Archive for April, 2009

Not Just Handmade Mugs – Vases too!

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

At the end of January Annie and I flew out to California for the CABBI conference which was held in Monterey, CA. Since we are a fan of staying at Inns, and love staying with Innkeepers that serve coffee in handmade coffee mugs – The Jabberwock was an easy pick. The image you see below is of a Custom Handmade Vase by John Deneen… This item was donated to CABBI and surprisings won by Dawn in the silent auction. What a beautiful center piece it makes especially as it is the same custom glaze color as the handmade mugs that surround it.

Large Custom VaseLarge Custom Vase

John and Dawn have such a timeless and elegant B&B that is perched up on Laine Street overlooking the bay. The conference wasn’t the best as far as business goes, but our trip was… As we were able to visit Big Sur, Santa Cruz and San Francisco. The highlight was being able to look out the windows of the Mimsy Suite each morning at the Monterey Bay, and then come downstairs for breakfasts that were delicious, rich, and fresh! The coffee was amazing as well, and it didn’t hurt that it was served in such beautiful custom handmade mugs :-)

View from our roomView from our room

The last morning of our trip we ran across the Golden Gate Bridge… A nice activity considering in Monnesota that day it was -15º. Luckily we have our kilns back here at the pottery that keeps us warm! There are some definite positives to growing up in a family that makes custom handmade stoneware!

Annie and Niles in SFAnnie and Niles in SF

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Amazing Stoneware Mugs – Amazing Images

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

jr_wichergarden1The Wicher Garden – Queens Cup

Recently I was working with Sarah Stotts, from BedandBreakfast.com, on an article about my family’s Custom Pottery Mug business When she asked me for any new images of our handmade stoneware Jumping Rocks popped into my head. So I got on the phone and left a message for Matthew Lovette, Photographer, and Mark Smith, Photo Stylist, to give me a call. These two amazingly talented guys previously owned and operated a successful and nationally-recognized country inn, The Woolverton Inn in New Jersey before they founded Jumping Rocks Photography… Their pictures have been published and reproduced by countless publications and hospitality websites. You’ll find  them in Washingtonian Magazine, Philadelphia Magazine, Country Living, National Geographic Traveler, Forbes, among othersIt is not uncommon for our handmade mugs to ‘pop up’ in many of the distinguished properties that Jumping Rocks works with. Here are a few of the images that Matthew gave me permission to post online. I am pleased to share these images with you!

jr_richmont1The Richmont Inn – Tankard Mug

jr_brampton1The Brampton Inn – Colonial Mug
jr_beavercottage1Beaver Lake Cottages – Flare Mug
jr_wichermenu1The Wicher Garden – Custom Mugs ready to serve

We are passionate about the work of our hands, and when photographed in the setting in which our handmade mugs are found – they look stunning! Visit these properties and enjoy the time you have, purchase a mug to remember that time… And every time you drink from that handmade coffee mug you will be able to recall the details you loved the most!

If you have a property or business that is in need of mugs just give us a call – we look forward to hearing from you! Toll Free 888-646-0238 or visit us online by clicking here!

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The Hunt for a Handmade Round Belly Mug

Friday, April 17th, 2009

As my family has been making mugs for customers for over 30 years from time to time we hear from folks like Vince Smith of Houston, Texas:

Dear Niles:
Approximately 12 years ago, my wife and I were in Ithaca, NY and had the pleasure of spending a night at the Rose Inn.  In a matter of days, the two mugs we purchased became my favorite [handmade coffee mugs] of all time.  Unfortunately, one of them was broken beyond recognition.  I know that’s hard to believe since they are so sturdy. (more…)

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Attention Catalog Request Recipients

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

If you requested a catalog and didn’t receive one in February or March your information did not makes its way through our website to us.

We apologize for this miscommunication and failure to send you our catalog.

The problems have been fixed and the “Catalog Request” page is now working. We promise to send one to you if you’ll request one again. Click here to request another one.

Sincerely,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Niles Deneen VP, Marketing                                                                                                                                                                                            Deneen Pottery

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Custom Handmade Stoneware Mugs & More – Kiln Report 2

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

Spring is finally in the air and I had a few minutes this morning to take pictures of the firing that took place yesterday. We fire the kiln 4-5 days a week, each glaze firing heats the stoneware inside up to about 2350º F and takes 24 hours to heat up and cool down. Like most commercial and handmade pottery we have 2 firings; bisque, and glaze. The bisque firing is the first and heats the our handmade stoneware up to 1600º F over the course of 12 hours. I’ll take some pictures of the difference in air dry, bisque, glazed and then glaze fired in the next report.

Now for the mug shots:

Clay Corner Colonial Mugs - BurgundyClay Corner – Burgundy, Colonial Mugs

(more…)

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Innkeeping Conference and Trade Show – Paii

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

Not sure where you were from the March 30th – April 2nd…

My family (mom, dad, aunt and wifey) spent 4 days in Atlanta talking about our custom handmade stoneware mugs with some of the best innkeeping professionals in the country. We’ve been working with the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (paii), the sponsors of the conference, for over 26 years! There is a very interesting story here that is on it’s way…

For Deneen Pottery the event is a sort of family reunion with established and new customers that all find (or will find) success serving and selling the handmade custom mugs that we make. Below Julie Rolsen from the Garth Woodside Mansion, a dancing diva and highest seller of our Deneen Pottery Mugs!

Julie Rolsen with Annie and Mary Deneen

Julie Rolsen with Annie and Mary Deneen

(more…)

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