the passing of Irena Sendler yesterday, and immediately I was touched by the courage of this amazing woman. Sadly, this was the first time I recall hearing of her, yet her selfless contribution seems so great to me. It just makes me wonder, what did I actually learn in History class during school??