The Tile Club

The Tile Club: This blog has moved!

2011-11-27T12:48:00.001-05:00

Check out the new art tile blog at Emu Art Tile!

This blog has moved!

2011-08-18T09:11:00.000-04:00

On July 31, 2011, Darrell and I launched a brand new website at EmuTile.com. From now on, I will blog right on the new site. You can keep up with all the latest Emu Tile news there. Here is the link:

http://emutile.com/blog

Thanks!
-Emily

Emu Tile at Gallery 143

2011-07-20T23:32:00.001-04:00

I am pleased to announce that Gallery 143, in Green, Ohio, now carries Emu Tile. I visited the shop for the first time today, and was thrilled by what I saw. This tasteful, well organized gallery holds a large selection of American- made crafts. Over 500 artist are represented, and I am honored to be among them. The owner, Joan, is an artist herself who creates unique and beautiful fabric collages. She frames them herself in house. If you are in the Green- Uniontown area, stop in a check out Gallery 143.

I forgot my camera, so I borrowed this image from the Gallery 143 website.

Emu Tile in "This Old House Magazine"

2011-07-16T13:22:00.004-04:00

I was contacted by a customer last month who told me Emu Tile were featured in the June Issue of "This Old House" magazine, and although there was no mention of our company name, she recognized the picture of the 3"x3" Sunflower tile installed in the ceiling beams of Paul Rodgers' restored whaling cottage in Sag Harbor. When I contacted the magazine's press room, they were kind enough to add a credit to the online edition of the article. Here is a link to the picture and the article:

"This Old House," Better Than Ever, June 2011, No. 149, Pages 82- 89

Here is an picture I took of a 3"x3" sunflower tile. I didn't want to reproduce the picture from the article without permission.

Summer Comforts at the Log Cabin Gallery

2011-06-14T22:05:00.001-04:00

JOIN US FOR OUR SUMMER
COMFORTS
EXHIBIT
AT
THE
LOG CABIN
GALLERY

WHERE ART
AND
NATURE
MEET

MEET THE ARTISTS
RECEPTION
SATURDAY, JULY 9
5:30 - 7:30 PM
Jon Mosey
performing on guitar and banjo

Friday, Saturday & Sunday
JUNE 24 thru
AUGUST 14
Eight Weekends
11 am - 5 pm
& by chance or
by appointment


Pat Bakos, Gemstone Jewelry Kevin Becnel, Clay details web-site Annette Boncek, Mixed Media Fiber web-site Gabriele Bryant, Glass Art Gretchen Ciccotti, Textiles web-siteChris Collins, Vintage Linens into Wearable Art Cathie Gordon, Primitive Rug Hooking Tamara Gunnels, Mixed Media details Heidi Holub, Jewelry web-site Chuck Kline, Wildlife Painting Sue Lucke, Fiber Russ O'Brien, Blown Glass Art details web-site Diane Seskes, Photography details web-site Lucille Seskes, Traditional Quilting & Piecing details	John Shea, Sculptural Boxes web-site Tracy Shea, Functional Pottery web-site Sharon G. Sheinbart, Ceramic Sculpture Paula Singleton, Hats & Vintage Button Jewelry web-site Sarah Smithers, Stained Glass web-siteTherese Stadul, Garden Art details Diane Taninecz, Jewelry & Pate de verre Emily Ulm, Art Tiles details web-site Gwen Waight, Mixed Media web-site Judy Young, Mixed Media

Spring Shows

2011-05-12T12:04:00.000-04:00

My new 4"x8" Heron tile will be on display at Local Girl Gallery's 7th anniversary party. In case you are near Lakewood, Ohio on Saturday, May 21st, here are the details:

In other news, "Spring Awakening" opened last weekend at the Log Cabin Gallery in Peninsula, Ohio, and my work has arrived at indigenous gallery, in Cincinnati, Ohio for artTILE 2011, which opens May 21.

Spring Awakening at the Log Cabin Gallery

2011-04-17T21:24:00.006-04:00

If you are in Northeast Ohio, please come and check out the upcoming show in Peninsula! The "Log Cabin" is a charming, cozy, one-room gallery in an 1850s log cabin that overlooks the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It sits just a few feet from the edge of the park, so you can visit both on the same day. A selection of Emu Tiles will be on display (and available to purchase :) along with the work of many talented local artists. Click the picture below for a better view.

DRU and I recently walked all over Kent, putting up flyers like this one on every bulletin board we could find. This is a college town, so we posted quite a few on campus. We also put a some up at beloved independent businesses, like the Co-op and Last Exit Books. Thanks to everyone who let us post flyers.

New Tile Design

2011-04-07T22:08:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, I made a mold for the new 4"x8" Heron Tile I have been working on. Here is the clay original, almost finished:

And here is the plaster mold, which needs to dry before I can use it:
I am very pleased with how it came out; crisp with no air bubbles. Yay! I can't wait to make the first heron tile.

The finished tile will be ready in time for the upcoming "For the Birds" show at Local Girl Gallery in Lakewood. It will also be available on my website in a few weeks.

Customer Photos and Three Upcoming Shows

2011-03-30T20:00:00.015-04:00

I love getting pictures of Emu Tile on display. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to know that people enjoy my work and want to have it in their homes. Here is are some photos I received recently of a particular artful display over a mantel:

The light-colored tree tiles are an assortment of my four inch tiles in buckwheat glaze.

The blue tiles are by the talented Michael Cohen. I have never met Michael, but I enjoyed seeing his work at last years "artTILE" show at indigenous gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio. My friend Kate bought one of his tiles for her Mom, who loved it. I am happy to say that Emu Tile will be featured in artTILE 2011:

May is going to be a big month for Emu Tile. New work will be featured at the Log Cabin Gallery in Peninsula, Ohio as part of the

SPRING
AWAKENING
Exhibit

Friday, Saturday & Sunday
May 6 thru June 12
Six Weekends
11 am - 5 pm

This exhibit's focus is upon Nature's awakening as well as Spiritual awakening. There will be a MEET THE ARTISTS RECEPTION on FRIDAY MAY 20 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Also in May, Emu Tile will be part of a special 7th anniversary show at Local Girl Gallery in Lakewood, Ohio on Saturday May 21st 12-8pm. The title is "For the Birds" and I am working on a new 4"x8" Heron tile for this event. I will post pictures of this new design, in progress, soon.

