Important dates and Deadlines

February 1
Minnesota Tile Festival registration starts save 10%

April 30
Early RSVP for 2013 Minnesota Tile Festival ends

August 15
Deadline for 2012 Minnesota Tile Festival artist registration

September 1
Start of 2013 HTA Directory drive

October 15
Last day to register for 2013 HTA Directory advertising without $35 late fee

October 31
Drop dead deadline for 2013 HTA Directory advertising

November 15 & 16
Proofing party for 2013 HTA Directory

Opportunities, Awards and Press of our members

Minnesota Tile Festival Award Winners

Stone Hollow Tile- Blaine MN
”Awarded to the artist whose tile in the juror’s opinion best
represents the ceramic tile traditions in America”

The Second series of awards was done by Melinda Nelson editor of
Mpls/St.Paul Magazine.
David Achinger Tile - St. Paul MN
Editors Choice

Lea Way Design  - Minneapolis, MN
Leann E. Johnson - Best Use of Detail

Stephanie Kaczrowski- Brooklyn Park, MN
Most picturesque

Mercury Mosaics - Minneapolis, MN
Mercedes Austin - Most inventive use of medium

Click here to see each of the artists

Minnesota tile artist takes the title of DIY Dominator

(Minneapolis, MN) – Handmade Tile Association member Mercedes Austin of Mercury Mosaics won $10,000 and the prestige of being Tile Dominator on the show DIY Dominator on the DIY Network.
Austin and two other tile experts put their tile and design prowess to the test by designing and creating a bathroom in just 7 hours. The show aired on the DIY Network on June 2nd and 3rd 2011

April Artist of the Month

Deb LeAir’s Handcrafted Earthenware Clay Pieces Receive National Attention

(Minneapolis, MN) – St. Paul artist Deb LeAir has been named the Handmade Tile Association’s Artist of the Month for her work with handcrafted clay tiles. Her artwork has been published and viewed across the United States. LeAir’s works includes vessels, tiles, boxes and decorative installations for rooms. The tile installations can be custom designed to meet the needs of any décor.
Deb LeAir’s handmade works will be on display at the Bloomington, MN Art Center until April 8. Her works will also be on display in other cities across the country, including Atlanta and Chicago. To learn more about her schedule, visit debleair.com.

Mosaic Tile Today

Many local mosaic companies and artisans continue to create beautiful mosaic tile installations for homes, companies and public spaces.They’re also teaching amateur and enthusiastic hobbyists to create their own works of mosaic art.

Mosaic on a Stick (mosaiconastick.com), a St. Paul mosaic shop, offers supplies and community classes to interested amateurs. Mercury Mosaics (mercurymosaics.com) in Northeast Minneapolis offers beginner and advanced classes. And tile and mosaic artist Sheryl Tuorila (sheryltuorila.com) offers a number of classes on mosaic and tile creation in her studio in the Northrup King Building in Northeast Minneapolis.

In addition to classes, tile and mosaic creators often sell “overruns” or “seconds,” which are left over or unused portions of tile that can be recycled and repurposed for new mosaic creations. The free Handmade Tile Association Directory for 2011 offers would-be artisans a number of connections to mosaic and tile artists in order to purchase these materials.

February Artist of the Month

(Minneapolis, MN) – The Handmade Tile Association named Leann E. Johnson, the artist behind Lea-Way Designs, its February Feature Artist of the Month. Leann’s work combines the functional medium of tiles with the creativity of African mudcloth and Adinkra symbols. Her tile work includes functional pieces like trays filled with tiles that can be used as coasters. Read more click here.

Artisan Tile Northwest new catalog is unveiled

The Artisan Tile North West located in Seattle WA has just published their first publication of a tile and mosaic artist directory!  This is big and great news that the polifiration of artisan tile groups are growing and thriving.  The Handmade Tile Association has been encouraging many tile groups to organize for years.  Every directory and organized tile group that develops helps create the sense that using handmade tiles as part of American culture is normal.  The more the public gets use to seeing handmade tile and mosaics the more they will see it as what they want in their homes and businesses.  To get a copy of this new directory contact Steve Moon.  Congradulations and we look forward to colaborating with ATNW for many years to come. 
Contact Steve Moon Click here to order your free copy today.

2010 Minnesota Tile Festival Award Winners

Congratulations to the Best of Show winners at the Minnesota Tile Festival

Most Unique Criteria is based on tile that captures the imagination of the jury.  Based on subject matter, design, patterning, installation and artwork.
Laura McCaul for Most Unique Designs
Most Innovative Criteria is based on how a tile is made that advances the concept of tile for any of the following:  Designed for better installation, hanging device(s), composition of product, pattern(s), how it is made or designed.
Marty Pearson for Most Innovative
Most Creative Criteria is based on creative ways the tiles were made, hung, designed, framed, installed and subject matter.  Can be based on genre (ie Arts and Crafts, Mid Century, contemporary, Victorian, conceptual, etc).
Sheryl Tuorila for Most Creative