Talavera Vázquez - In Hot Demand!!

While my mind has been preoccupied by French pottery lately (shipment to arrive any day now!), my customers are still very much focused on my Mexican collection, especially the contemporary pieces from Talavera Vázquez.  In the last few months, their work has emerged as my best sellers... both among peers living in small, sparsely decorated apartments, as well as among seasoned collectors from around the country.  Needless to say, it's time for a new order.  I've attached photos of a few pieces that have been in especially hot demand lately.  To see the current Vázquez collection, click here.

And please feel free to offer me your thoughts on sizes, colors, styles, etc. if you'd like to influence my new order.  I always appreciate suggestions!!  You can write a comment below or email me directly.

Blue Striped Tibor - Currently Sold Out (was $128)

Orange ZigZag Lamp - Currently Sold Out (was $185) 

 Small Candle Holders - Currently Sold Out (was $36 a pair)

Small Cristina Vase - $68

Paloma Serving Dish - $148

Patrice and Sylviana Voelkel

It's freezing in Provence.  Seriously, I'm not kidding.  It's rainy and cold and windy and, did I mention cold?! The last I checked it's supposed to be sunny and warm in the South of France, at least from April on.  Well, not this week.

With only one day left in France and having already exceeded my pottery budget, I planned to spend today hiking.  But, as I mentioned, the weather did not cooperate.  So I did what seemed most logical: wine-tasting and shopping.  Lucky for me (and you!) I happened to drive by Poterie Voelkel and because it was pouring rain, I stopped.  Here's a shot of my little VW at their back door, as well as a photo of their interior yard... all so picturesque.

 I knocked on the front door of the house and met Patrice, who led me to the little store (below) and claimed he didn't speak English.  Not true.  He spoke and understood just enough English to charm me into buying quite a lot of his beautiful stoneware. 

 Patrice and his wife Sylviane work together.  They use black clay, but when it is fired it comes out looking just like the red clay we're more used to seeing.  Here's Sylviane, hard at work.

The Voelkels glaze their pieces with a variety of liquid-like colors, but I was especially attracted to the marbled blue and celadon, as well as a contemporary chalk white. These pieces are totally different from what I'm accustomed to buying, but I think they will make a great compliment for the more traditional pieces in the collection.

I had a great time in Patrice's store... the artwork was beautiful and the artist could not have been more humble or helpful.  Plus, it was a great distraction from the cold outside.

Tomorrow I leave Provence and head to Valencia, because you know, when it's cold and rainy in Southern France there's only one place to go, Southern Spain : ).   

Merci et au revoir!