I hope you can make it to one or more of these shows.

Blossoming Bathroom

2011-03-24T21:09:00.010-04:00

What's this?

Maggie Worsdale, the talented singer and performer, sent me these pictures of her beautifully remodeled bathroom:

If you look closely, you can see that 4"x4" blossom tiles in cinnamon glaze are set in the the natural stone tile border.

Great installation job! I am impressed that the installer was able to cut a perfect square out of the middle of a large piece of slate.

Thank you, Maggie! These picture will be featured on our new, improved website which is coming soon.

A Handmade Clock and A Hearth

2011-03-10T20:48:00.013-05:00

More customer pictures of Emu Tile:

Doug Marshall of the The WoodenKnot sent me this picture of the beautiful clock he handcrafted using a 6"x6" Tree of Life tile:

And Megan M. sent me these gorgeous pictures of her hearth:

I never would have thought of repeating the sunflower tile like that- but I have to say I love it! So simple yet classic. Very Arts & Crafts.

Yes, there are some field tiles in this installation. I made an exception to my "no field tile" rule because she only needed a few to go with a large order of art tiles. I love how this turned out. I and hope to make them available again on my website at some point. Maybe this will be the year we get a bigger kiln... In the meantime, if you need just small number of field tiles to complete your art tile installation, just ask. I can usually accommodate small orders.

More Buckwheat Installation Pictures!

2011-03-06T13:35:00.006-05:00

As soon as I mentioned that I only have one set of installation pictures of tiles in the buckwheat glaze, Linda Gehris of Gehis Tile in West Reading, PA sent me pictures of an amazing bathroom installation:

Linda's specialty is artistic mirror surrounds, and I just love what she did with this one!

The creamy field tiles couldn't be more perfect with the feature tiles in buckwheat glaze.

It is hard to see the art tiles in this picture, but there are an assortment of 2 inch and 4 inch tiles set among commercial field tiles.

Thank you, Linda! I will post these pictures on my installation page soon.

Kitchen and Bathroom pictures

2011-03-02T09:55:00.014-05:00

I am so happy that Jennifer G. sent me pictures of her kitchen. She choose a "wild kingdom" theme for the feature tiles, and had an assortment of animal and plant tiles interspersed among creamy subway tiles. The art tiles are glazed in "Buckwheat." These are the first installation pictures I have seen in this popular glaze. Jennifer sent me a large number of pictures (thank you, Jennifer!) and I will be posting on my installation page soon. Until then, here is a sneak preview:
Pictured above: one of the "mini groupings" that are installed throughout the kitchen.

The feature tiles add a festive touch to this pretty kitchen.

An assortment of of animal and tree tiles are grouped above the stove.

I also received an installation picture recently from my Lovely Aunt Rachel:

She and my Uncle Ray ordered a number of 6"x6" tiles in Autumn glaze. They have already inlaid one of them into the bamboo back splash of their new, modern bathroom. The Autumn Glaze on this Tulip tile goes perfectly with the hammered copper sink. The bathroom renovation is still in progress, and I hope to post pictures of the rest of the tiles once installation is complete. Thanks so much Aunt Rachel and Uncle Ray!

Two Hearths and a Kitchen

2010-12-12T14:50:00.002-05:00

I will be posting more pictures of these lovely customer installations, along with explanations and credits on the art tile installation page of my website soon.

Web Site Updates

2010-09-20T09:01:00.002-04:00

I just spent three days updating EmuTile.com. The Art Tile Shop has a new look (thanks for the pictures, Mandi!), and now there are examples of tiles in every one of my 12 glazes. I also posted pictures of two new kitchen installations, and of 16 new tile designs! Check out these 3"x3" bug tiles:

Here is the complete list of the tiles I added:

4"x4"
Acorn Art Tile
Chickadee Art Tile
Woodpecker Art Tile
Squirrel Art Tile
Cardinal Art Tile
Deer Art Tile
Rabbit Art Tile

3"x3"
Grasshopper Art Tile
Mayfly Art Tile
Praying Mantis Art Tile
Dragonfly Art Tile
Geometric No.1 Art Tile
Geometric No. 2 Art Tile
Geometric No. 3 Art Tile
Geometric No. 4 Art Tile

3"x6"
Vine Art Tile

Also, I (finally) made a product page for the popular clothesline art tile. More new tiles to come!

Customer Installation Pictures

2010-06-29T08:47:00.003-04:00

This is one of the rare installations of Emu Art Tile that I will actually get to see in person. The kitchen belongs to my beloved Aunt and Uncle who were kind enough to send these fabulous pictures:

They selected the Birds on Branch 3 art tile set and an assortment of 2"x2"s all in Autumn glaze. The field tiles are made by Seneca Tile Co., in Attica ,Ohio. I love how the installer set them on the diagonal!

All of the animals on the tiles can be found on the property. The new kitchen has a great view of their large, beautiful yard, so it makes sense for the tiles tie into that. I saw the kitchen before the tiles went in, and it really transformed the house. It is one of the best remodeling jobs I have ever seen. I can't wait to see it once the range hood and other final touches go in! I am going to try to bring a professional photographer (aka my friend Mandi) and get some pictures of the whole kitchen to showcase on my website.

Thanks John and Pat, for sending these pictures!

"Breath II" show at the Log Cabin Gallery

2010-06-28T08:25:00.001-04:00

Last Wednesday, I dropped off tiles at the Log Cabin Gallery in Peninsula for the show, Breathe II. It was mostly set up when I was there, and it looked great. The Cabin has a quiet, meditative feeling. There is new work by new artists, who you can meet at the reception on Saturday July 10th from 5-7pm.

