These are some of the comments I received from people after the symposium.

Phil- I am home, 12 hours, more rain and snow and construction. So good to be back in my cave. I can't thank you enough for inviting me and for your incredible hospitality.
many thanks....you deserve a box of gold stars.
tom turner

Hey Phil,
Thank you for a wonderful time. You blew everyone away!!!!! I wish we had more time to spend together at your place but it's tough when you were being pulled in 50 different directions. I know our paths will cross many times in the future and I am very excited about that!
If you are ever in Southern Cal or Idaho I would love to show you my shop. Take care and thank you again!
Best, Kris (Friedrich)

Hi Phil-
It was absolutely great and you are the best at organizing, promoting and running the event. You moved around seemingly relaxed and responded to each request with patience and may I say grace. I've never seen anyone do so much with such seeming ease.
For me it was just plain wonderful. You wrote once that you were comfortable visiting my house. Well I felt that way amongst 45 or so at yours.
There were so many memorable moments, many of them touched on at that 'last supper'.
I do think that many of the men were surprised they could be comfortable for so many hours and days chatting with other men and women.
You have to be exhausted - but I hope it's with a good feeling that your efforts produced a resoundingly successful conference - that's the best kind of tired.
Arnie

Hey Phil,
I didn't want to wait until I got home to thank you . . . AND your family for taking on the task of hosting this weekend's event. You are so very humble and modest, a great, great characteristic to have - Thank You for letting me be part of this very special weekend!!
Warmly
Glenn Woods

Hi Phil,
Please accept my thanks for inviting me to be at the workshop this weekend. You did an amazing job accomodating everyone, the clay, the kilns, the glazes, the food, the parking, the bonfire, the everything. The throwing demos were great..and the pots ..well, fantastique. I don't know the words. The participants were warm and giving; your t-shirt design witty and clever.
In fact, maybe the weekend bordered on spiritual!
Thanks, Phil. I had a wonderful time.
Marilyn (Dale)

Hi Phil,
I just wanted to thank-you for such an incredible weekend. I was so disappointed to miss today with the outcome from the kilns. Unfortunately my 17 year old cat took a turn for the worse last night and she died today. I was looking forward to a final day and for the time to say goodbye to such a great group of people.
You went above and beyond as a host and made the whole event the kind of event that is legendary. Good to see you and your beautiful studio created for following your passion. Too often people get wrapped up with some choices in life and they forget about doing things they enjoy doing.
I’m still marveling at my good fortune to find myself at the epicenter of such a great gathering!
Thanks again,
Barbara Bonham

Phil,
From this point forward, when I hear phrases like: The WOW factor; Going the extra mile; Going above and beyond; Doing it right the first time; The ultimate experience; etc. I will think of you and this weekend you put together. GREAT JOB!!!
Thanks again for a GREAT time, please tell Patty (I'm terrible with names, I hope this is your wife's name otherwise I'm in the dog house) please tell Patty that I really appreciate her sacrafice, I know it was stressful for both of you but because the whole crystalline thing is really not her passion, it did seem to cut deeper . . . I guess a plain thank you would have been good enough.
Warmly
Glenn

(Phil,)
...really wonderful!!! What more can i say?! i am so ready to get back in the studio and play with both the clay and glazes. But truly, best of all was, indeed, connecting and reconnecting with so many fine people!!
I hope you passed on that altered cup and my thanks to Patty for having us all invade your lives for the lo-o-o-ong weekend!!
I'll be in touch!
Ginny

Hi Phil, I want to thank you for hosting a wonderful workshop. It was terrific; the people, the food, seeing your pottery collection, firing kilns, the bonfire, watching Jamie throw, the knowledge gained and your ability to plan activities that kept us participating and entertained.
I enjoyed getting to know you better and seeing your beautiful property and your studio. Thank you so much for all the work you did in planning this event. I look forward to seeing you again at the next crystalline get-together.
Cheers,
Diane Creber

Phil
I have just this very minute arrived back. Thank you, thank you, thank you for an amazing time, you are an incredibly generous man as well as an incredibly nice one.
Now I absolutely have to have a nap, I am running on empty.
Once again thanks so much
Avril (Farley)

(Phil)
I am home it is 82° outside.
I have some ideas too, the first one that comes to mind is a nice nap.
Great job to all
§terry (Fallon)

Phil,
WOW!!! What a weekend!!!!!
I'm still on cloud 9!!!! I can't thank you enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got a piece from the kiln "here" yesterday. I'll try to send
you a photo later today.. It's tan with beautiful silvery blue
crystals.
And again thank you, thank you, thank you!
Priscilla (Palumbo)

Phil,
I took a short break here at work about 20 minutes ago; starting to feel a tad guilty, but I’ve been working through lunches and into the evening getting caught up on emails and tasks that were postponed during the wonderful weekend at your place. I deserve the diversion that your website provides.
Thanks. And thanks again for the fabulous symposium!
John A. O'Neill

Phil,
Thank you so much.  I had a great time at your place.  You gave us an opportunity to exchange information, friendship and the time to think about what is important for our lives.
I want to thank you for your generosity, kindness and hospitality.  Please extend my thanks to Patti and your children.  Without their understanding and hospitality, we couldn't have had such a wonderful symposium.  
Cheers,
Yoshiko Ratliff
www.yoshikoratliff.com

Phil,
Have you come down off your adrenaline high yet? You put on an amazing party. The food, tshirt....you took care of us over and above the call of duty. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I had so many interesting conversations, saw so many amazing demos, learned a lot.
Take care and thanks again (and thanks to Patty)
Kat Morrell
www.katmorrell.com

10-28-09

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Zinc Silicate Crystalline Glaze Pottery

Phil Hamling

376 County Route 1

Warwick, NY, USA 10990