STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Those attending Boulder Mountain Clayworks’ newly rebranded Ceramics in the Garden fundraiser chuckled as 2-year-old Selene Higueras, nestled in Jose Higueras’ arms, kept raising her paddle every time something went up for bid.

The little tyke raised her paddle for a three-night stay in a Stanley chalet complete with a $100 dinner gift certificate and whitewater rafting trip. She raised it for Sun Valley and BCRD Nordic passes. And she raised it for an encaustic painting and an opportunity to attend a MSCL pickleball tourney and dinner featuring John McEnroe.

Each time, the elder Higueras pushed the paddle down just in time to avoid buying the whole farm, while noting that little Selene likely had a great future as a philanthropist.

These table centerpieces were among the items Clayworks’ potters made for the silent auction table.

The money that patrons did bid that evening went towards the Ketchum clay arts studio, which was founded by Susan Ward in 1997. The 2,000-square-foot facility offers classes for children and adults in stoneware, porcelain and raku poetry.

It boasts 12 wheels, a slab roller, pug miller extruder and room for hand building, along with two large electric kilns and a glaze kiln.

Boulder Mountain Clayworks is about to embark on its second round of fall classes on Oct. 22 with classes in figurative sculpture, Halloween lanterns and masks for kids, Teen Throwing and classes on making Halloween witches, goblins and ghouls, Thanksgiving table decorations and winter holiday candle holders (see https://bouldermtnclay.org/calendar/).

And it’s inviting the community to take part in its Empty Bowl-A-Thon from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 11., at the Bouler Mountain Clayworks Studio on 10th St. between Highway 75 and Warm Springs Road in Ketchum. The exact address is 471 E. 10th St., Unit B6.

Anna Koonce and Kara Odell are among the interns who have assisted with the kids’ classes at Boulder Mountain Clayworks.

There is no cost to take part in the Empty Bowl-A-Thon. Adults and children alike are invited to make bowls ranging from funky to artistic.

The bowls will be filled with soup and salad at the 11th annual Empty Bowls fundraising event, which will be held Feb. 1 to benefit the Blaine County Charitable Fund. The Blaine County Charitable Fund helps locals with emergency rental assistance and unexpected medical, utility, transportation and insurance expenses.

Other groups, such as book clubs and service organizations, are welcome to book an Empty Bowls-making class between Oct. 15 and Dec. 15.

Among the groups that is pitching in is 5B Engine Works. The philanthropic women’s group, modeled after 100 Men Who Care, is trying to raise money to cover the cost of the bowl production, which historically has been underwritten by a private donor.

The All Things Wild Totem went for $3,500.

It takes two pounds of clay per bowl and it costs $50 for a bag of clay. It costs $2,400 to produce the bowls by the time you add up the total cost of clay and the production.

Checks can be written to Boulder Mountain Clayworks and sent to Nancie Tatum at P.O. Box 1365, Sun Valley, ID 83353. Write “Empty Bowls Clay donation” in the memo line.

WHAT’S MORE:

Boulder Mountain Clayworks offers Corporate Team Building Activities that including a Surprise Bowl Project that allows team members to build and decorate functional bowls with an element of surprise at the end.

Lauren Street greeted patrons while Diane Walker looked on.

Clayworks also offers full-time and parttime membership options for those with ceramic experience that comes with a locker and shelf to keep clay and tools organized.