HUgE in Japan

2010-06-15T10:26:00.002-04:00

I have been corresponding with a very nice person in Tokyo named Yu, who purchased some of my tiles to sell in a shop there. I was surprised and thrilled when Yu sent me the latest copy of "HUgE Magazine, " a Japanese fashion magazine which features Emu Art Tile!

Apparently, someone from HUgE saw my tiles in the shop, thought they were neat, and did a little write up with pictures for the the magazine.

It is nice for me that the header is in English. I am not sure what the rest of the text says since , sadly, I can't read Japanese. But how cool to find out that my tiles cost 4,200 Yen and are 100x100mm in size!

4"x4" Wildflower Art Tile in Spearmint, and 4"x4" Tree of Life in Autumn

Thanks, Yu, for promoting my work and sending me a copy of this magazine!
("Big in Japan!")

Our Tile Vacation, Part Two

2010-05-12T09:23:00.003-04:00

The Village of Yellow Springs, Ohio, is just over an hour north of Cincinnati. It is a very pleasant place to spend a sunny day. DRU and I spent several hours exploring it over the weekend. It is an extremely artistic town, with several galleries and a lot of public art. Much of the public art was made with ceramic art tile. Just look at the sign that greeted us on the way into town:

I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but this is big- at least as tall as a person. It is covered with tiles depicting yellow fruits, vegetables, birds and butterflies (get it? Yellow Springs) I took this picture through the car window, so I didn't see the artist's name.

Once we were in town, handmade tile benches seemed to be everywhere. This one by Beth Holyoke Kaethi Seidl was in front of the public library:

I love the animal theme.

Yes, this is two chickens having tea.

Here is a tree themed bench on a corner downtown. The tiles are shaped like leaves.

The artist's name was stamped on the seat. I can not remember for sure, but I think it is the same artist who made first bench. There was a ceramic studio and school downtown with a tile mural on the front, but I didn't get a picture. For a village of less than 4000, people I couldn't believe how much art there was. I am sure it has something to do with the fact that Antioch College is located in the village. Sadly, the college stopped operating recently due to low enrollment, but the town seems to be thriving in spite of it.

We walked around the mostly deserted grounds of Antioch College. It is a large and beautiful campus, filled with pre- Civil War era buildings and lots of trees. But it was sad and spooky being there with so few people around. We looked into the windows of the art school and saw work that was left behind to collect dust.

These pictures were taken through hazy glass, which makes the scene look somewhat ghostly.

Here is row of easels waiting for students to come and paint.

Without anyone around to look after them, the large outdoor kilns are falling into disrepair.

It is eerie, like something out of "The Twilight Zone." Which is fitting in a sad way. "The Twilight Zone's" creator, Rod Serling, was an alumni of Antioch (class of 1950). I am a huge Serling fan, and wanted to see some evidence of his time there. The closest thing I could find was a bit of graffiti inside the shuttered art school:
I attended a public university, which seemed expensive to me even with a scholarship that paid half my tuition. I never seriously considered attending a private, liberal arts college. But I feel that Antioch is a special place, and I am sure I would have enjoyed spending four years there. I hate to see it fall into disrepair. Apparently, a group of Antioch alumni feel the same way and have purchased the school. They are attempting to reopen it in 2011. I hope they are successful!

Our Tile Vacation

2010-05-11T09:20:00.002-04:00

This past weekend, DRU and I made the drive down to Cincinnati to see artTILE 2010 at indigenous gallery. What a fantastic show! There is an amazing diversity of styles. My art tiles were included, along with many many others. I bought a tile made by Parran Collery of "Eartha Handmade Tile."

Here are some of my tiles, along with those of other artists, hanging on a magnetic display system:

Our beautiful and brilliant friend Kate was kind enough to let us stay at her apartment and drive us to the show.
Her parents, my honorary Aunt and Uncle, live just up the road from the gallery. They installed a bunch of my tiles over a year ago, and I was thrilled to finally see them. Here I am in front of their hearth:
Notice the fire in the wood stove. It was pretty chilly for mid May. Unfortunately, most of the pictures I took came out blurred or glared, and really don't do the installation justice. I will just have to go back down and take more. Below is the one close up that came out ok. It is a 4"x8" Cypress tile in Leaf Green Glaze, set among reclaimed tiles from a swimming pool. They are black slate, almost an inch thick, so Uncle Bill had to add extra backer board behind my tiles to bring them out to the right level.

Next we headed to Essex Studios Artist Group for open studio night, to see the talented Lisa Molyneux's new paintings. She and I talked about trading tiles for a painting, and I really hope it works out because I would love to have one of these:

I didn't see tiles in any of the studios, but the giant sign out front was decorated with hundreds of handmade tiles.

Speaking of signs, right next to Essex Studios is the American Sign Museum. It doesn't really have anything to do with tiles, but is worth mentioning. It is a neon dream.

It is only open a few hours a week. I think that is because turning on all those old signs uses a lot of power.

Me and Kate, enjoying some vintage Americana:

All in all, it was a fantastic inexpensive 36 hour vacation. In between Kent and Cincinnati, we stopped in the Village of Yellow Springs where we saw several handmade art tile installations. That may be the subject of another post.

Gallery News

2010-04-28T08:37:00.001-04:00

I am pleased to announce that Emu Tile is now available at Gehris Tile in West Reading, Pennsylvania. They will soon have an assortment of my tiles in different glazes on display. From their website, I can see they do an amazing job laying tiles. If you are in the West Reading area and planning a tile installation, I highly recommend you visit the Gehris Tile showroom.

