Margit Nellemann Handbuilt Ceramics
8350 Richards Trail V9L 6B2 Duncan, BC, Canada

Years ago, I thought it would be fun to sell all my seconds on the second day of the second month, a date that would be easy to remember and need no reminder. So, every February second, I invite people to come and select from the seconds I have produced throughout the previous year. The pieces that have been put aside during the year are brought out for this event and rather than destroying them they are sold at very reduced prices. And adding to the theme of seconds and 2s, ...I thought it would be fun to ask everyone to come in a Tutu. This creates a carnivalesque atmosphere on a midwinter’s day and what’s more it offers 22% savings off all regularly priced clay pieces in the Gallery. This year, the sale is on for 2 days - February 2nd and 3rd. The event is at WESTHOLME TEA COMPANY] and the hours are 11-4pm. In order to avoid crowds and to make this event accessible to as many people as possible I will be restocking the ‘Seconds’ every 2 hours throughout the 2 days. See you WESTHOLME TEA COMPANY] February 2nd or 3rd. . . . #annualsecondssale #secondssale #ceramicssale #margitssale #margitnellemannsale #margitnellemann #margitnellemannceramics #sale #ceramics #handbuiltceramics #handbuilding #westholme #westholmetea #westholmeteacompany #tutusale

A whole pile of coils, building, forming, a lot of smoothing, then finishing, followed by two firings and a teapot is born. . . #teapotsinthemaking #coiling #coilingteapots #ceramics #handbuilding #handbuiltceramics #madebyhand #margitnellemann #margitnellemannceramics #westholme #thegalleryatwestholme #westholmeteacompany #teaware #loveteapots #cowichanart #cowichanartisans

I love it when my pieces find new homes and look so comfortable in their new surroundings it is as if they were made exactly for this place and purpose . . #findinganewhome #ceramics #handbuiltceramics #handbuilding #ceramicsgallery #thegalleryatwestholme #westholme #margitnellemann #margitnellemannceramics #ceramicorbs #newsurroundings

Well, hello peonies! I am thrilled to see you but isn’t this a bit early? . . #earlyrisers #peonies #abittooearly

This old lady keeps me tea happy every morning She worked as a service pot in the tearoom at @westholme_tea for quite a few years before going into retirement. And she has the scars and marks as proof of her busy work life. Now, she is required only to make me my very favourite Golden Monkey tea every morning. .... . #morningtea #favouriteteapot #teapot #ceramicteapot #ceramics #handbuilding #margitnellemann #margitnellemannceramics #westholme #westholmetea #westholmeteacompany #goldenmonkeytea #lovetea See more

Leading up to my annual seconds sale I usually pause and think about what it is that makes something a second. Below, I have included an excerpt from an article that I wrote about Seconds. I would love to hear what your thoughts are on the subject of seconds, blemishes and beauty marks. -... Handbuilding often results in an inherent asymmetry. Pieces are literally built by hand and become true representations of the hand, bodies and souls that have built them. A cup may have an uneven edge, handles can be slightly different in size, round may be a more organic version of the circle and so forth. Handbuilding mirrors the irregular and slightly lopsided facets of life. Wabi-sabi honours and celebrates those very qualities. Wabi-sabi sees the beauty in a weathered piece of cedar, or in a cup with a thick runny glaze. According to the wabi-sabi philosophy of life these elements simply display what life is about and it reminds us that there is an inherent beauty to the process called life. Selling and choosing pieces for a Seconds Sale of ceramics sometimes becomes a bit of a head-scratching process. Some pieces are obvious candidates while others are seconds only in the eyes of the person that created them. Many of the pieces that I put aside as seconds seem absolutely perfect to many people. For me to decide that a piece I have worked on for a while is a second I think is because I had something very particular in mind when I started working on the piece and if I don’t see that something any longer once the process is complete, it may end up in my annual seconds sale. There is nothing wrong with the piece. It is a perfect wabi-sabi yet it has now been labelled a second by who created it. This is definitely something that I mull over. Do you see a blemish or a beauty mark? I look forward to seeing you at @westholme_tea February 2 and 3rd between 11 and 4pm for our Annual Seconds Sale. #annualsecondssale #secondssale #ceramicsecondssale #tutusale #ceramics #handbuiltceramics #handmade #handbuilding #blemishesorbeautymarks #margitnellemann #margitnellemannceramics #westholme #westholmeteacompany #westholmetea