Feed a little. Feed a lot. Feed your mind.

Pre-Holiday Greetings from Gabriola and Feedlot Studios!

There is so much going on at Feedlot Studios this fall and winter season that it is hard for Bryan and I to keep our heads on straight. We thought we moved to in island for a little more R&R and instead we have found ourselves busier than ever work wise, creatively speaking and socially so! No complaints from this neck of the woods, but we thought we'd list for you some of our goings on about Valli Place.

Successful Ceramics Classes

As you can see the Adults, kids and Halloween classes were a major success. Not only were we full to the brim with students, but the creativity that flowed from the fingertips of all participants big and small was positively contagious. We were happy to host one 
Kids' Class, one Adult Class and three Halloween Workshops.
I also managed to squeeze in a two day workshop with the  
Gabriola Nursery School.

Upcoming Classes

Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat...On tap for the Holiday is a set of two sessions geared to the  
"Adult Elf." The Tuesday evening session is all full up but should you be interested in the Wednesday evening gig, drop us a line as there are a few spots left. 

New Kids Holiday Class!

  Adventures in Gingerbreadland! 

 A one day parent and child workshop for the younger kids (3-6). 

Come make some long lasting terra cotta gingerbread ornaments to last you through the Holiday seasons on Gabriola and afar.  

Sunday, December 12th. 1 pm- 3 pm. 

Cost $25.

Drum Roll Please...

And finally GWAA comes to the island! Sylvie Milman of Jupiter Ranch and Mariko and Bryan have joined their super powers together to bring to you the 2010 Gabriola Winter Art Affair this Saturday, December 18th, 10 am - 5 pm. We are close to signing up 40 artists for this self directed art extravaganza. Too much to tell you here so please link to the GWAA Blog for participating artist and visitor info.

For more class  or GWAA information , please click here to email us!

Mariko and Bryan

Gabriola Winter Art Affair- A Call to Artists and Art Lovers Alike!

Open your house, home, studio or share one 

with a friend for it's time to launch the 

2010 Gabriola Art Affair!

Organized by the likes of myself,

Mariko McCrae and the fabulous Sylvie Milman, we present to you what will hopefully become another time honored 

tradition on Gabriola Island.

Please email us for more details on how to 

participate in this self- directed art tour that will take place 

Saturday, December 18th, 2010. 

The deadline to submit an application is November 7, 2010.

Halloween Write up!

Artist Finn Valdez

Well, what a success the Halloween Kids Classes were this past weekend!

Three classes chock o block full of talented kids and enthusiastic parents made for shelves packed with all sorts of great Halloween projects and plenty of kiln firings for feedlot.

Carly and Robin of Coast Realty participated with their little ones and had this to say about their clay times... Click here to link to their blog!

Prairie Excellence... Best in Province!

Before I moved to the fair Isle of Gabriola, I entered my Willow Top Golf Shoes in the Prairie Excellence Show brought about by the Alberta Craft Council. Lo and Behold, they seem to have fetched Best in Province.

Toot, Toot! That's me blowing my little horn!

Click here for a link to the Prairie Excellence website!

Winter Workshops for the Adult Elf!

Come make your stylish ceramic gifts, stocking stuffers, hanging ornaments AND a Surprise Project at Feedlot Studios. We will spend the first two sessions making and the third glazing up your HolidayBooty.

$100 Workshop Fee (+ HST) includes clay and glaze materials + firing...oh and mulled cider!

Session 1 (Tuesdays)

November 16                        6:30 - 9

November 23                        6:30 - 9

November 30                        6:30 – Til glazing is finished!

Session 2 (Wednesdays)

December 1                          6:30 - 9

December 8                          6:30 - 9

December 19                        6:30 -Til Glazing is finished

Contact us by clicking here or 250.325.3281

The Open House

We hope that you can join us in a toast to our

studio and our new home on Gabriola!

Halloween Classes!! Spooky Ceramics for Kids and Adults..

Feedlot Studios loooves Halloween and is pleased to offer two classes for this frightfully delightful season.

Come with your Little Goblins to a  

Child and Parent Class 

 OR 

Let your Bigger Ghouls come 

to their own spooky session.

Goblin Classes

 (Toddler and Parent - Ages 3-5)

Saturday, October 16

10 AM - 12 PM

$25 + HST

Ghoul Classes 

(Kids 7+)

Sunday, October 17

10 AM - 12 PM

$25 + HST

All work will be ready for pick up

in time for Halloweeen!

Contact by clicking on Mariko or call us at 250.325.3281

Fall in Love with Ceramics...Classes beginning this September

Join Mariko McCrae at the brand, spanking new Feedlot Studios for a Beginner’s foray into the world of ceramics. Handbuilding techniques such as pinching, coiling, slab making and modeling will be introduced in conjunction with a variety of projects. Fun, versatile and colorful glazes will be used to finish things up with. Come learn why ceramics has stood the test of time to be one of the best art forms around…you know you’ve always wanted want to!

Clay material and firing costs are included in the course fee of $125.

Adult Classes (9 Weeks)

Wednesday Evenings

Start Date: September 15 - November 10

Time: 7-9 PM

Fee: $125 + HST

Kids Classes  7 + (9 Weeks)

Friday Afternoon

Start Date: September 17 – November 12

Time: 3-5 PM (Pick up kids by 5:30)

Fee: $125 + HST

Please contact Mariko at by email or 250.325.3281 (I will be away for the September long weekend so please leave a message!)


(PS A little more about me!)


Mariko McCrae is a Vancouver born artist whose career has taken her to the likes of the Banff Centre in Alberta, the International Ceramics Research Center in Denmark, Greenwich House Pottery in New York and both Kent State and Ohio University in Ohio. Her return to Calgary resulted in a teaching position at the Alberta College of Art & Design, but just recently she has moved to Gabriola Island to resume a full time practice at Feedlot Studios. 

Mariko’s handbuilt works pay homage to the world of historical ceramics. She both covets and hoards Christie’s and Sotheby auction catalogs that constitute her prime source of inspiration. With carefully selected historical pieces to serve as visual anchors she then merges them with contemporary subject matters in order to achieve a body of work that demonstrates a strange hybridization of culture, a warped sense of time travel and, as always, challenges notions of taste.

So Darn Close!

Ceramics & Design Aficionados! 

Mark your calendars..

Opening Day 

is almost upon us!

If you are on Gabriola Island August 29th (Sunday afternoon) please drop 

by for a sneak peak/looky loo around our brand new studio. 

It will be a busy little block as our neighborhood

potluck/ BBQ will also be taking place,

but we thought it might provide a festive backdrop for our kick off.

Come September we will be open for business and  October 2 we will 

be hosting a little reception...details to follow.

Can't wait to meet you all!

Mariko & Bryan and all their wiener dogs.

Signpainter's Daughter Takes a Stab at Fencing!

Well, now that I got your attention you can see the latest fruits of our labour here on Gabriola. I have been hard at work getting the signage up for Feedlot Studios. Popzz Paterson was really impressed, but was also quick to point out that I got the heavy downstroke reversed on the U of THANK YOU. Oh well..I tried my best.

Meanwhile in the studio, Bryan had a far less glamorous, but way more important task of working on the electricals. DJ Electric (Dennis) handled the big stuff, but Bryan has been a trooper whilst installing the track lighting in the gallery and readjusting the receptacles before the drywallers come next week. Many thanks to our next door neighbor's Doug and Val for answering our many building questions and informing us as to what a soffit is.

ALSO, Thanks Bill Miner for all your handy dandy tips and references to such swell folk. We hope you are getting a good commission out of them.


Ciao for now!
M&B