In other gallery news, DRU and I delivered new tiles to Ginko Gallery and Studio, Ltd. on South Main Street in Oberlin this past weekend. It was a delight to walk around the town and admire the many spring blossoms. We had lunch at the Black River Cafe, put up flyers for the upcoming show at the the Log Cabin Gallery in Peninsula, and ran into a friend from Akron U. It was a perfect way to spend an afternoon. Oberlin is one of our favorite day trips, and Ginko Gallery will always hold a special place in my heart as the very first gallery to accept my work. Thanks, Liz!

More about artTILE 2010

2010-04-08T07:15:00.002-04:00

This should be a great show! I am thrilled that my work will be displayed along with that of so many talented tile artists. If you are in the Cincinnati area and you like handmade tile, be sure to check it out.

artTILE 2010 exhibit, May 1^st through June 20^th at indigenous, a handcrafted gallery.

*Artists’ Reception May 8th from 12 to 5
*Wine Walk & artist-in-action + Wine Walk, May 20th from 5 to 8

*Tile demonstration by Leslie Sweet Goshorn + Wine Walk, June 17th from 5 to 8

For more information or photos, contact:

Diane Christian Budd

indigenous, a handcrafted gallery

Open & free to the public:

Monday to Saturday 10-8, Sunday 12-5

2010 Madison Road

Cincinnati, Ohio 45208

513.321.3750

www.indigenouscraft.com

mail@indigenouscraft.com

artTILE 2010 opens on May 1^st at indigenous, a handcrafted gallery, featuring more than 700 ceramic tiles created by thirty-five exceptional artists, individually honoring the tradition of the American art tile.

“a slab of clay, endless possibilities”

indigenous presents artTILE 2010, our first exhibit dedicated to the American tradition of ceramic tiles. artTILE 2010 will feature over 700 dynamic ceramic tiles ranging from low-relief 2-inch tile to high-relief sculptural 20” tile; the common denominator, a slab of clay. A slab of clay truly represents endless possibilities.

Home to Rookwood Pottery, Cincinnati already has an established reputation for artistic clay and tile production. Through our production of a strong, focused exhibit showcasing how contemporary artists transform slabs of clay into their own art, indigenous continues to promote the awareness and appreciation of this time-honored art form.

artTILE 2010 is an invitational exhibit featuring 35 exceptional artists specially selected to display a wide range of designs, sizes, prices, and techniques offering a collection with great scope and depth. Hand-built, carved, pressed, stamped, molded, and one-of-a-kind art tiles will be on view. Styles range from whimsical and contemporary to the traditional aesthetics inherent to the arts and craft movement. Imagery is also diverse, from beautiful nature-inspired motifs of trees, flowers, and wildlife to the modern day spin on “missed connections” from Craigslist - artTILE 2010 delivers something for everyone. This is an exhibit to experience.

common clay curiosities:

Can most of the tiles featured in artTILE 2010 be used in a traditional home installation? -Yes!

What else can I do with tiles? How do I feature tiles in my home without installation?

-Display just one or a collection hanging on a wall

-coordinate a series of tiles on wall with other artworks to tell your own artistic story

-Showcase tiles on stands accenting a bookshelf or mantle

-Present tiles leaning on a picture rail

indigenous, a handcrafted gallery exhibits and sells American fine craft from more than 150 artists, including works in clay, fiber, metal, glass, wood, and mixed media. We provide an eclectic and affordable selection of decorative and functional artwork by both local and national artists. The indigenous collection features beautiful hand-blown and stained glass objects, handcrafted home accents, inspired ceramics, whimsical sculpture, and distinctive jewelry. Located in the historic shopping district of O’Bryonville in Cincinnati, Ohio, indigenous provides a home for the fine arts and crafts often found only at weekend art fairs.

Embrace the arts & crafts tradition and let art become part of your nature.

artTILE 2010

2010-04-05T09:07:00.002-04:00

I am happy to announce that Emu Art Tile has be selected by

indigenous, a handcrafted gallery
2010 Madison Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45208

to be included in

May 2010!

More information to come...

Customer Display Photos

2010-04-01T08:14:00.002-04:00

L.C. from Columbus, Ohio was nice enough to send me these pictures of Emu Tiles hanging in her home. She found a 6"x6" Tree of Life Tile and a 2"x2" Cypress tile at the Blue Cottage Gallery a couple of years ago while on vacation on South Bass Island. She contacted me recently and ordered a 4"x8" Clothesline tile to complete the tree-scape.

Without the Clothesline Tile:

And With:

Thank you L.C.!

Spring Show at the Log Cabin Gallery!

2010-03-24T08:46:00.001-04:00

SPRING WHIMSY EXHIBIT

May 7 thru June 13
Six Weekends
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
11 am - 5 pm

Meet the Artists Reception

Friday, May 14
5 - 7 pm

Pat Bakos, Gemstone Trees
Sherry Beyer, Beach Glass Jewelry
Sofia Calderwood, Jewelry
Lahoma Clearwater, Leaf Sculpture
Joan Colbert, Mixed Media
web-site
Cathie Gordon, Primitive
Rug Hooking
Tamara Gunnels,
Tree Charms & Art Glass
Roseanne Klimo,
Stone Jewelry
Tammy Lang,
Copper Jewelry
web-site
Lucille Seskes, Traditional Quilting & Piecing
Tracy Shea, Functional Pottery
web-site
Emily Ulm, Art Tiles
web-site
Rebecca P. Vujanov, Ceramics
web-site
Gwen Waight, Mixed Media
web-site
John Woodall, Acrylic Painting
Russ O'Brien,
Blown Art Glass
web-site
L. Michael Peterson,
Architectural Clay
Diane Seskes, Photography
web-site

For more information, visit http://www.thelogcabingallery.com

Customer installation photos

2010-03-24T08:28:00.001-04:00

Thank you to Charlie and Bernie for sending these lovely pictures of your new kitchen! The mix of plant and animal tiles in Autumn glaze gives an inviting kitchen extra flair.

New Decade, New Tiles...

