Moving Camp.

Dear followers! We have done it. Mulled it over for a while, and decided to move camp from Blogger to Wordpress. Was not an easy decision, since we've been with blogger for a while, and it fits like an old shoe... but that's OK. The other blogs I keep up with will stay here, just Blue Hen Pottery will move on.

To keep up with us, please make note to put the new site in your bookmarks or however you like to keep track of your virtual reading material:) I will keep this site up for a while to help with transition.

And here it is:

Blue Hen Pottery

On the topic

The ingenuity of clay folks is just amazing!
Occasionally I spend some time getting lost in cyberspace. It leads to unexpected finds.
Today's mind blowing encounters:

Christin Johansson has quite a range of work.
Make sure to check out the Clay Crew in the projects section of her webpage. Take clay to the masses!

Simon Zolt Jozsef makes breathtaking objects. I especially like the ones he has up on his FB page.

Awww.
I feel so mediocre.

Off the topic

Just popped in to check on one of my favorite blogs the Mason - Dixon Knitting, and they had up the following links on Knitty Blog and Flickr

Just to peak your curiosity

All sorts of cups

The cup show is up at the Barrett Clay Works. To see all the great entries check HERE.

Apparently one of my cups got an Honorable Mention award:) I'm pretty happy about that. Well, I was pretty happy to participate in the show:)

Other than that - haven't gotten into studio/garage much lately :( At STARworks we're getting geared up to have another Annual Gathering in October, so there is plenty to do on many levels. There are also more meetings... BTW, if you would like to come to the Annual Gathering this year - let me know and we'll send you an invitation!

Staying busy with driving the kids to school and from school and to and from dance...

I did recycle some clay scraps last week, since the bank account has gotten dangerously low, and buying new clay will have to wait.

Open house at STARworks Ceramics TONIGHT at 5pm. Don't miss it! Samples of local clay blends, refreshments and good company guaranteed!

Woohoooo

It's been a while since I posted any pix, but since I just got done photographing the other day, here are some new images of work. Some of it not so new anymore.

(Slab Cylinders)

(Adam's Beer Cups)

(Crooked Little Cups)

(Polka Dot Lid Jar)

(Long Dog Bowl)

The news from Blue Hen Pottery today are following:

We will be participating at the Celebration of Seagrove Potters this year for the first time! Come out and see us (and 59 other Seagrove area potters) there in November!

I applied for Tax ID # yesterday online. It went smoothly. To apply for Tax ID # you also need an Employer Identification Number in most cases, so that needs to be done first. We got that done online as well, on IRS website.

All the paperwork should arrive in the mail in 10 business days... and we'll go from there. All this business stuff is complicated, but everyone assures me it will get better once you go through a few cycles of keeping records and paying taxes. We shall see...

Baby steps

So much to learn...

HERE is a virtual small business tax workshop from IRS website for those who are wrestling with setting up a business.

Phew. Brain freeze.

The in's and out's of setting up a business.

So. Maybe I'm impatient... but in trying to set up our business in NC I seem to be running into snags that are caused by insufficient information. (MAYBE it's just that I think simple things into complicated things... as a matter of fact - I'm sure of it. Have noticed tendencies of that before!)

So I thought to record the steps taken, in case it may be helpful to someone in the future. AND to record for our own reference. It's all too easy to forget, as soon as something is resolved.

So, the question of registering a business has been the #1 issue so far. I read from NC Department of Commerce website that:

To file your Sole Proprietorship or General Partnership business name, download the Certificate of Assumed Name. Assumed Name forms are filed with the County Register of Deeds. There is no statewide name registration for Sole Proprietorships or General Partnerships, that is why you must file your name in each county you conduct business.

So, it states pretty clearly, that you need to file in each county where you will sell. (however, when I asked in the Register of Deed's office in Troy where I should file, no one could give me a clear answer. "maybe in your county of residence?") Well, here's where I did some over-thinking - it really is as simple as that - IN THE COUNTY where you plan to SELL.

Sounds like a pain in the butt, especially if you are doing shows all over the place... And it kind of is, even though it is sort of logical too considering that most likely one will not sell work in EVERY county of every state. It just means - more planning, thinking ahead and preparations are required. The registering itself is a piece of cake - You can print the Certificate of Assumed Name from the Dep. of Commerce website, fill it in, get it notarized and take it to the Register of Deeds of the county you wish to file=sell in. There is a modest fee. (I will see next if it can be mailed)

I still think it would be great if this could be done statewide in one step... Oh well.

SO. This morning I took a trip to Asheboro, and filed the Blue Hen Pottery registration form in Randolph County:) It took only a few minutes.

What's next?

Tax ID #.