The Warwick Pottery Newsletter - August 2026
August is here, and we've been busy bees as we creep one month closer to our 5th Annual Show & Sale! This month we're focusing on quick table-scaping tips and test-driving our pottery. - Marilyn
REMINDER: Our Annual Show is coming up!
This year, our Annual Pottery Show & Sale will be held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving — the perfect time to gather, shop, and celebrate handmade work! 2026 Annual Pottery Show Details When: Sunday, November 22, 2026 Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Where: Warwick Valley Community Center @ 11 Hamilton Ave., Warwick, NY 10990
If you are a student and would like to register for the show, please click here to sign up. If you are interested in volunteering, please click here.
5 Quick Tips for Setting Up a Table
Gather the basics! You’ll need linens, risers/shelves, and items to decorate. The tables are rectangular (unless otherwise noted) and measure 6ft long and 2.5 ft wide.
Display at three price points. People arrive with different budgets, so it helps to offer pieces at a variety of price levels. Use the triangle method to create three layers by using your risers/shelves to create focal points by arranging your table in triangles and making use of vertical space.
Sign your table and include some promotional signage such as business cards, stickers, or a QR code that directs to your website or social media.
Use bright colors to draw visual attention and interest to your table! Remember your embellishments: flowers (real or fake), branches, Holiday or winter-themed decorations, electric candles, ribbons, mirrors, etc.
Make sure your pricing is visible by using stickers. Keep a list of your inventory and its prices to ensure you can replace any lost price tags!
Before You Sell It: Give Your Pottery a Test Drive ☕️
We all love the moment when a freshly fired piece comes out of the kiln looking beautiful and ready for its new home. But before you put it on your table for sale, give it a quick test. A few simple checks can help prevent an unhappy customer and make sure your work is ready for everyday use!
Test Your Mugs and vessels intended for hot drinks. Fill the mug with boiling water, allowing it to sit for a few hours. Check the outside of the mug & handle. Is there unusual heat transfer? Any cracking, leaking, or other problems? Check the bottom/foot for any sharp/rough areas that may scratch a table.
Wash your finished pieces before selling them. This is especially important for checking your glaze. Look at the surface after washing. Do you see tiny pinholes, rough spots, crawling, crazing, or areas where the glaze has not behaved as expected? What looks perfect straight out of the kiln may reveal a problem once washed.
Look, feel, and use the piece as if you were a customer. Is it comfortable to hold? Sitting securely on the table? Are the edges smooth and the glaze doing as intended?
Your name is going home with every piece you sell. A little testing before the sale helps make sure that what leaves your table is something you feel proud of!