2010-01-01T09:23:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year! Here are some new, geometric 3"x3" tiles I made:

My New Year's resolution: to list these and other new designs on my art tile website.

Winter Startdust Exhibit

2009-11-13T12:42:00.001-05:00

I will be at the Holiday Open House on Saturday December 5th from noon- 2pm, and I will be at the gallery all day Friday, December 11th. A selection of my tiles will be available throughout the show. For more information, please visit www.thelogcabingallery.com

Two Gingko Tile Installations

2009-10-09T09:25:00.000-04:00

Here are pictures of two different installations that used 3"x3" ginkgo leaf tiles in the Autumn glaze. The first pictures are courtesy of C. Peterson:

I love how the Autumn glaze blends with natural stone.
The tiles dress up these two curved steps. Thanks to the Peterson family for sharing pictures!

The next set, I received a couple of months ago and somehow forgot to post. As I was drifting off to sleep last night, I suddenly remembered! And I am glad I did, because this is a beautiful installation:
The Ginkgo tiles make this spacious kitchen even more inviting!
I really like the layout the homeowners chose. The trim tiles make the feature tiles stand out.
Thank you to the Verdone Family for sending pictures! Look for them on my Installation page soon.

The Log Cabin Gallery Winter Exhibit

2009-09-23T09:29:00.000-04:00

Emu Tile will be featured again at The Log Cabin Gallery in Peninsula, Ohio as part the last show of the year, "Winter Stardust," which will run from November 20th until December 20th. The cozy 1850's log cabin turned art gallery overlooks the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is beautiful in every season.
Gallery Hours are: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 11 am - 5 pm. Holiday open house with hot cider and freshly baked cookies will be Saturday December 5. During the open house, everything will be 10% off, so plan to do some holiday shopping.

Customer Installation Photos

2009-09-18T15:53:00.000-04:00

Jacqueline Camp and her husband run a small business called J & J Construction , which explains why their bathroom looks so professional:

They set 2"x2" dragonfly tiles in cinnamon glaze in a field of commercial tiles, and the result is lovely.

What a perfect combination. I love it.
Thank you, Jacqueline, for sending such beautiful pictures!

Customer Installation Photos

2009-09-18T13:21:00.001-04:00

Ritchie Weston, owner of the Harwick Architectural Hardware Company LLC, and skilled woodworker, sent me amazing photos of his hearth and woodwork, inlaid with Emu Tiles. First, the hearth:

Next, the woodwork:

Thank you, Ritchie! I love your work.

Corporate Logo Tiles

2009-07-20T08:13:00.001-04:00

This was a fun project. A representative of a large corporation that was founded here in Kent approached me with a request to make their logo into art tiles.

First I sized the logo.

Then I carved it in clay and made a mold.

I even had a special stamp made for the back that said it was made exclusively for their company. These tiles are not available on my website or in stores; but if you have a logo that you would like to have made into a tile, contact me for rates and production times.

Customer Installation Pictures

2009-06-10T08:33:00.001-04:00

I love it when customers send pictures! I recently received some that are so unique, I may need to come up with some new categories on my handmade art tile installation page.

Doesn't this swimming pool look inviting?
If you dove in, you would see an assortment of tiny sea life art tiles installed under the water.

Thanks, Jane W., for sending pictures.

Regis L. sent me a picture me a picture of the project he completed using two 6"x6" horse tiles. He epoxied them to a highly polished stainless steel sheet, which he then framed and hung as wall art. A good idea, well executed. Thank you, Regis.

Tree Branch with Birds (finished)

2009-05-04T10:55:00.001-04:00

Here is the triptych, glazed in autumn:
I thought I would only sell it as a set of 3, but now I realize that it works as a diptych:
or even as individual tiles:
Look for all three in the tile shop soon.

Tree Branch with Birds (Triptych)

2009-04-01T12:51:00.000-04:00

The following three tiles will each be 6"x6" when they are finished:
I may adjust the position of some of the leaves and birds before I make molds.
I seem to be making a lot of birds lately! These are tiny, under two inches each.

New Designs, New Glazes

2009-03-09T15:35:00.002-04:00

My newest 4"x4" tiles:
The owl and nest are already available in the art tile shop catalog. The rabbit and woodpecker will be there later this week. The chickadee and cardinal below will take a little longer, since I haven't made the molds yet. I have been testing new glazes. At least a couple of these will show up on my glaze page soon:

The Log Cabin Gallery Summer Exhibit

2009-03-03T07:46:00.000-05:00

I am happy to announce that I have been invited to participate in the summer exhibit at The Log Cabin Gallery in Peninsula, Ohio. It is so nice to think that summer will be here before we know it...
Check back soon for dates and gallery hours.

Downtown Kent Tile News

2009-02-20T10:47:00.001-05:00

A lot has happened in downtown Kent lately. For one thing, McKay Bricker Gallery and Framing has moved to 141 E. Main Street (they were already open as the Black Squirrel Gallery at that location.) Before the move, they finished the entryway tile installation by tiling the risers and refinishing the solid oak steps:
Make sure you check it out, along with the largest selection of Emu Tiles available in town.

Just up the hill from the new and improved gallery is the venerable Kent Natural Foods Co-op which recently had a face lift. The new tile floor has a simple pattern, which gives it visual interest:
The entire interior was repainted, as well. It is a huge improvement:
There is also a charming new awning with pictures of vegetables on it, which you can see on the KNF website.

Two New Two by Two Kitchens

2009-02-19T07:45:00.001-05:00

Some of my wonderful customers recently sent pictures of their brand new kitchens. The first three are from Dennis and Carol C. They say they have already received compliments. I can see why.
I love how they set white 2"x2" bug tiles on the diagonal in a field of subway tiles. They set the tiles themselves and did an amazing professional looking job.

The next two pictures are from Lisa S:

She put 2"x2" Animal tiles in a field of natural slate. I think they add a nice personal touch!Thanks Dennis, Carol, and Lisa! I will be posting these pictures in on my art tile installation page soon.

