February 2021 Layl Newsletter

Awards

This past month Layl was honored to win awards in two shows. The first award for “Squawking Blue Bird Teapot” (above), was “Best in Blue” in the “Primary Show” at Banfill Locke Center for the Arts. Read the whole story.

January 2021 Layl Newsletter

On December 17th we lost a member of our Clay Squared family. Chris Madsen had been battling cancer for the past 4 years and we are heartbroken that she passed away last month. If you had placed any orders or come in to visit us in the past nine years you most likely encountered Chris and was impressed by her helpfulness and positivity. Read the whole story.

December 2020 Layl Newsletter

Domestic Sculpting

Layl’s newest blog post discusses creativity and sculpture in everyday activities like cooking and landscaping. Layl talks about finding inspiration and art throughout her life, and even now during the pandemic. Read the entire post here.

August 2020 Clay Squared Newsletter

A New Addition

Recently, we have a new addition to the Clay Squared Crew. Maddy has taken on the shipping of our handmade tiles, sample packs, catalogs and Layl’s Silly Millies. She makes sure our sample tiles get shipped promptly with all of our literature and planning guides. Maddy’s an illustrator and is pursuing a BA in studio arts, and she also spends the majority of her spare time making costumes for Cosplay. Recently she’s been working on her core strength by lifting heavy boxes of tiles all day (bending her knees of course).

August 2020 Layl Newsletter

Earlier this summer Josh and I were on a bike ride when we saw an impromptu art car parade. Some of the cars were ones I’d seen before but some were obviously newly created with a “pandemic theme” – like a mask over the car!
Then one of the drivers hollered to me – “great helmet” and I realized I still had my pipe cleaners in my helmet from last summer’s NE parade. That’s when I decided I needed to take it a little further and I added some flowers to my pipe cleaners. Now as I bike around every day I get all kinds of smiles and waves, shouts, and honks about my helmet. It’s a small thing but I hope for a second I’m bringing people just a little fun distraction.
As these different and challenging times continue my own art is my fun distraction. I am learning to find assignments for myself to create new work. I recently finished a piece to submit to the Minnesota State Fair. It’s a super tough competition but I used the deadline for a push to make a new piece. Stay tuned to my Facebook and Instagram to see if I get in.

June 2020 Layl Newsletter

This past week has been the most painful and heartbreaking week in the memory of Minneapolis’ residents. I never thought I would see the entire area around the high school my daughters graduated from destroyed by fire and looting. But the anger at the killing of George Floyd has triggered some long seeded pain here and now around the country. My daughter has gone to protest and though I am filled with fear when she goes I support her desire to be heard. A lot of my friends live in the areas that are hard hit and Saturday night I read on Facebook about their plans to defend their own neighborhoods. Sadly, many small businesses and non-profits have been sacrificed in this cause and now they will need to rebuild.

I wanted to share a few of the places I am donating to with you. If you are in a place to give please consider a donation.

May 2020 Layl Newsletter

I hope you are all faring well in these unusual times. Here are some tidbits of distraction to get you through. Click here to read the newsletter.

February 2020 Layl Newsletter

In January, Layl created several teapots that had added dimensionality like branches, ladders and carousels. These new teapots, while still functional, go beyond the teapot form and build beyond it’s “borders.” You can view more sculptural teapots like the Flamingo Carousel Teapot (above) at Layl’s website.
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