New Designs, New Glazes

2009-01-27T16:45:00.001-05:00

Check out my new woodpecker tile:
I have also been resizing some of my old designs. The rabbit, owl, and nest will soon be available in the 4"x4" size instead of just 2"x2":
Next on my list are three more birds: chickadee, cardinal, and emu. It is about time I make an emu tile!

There are two new additions to our glaze list. Look for them on the art tile glaze sample page soon.

spearmint and pacific blue

Keepsake Boxes by Tony Howard

2009-01-05T16:32:00.001-05:00

Tony Howard sent me pictures of the keepsake boxes he made for his daughters for Christmas. Each one has different 4"x4" tile in the top.

4"x4" Daises Tile in Watercolor Blue Glaze

4"x4" Tree of Life Tile in Autumn Glaze

4"x4" Tulip Tile in Hyacinth Glaze

4"x4" Sunflower Tile in Cinnamon Glaze

Great idea, great craftsmanship. Thank you, Tony!

Who Says You Can't Lay Ceramic Tile?

2008-12-30T19:36:00.000-05:00

I am happy to report that Google Book Search now includes many current and historical periodicals. DRU found some great old articles about ceramic tile:

"Who Says You Can't Lay Ceramic Tile? Popular Mechanics, Feb 1964, pg. 156

"The Basic Facts on Ceramic Tile" Popular Science, Oct 1958, pg. 173

I love these old magazines! I hope Google keeps adding more.

Emu Tile Drawer Pulls

2008-12-04T11:43:00.000-05:00

Beverly of Beachy Rustica turned some of my small tiles into cabinet knobs/ drawer pulls. Fun!
To see the rest of her cabinet hardware or to place an order, visit her Esty shop.

Hand Printed Tiles by Sweet Thunder

2008-11-26T19:08:00.000-05:00

Sweet Thunder is an independent design studio located in Chicago. Everything they sell is handmade in house, including a very quirky collection of tiles. Tumbled marble tiles are printed with collages of gem formations, botanics, & birds. My favorite, of course, is the emu tile:
Go to their website if you'd like to see their eagle, duck, and sparrow tiles. The tiles are available in both four inch ($12) and eight inch ($50) sizes.

New Glaze Menu in the Tile Shop

2008-11-24T10:15:00.001-05:00

Last night, my clever husband added a pull down glaze menu to each of the tiles in the art tile shop. Now you get to select the glaze for each tile as you order. We hope this makes for a better online shopping experience. We tested the shopping cart and it worked for us, but if you experience any difficulties please let us know.

Cuyahoga River Mosaic at the Peninsula Library

2008-11-14T08:56:00.000-05:00

I have long admired the mural on the front of the Peninsula Library & Historical Society in Peninsula, Ohio. It was designed by the artist Honore Guilbeau, and dedicated on September 20, 1964. According to the library's website, "its shapes, lines and colors reference the geographical pattern of the Peninsula part of the Cuyahoga River Valley as it appears on old maps and in aerial photographs." Here it is today:

This is Honore's preliminary drawing:

I think the picture below is of Honore herself, supervising the installation. Isn't she amazing looking? I wish I could find out more about her. The National Museum of Women in the Arts has a database of women artists which lists her as a ceramicist, painter, printmaker, sculptor, and teacher. It also says she was born February 11, 1907 and died May 22, 2006, but doesn't give any more information about her life or work.

You can see more pictures at the Peninsula Library website.

Kraken Mosaics

2008-10-14T09:40:00.000-04:00

Kraken Mosaics creates art objects that are wonderfully offbeat. Her Etsy store is the only place on the web where you can purchase a custom made Yeti or Sasquatch mini mosaic with your choice of heart or flowers.

3"x3" Yeti with Heart / 3"x3" Sasquatch with Flowers

She also has a great selection of sea creatures and tiled high heeled shoe sculptures. Kraken Mosaics is located in Fort Myers, Florida

Winged Dog Tile

2008-10-13T08:10:00.000-04:00

My friend Ruth Apter told me about this company. Winged Dog Tile is a collaboration between David Vargo and Sandra Cosner. Their studio is in Sacramento, California and their work focuses on environmental images that reflect their appreciation of wetlands and many other natural elements that surround them.

I especially like the following two tiles, because they reveal the beauty of two very unpopular insects:

Sandra and David are currently taking time off from most production work to create new designs. I can't wait to see what these two come up with next.

Painted tiles by Alice Reynolds

2008-09-25T16:12:00.000-04:00

The phones and internet are back on! It was an interesting perspective shift to have them off for a few days. I appreciate them more than I did before.

Last weekend, my mom and I went to a rummage sale at the UCC church where we found many bargains including these pretty hand painted tiles:
They are signed "Alice Reynolds." One of the volunteers at the sale told me that they were made in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I can tell by looking at them that they are hand painted originals, not mass produced reproductions. I wasn't able to find any information about them on the internet.

I can't help but wonder if any of my tiles have found their way to rummage sales, flea markets, or second hand shops. I kind of hope so.

Emu Tiles at the Stow Library

2008-09-10T08:33:00.001-04:00

I have been testing out the new art tile glazes on different tiles. Here is a batch of 4"x4"s that are glazed in cinnamon, northern lights, and autumn. The variation reminds me of fall leaves. I am delivering these tiles to the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library today. They will be on display there for the rest of the month.

Tiles c. 1912 at the West Side Market in Cleveland

2008-08-28T07:53:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I accompanied two of my aunts on their weekly trip to the West Side Market. I hadn't been there since high school so this was the first time I saw it through a tile maker's eyes. The main building is a massive brick structure built as a market in 1912. Inside, there is a vaulted ceiling 44 feet high that is covered with terracotta tiles in an intricate herring bone pattern. The walls are covered with with subway tiles; the floor with quarry tiles. It boggles the mind to imagine making and installing all those tiles.
My favorite details are the corbels that depict animals, fruits and vegetables. I don't know how many there are in all, but I saw at least four different designs.

Above: Two rabbits in high relief.

I took pictures of other corbels, but they all came out blurry. If you want to see more, there are lots of good pictures on the West Side Market Flikr group.

Tiles in 1920

2008-08-26T12:09:00.001-04:00

DRU and I often go to the periodical archives at the university library to look at the old magazines for hours. Looking at the past makes me sad and happy at the same time. I wish I could bring all the magazines home with me. Since I can't, I decided to bring the digital camera to the library on Sunday. Here is picture of mantels decorated with art tiles from The House Beautiful c. 1920.
Click the image if you want to a closer look. I will post more images of tiles in home magazines from the arts and crafts era.

Mosaic by Adam Begley

2008-08-20T13:06:00.000-04:00

It may be "corny," but I like it!

"Ear of Corn" 33" x 24"

Adam Begley is a talented mosaic artist based in Traverse City, MI. His mission statement is: "Bringing mosaics out of the history books and into your home".

New Tiles!

2008-08-14T08:13:00.001-04:00

I just took two new tiles out of the kiln this morning. One is a 4"x4" Elm, the newest addition to my art tile tree series:
The other is a 4"x8" Cattail tile, which I think would look great with my art tile frog, dragonfly, turtle and fish tiles:
It is hard for me to get out of the habit of glazing everything in autumn. I thought about using new glazes on these, but I knew I would be using these pictures in the art tile shop and I didn't want them to be the only two that don't match. I am going to replace most of the old pictures with new, more colorful ones, but I want to do it all at once so the site maintains a consistent look.

Wall Plaques by "The Fifth Room"

2008-08-13T08:20:00.000-04:00

Rob and Tanya McCalloch combined their skills to create The Fifth Room, an art tile company based in Western Australia. Their collaboration has produced an exceptional body of work. I love the fish skeleton tile. It reminds me of fossils.
The sea horse tile also looks like it belongs in a natural history museum, especially in this glaze:
More designs and glaze options are available on their website.

Customer Installation Pictures

2008-08-05T12:01:00.001-04:00

It makes my day when a customer sends pictures of Emu Art Tile installed in their home. So naturally, I was thrilled when Brennda M. sent me pictures of her shower. Small purple cat tiles are interspersed with commercial wall tiles. The project is still in progress, but it already looks great:I wish I had tiled shampoo shelves like these in my bathroom!
The purple glaze is called hyacinth. It will be available on my glaze sample page soon.Look for pictures of the finished shower in the gallery of installations in a month or so. Thank you so much for sending pictures, Brennda!

Hand Painted Tiles by Marlena L'abbe

2008-07-31T12:25:00.000-04:00

As long as I am on the subject of tiles with pretty ladies on them, I should mention the work of Marlena L'abbe, a talented artist who paints tiles in Marietta, Ohio. On her website, WaterSpider.net, you can find a wide selection of tiles depicting beautiful women, mermaids, goddesses, and fairies. She also has a nice line of animal tiles. I think the "Cats and Tea" series is very cute.

Above, 6"x6" Tile from the Cats and Tea Series, $30
Below, one 6"x6" tile from a five tile, full body mermaid mural. $198 (for five tiles)

By the way, she has a few tiles with men on them, too!

Art Nouveau Inspired Tile by Marina Bosetti

2008-07-29T15:27:00.001-04:00

Marina Bosetti produces an extensive line of original art tiles in her studio in Raleigh, NC. She hand paints designs using a wax resist and then colors them with vivid glazes. They are all so beautiful that it is hard to pick a favorite.

Ceramic Surfaces by Pat Warwick

2008-07-28T10:31:00.001-04:00

I first saw Pat Warwick's work at an American Crafts Council show in Baltimore, MD. Her signature style is unlike anything else I have seen in the world of art tile. She embosses her handmade low-fire white clay tiles with images of sea creatures, insects, lizards, frogs, and plants, then glazes them with an expert hand. The result is nearly photo-realistic, yet reminiscent of a watercolor painting.

New Glazes!

2008-07-25T08:28:00.001-04:00

My tiles have been available in just one glaze. Now I am ready for more options. Here are some tests I took out of the kiln this morning:

The glazes above let the details of the relief tiles show. The glazes below bury the details of the relief tiles, but they will work for handmade field tiles:
Look for new glazes in the handmade art tile shop soon!

Mosiac Art by Emily Tholberg

2008-07-24T11:19:00.000-04:00

Mosaic artist Emily Tholberg creates stunning murals using stone, ceramic, and glass tiles. Much of her work is inspired by the landscape and wildlife of Southern Colorado, where she lives and works. My favorite piece on her website is called "Shiny River:"

She selected her materials carefully to produce this rich, earthy palette. The mural is 2'x4' and is made of slate, travertine, onyx, agates, and a porcelain tile sky.

Art Tiles by P.A. Lowery

2008-07-22T09:57:00.000-04:00

I am drawn to tree art, so of course I love these tiles:

Penni Lowery makes her distinctive work in Leesburg, Ohio.

I Can Spell!

2008-07-20T10:52:00.001-04:00

I have been thinking about making word tiles for a while. For now, I am making letters tiles using a stamp set I bought at a craft store. The tiles are itty-bitty (about 1"x1"), so they remind me of Scrabble pieces:

Once I make a mold, press some tiles and glaze them in Autumn, they should look something like the word KENT on this tile:

I am going to be testing a bunch of new glazes in the next couple of weeks, so the letter tiles may be available in other colors too. In case you were wondering, the Kent tile is not on our website. It is only available at McKay Bricker Gallery, and The Black Squirrel Gallery in Kent.

Raku Tiles by Ruth Apter

2008-07-17T08:21:00.000-04:00

Ruth Apter is a wonderful artist who makes tiles and small sculptures using the raku technique. She runs a successful wholesale business, 100 Horses, out of Port Townsend, WA. We did a trade last year, and I love the framed tree tile she sent me. I get many compliments on it.

I can't begin to tell you what a kind and helpful soul she is. Despite her busy schedule, she finds the time to encourage and mentor newer artists, like me. She has given me lots of valuable suggestions about the business end of Emu Tile.

Look for her work at a gallery near you.

Temporary Handmade Art Tile Installation

2008-07-16T13:58:00.001-04:00

My dear, sweet mother asked me for some tiles for her dining room. This is what we decided on:
I think the tree tiles look great with those funky candlesticks. But if she ever wants to, she can rearrange everything. The tiles are just hanging on nails.

Tiles by JoAnn Aquinto

2008-07-15T09:12:00.000-04:00

Before we started Emu Tile, DRU and I attended a tile show near Detroit where we discovered the work of JoAnn Aquinto. Her tiles really stood out because they were so bold and graphic. Her bright, exuberant style reminds me both of stained glass windows and really good graffiti.* Her craftsmanship is superb.

We bought one of her tiles and it has become one of my favorite objects in our home. Five years later, it still makes me happy every time I look at it.

*For the record: I do not endorse vandalism, but I sometimes enjoy the street art aesthetic.

More Tiles at Akron U

2008-07-13T12:46:00.000-04:00

This wonderful fountain is within view of the mosaic mural in my last post. My teacher/ mentor Donna Webb and her collaborator Joseph Blue Sky designed this in 2002, when I was still a student at Akron. Thousands of tiles were made by hand and numbered to fit together like a puzzle. Donna broke her foot during the project, but managed to complete it anyway with help from students.

The text is a quote by Catherine of Siena. It reads "Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring." How appropriate!

Hail to thee, Alma Mater...

2008-07-12T09:20:00.000-04:00

DRU and I went on date in Akron on Friday. We stopped by our Alma Mater, Akron U. The campus has changed a lot recently, which makes it strange to go back. But I am happy to report that when the old Spicer Hall and Gardener Student Center were demolished, the irreplaceable art tiles in both buildings were saved. The terracotta tiles from Spicer Hall now decorate three brick archways that lead to the new Student Recreation Center:

The mosaic mural in the old Student Center was a gift of the class of 1958. It illustrates scenes from of the university's early history. Here it is, in the new Student Union:
I miss the old buildings, but I am glad I can still visit the tiles.

Arts and Crafts Homes Magazine

2008-07-11T14:21:00.001-04:00

The new issue of Arts and Crafts Homes and the Revival just hit the newsstands. As usual, a lot of the homes featured include handmade art tile installations. There is also a list of over 75 art tile suppliers, so if you are planning a tile installation in a bungalow or foursquare (or if you just like the arts and crafts style) it would be a great magazine to pick up.

If you do find a copy, please look for the Emu Tile ad on page 97.

New Tile Designs

2008-07-10T16:53:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I finished two new designs: a 4"x4" Elm tile, and a 4"x8" Cattail tile. Today I made molds.

Look for the finished tiles in the Handmade Art Tile Shop in 4-6 weeks.

Yost Tile

2008-07-09T07:18:00.000-04:00

I live in the greater Akron area and make handmade tile, so when I meet new people they inevitably ask if I know Bob Yost. My answer is I have only met him in passing, but I know he does great work. He is a potter who runs a studio and gallery in Akron and has a impressive portfolio of handmade tiles.

The panels pictured above are on the Intensive Care Floor of the Akron Children's Hospital in Akron, Ohio.

This inspiring message is part of an installation at Wadsworth Central Intermediate School in Wadsworth, Ohio. Both pictures are courtesy of YostPottery.com

He also teaches classes, so if you live in northeast Ohio and you want to work in clay, give him a call!

Recycled Tile Mosaic at the Black Squirrel Gallery

2008-07-08T12:31:00.001-04:00

My friends Cass and Bob Mayfield run McKay Bricker Gallery and Framing here in Kent. They are in the process of moving operations to a new location in a historic downtown building, which they have already put their mark on in the best possible way. They hired David Wilson, a fourth generation tile setter, to cover the floor of the entryway with leftovers from jobs he has done over the years.The path leads you from the front door to the three different inner doors.
They used a few artisan- made tiles, including some Emu Art Tiles. Their new place is called the Black Squirrel Gallery, so they put a Squirrel Art Tile and an Acorn tile in a low traffic area.

The job isn't quite done. There are two steps between the lower and upper entry which are going to be refinished. I'll post a picture of the final product.

Kent Tiles at the Zephyr Pub

2008-07-07T08:47:00.000-04:00

To kick things off, let's take a short tile tour of my home town. The first stop is the Zephyr Pub, formerly known as the Zephyr Cafe, located in downtown Kent. I admired this mural for years before I became a tile maker. If you walk in the front door and look to the left, you can't miss it. It covers most of the wall.An enlargement of panoramic photo of downtown Kent c. 1916 was printed on a set of 6"x6" tiles. It is surrounded by tiles printed with a vivid blue, orange and yellow pattern.

At the top of the wall there are several rows of thick handmade tiles featuring abstract, high-relief designs.
This mural is so beautiful in person. It puts the building in historical context and gives it a feeling of permanence.

According to my research, this mural was created in 1994 by Aliberti Art Tile in Cleveland.

Welcome to the Tile Club

2008-07-06T09:53:00.001-04:00

This is our place to showcase tile we like. Since EMU and I run a handmade art tile business in Kent, Ohio, we will emphasize handmade tile. But anything relating to tile is fair game.

The name "The Tile Club" is borrowed from a famous association of artists in in New York City who met regularly between 1877 and 1897 to exchange ideas and paint tiles. The picture above is Shepherdess Tile. It is 8"x8" and was painted by Tile Club member Winslow Homer in 1878. The image is from the book, The Tile Club and the Aesthetic Movement in America by Ronald G. Pisano.