Good Tunes For The Soul

We had a good weekend and I think I'll post something about it maybe tomorrow. Tonight I"m working on some computer stuff and put on the headphones for a little escape. I like to go to the NPR's live concert website and pick different people that I don't normally listen to. Its called XPN Fridays and Helen Light usually introduces the bands. I like listening to these because its all live and I love alittle insight into the people behind the music. I guess its the same way I feel about a pot. If I like the potter, I appreciate the pot alittle bit more! This evening I was feeling like I really needed to mellow out so I knew that Damien Rice was the guy for me! Click on this link below and you can check out Damien live in concert.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6613632

Pie Dish in Use

Last night I had a craving for Quiche so I went out to my studio and swiped one of my pie-dishes. I believe the last one I owned I gave to someone at a pot-luck because they liked it so much. ( This way I didn't have to wash the dish!) I don't make pie-plates that much even though it is a hot item among my family members. Joey's family is coming into town this weekend and he's been planning one of his wonderful meals all week. He was asking me if for dessert I could make a deep dish Carmel-apple pie. I have to admit the homemade crust comes out great in a clay pie dish. We'll see if I have some time to bake this weekend.

At any rate, this ham quiche was wonderful on a cold day with the side salad. Now that the winter months are here, there will be a lot of soup in our future and I'm sure the pie-dish will have many quiche's in them to accompany the soup.

Last night I had to take a break from wet clay and stain some of my bone-dry work to move it along, out to the shed. Here are twin vases ready to have the stain wiped away. These little guys are tricky to fire because they all have a match and the arms allow them to fuse together in the kiln. Hence...the twin theme. I have to credit this idea to my good friend

Amy Sanders who has her own type of twin vases ( I have a set I love!)

Stages of Pitchures

Last night I started throwing some pitchers. Here are the beginning stages of a few.

This guy is pretty tall, about 15" and of course being the it is porcelain, it was shrink to about 12" inches after it is fired.

This next shot is the start of the beak and how I have squared it off body. Today I will add a bit more clay to the spout to give it more height and add the handles.

I wanted to load a bisque kiln this weekend but I'm not sure I have enough stuff to pack it full. My elements looks like they are about to go bad on me so I feel like I have to make the best use of space with all my firings since I'm getting into the "crank it....many shows coming up before Christmas!!'' mode. Changing elements right before the big Christmas race scares the heck out me! Maybe I need to make a few electric kiln gods just in case.

Feeling Like Monday

Since the kids where home with me for 4 days plus the weekend, my concept of the days of the week are completed off. Today is Tuesday but in my mind its Monday. I felt like I was teaching on a Sunday Night when I drove into Charlotte last night!

Today I got back in the swing of things. Yesterday I took a few shots of the items I worked on while at Vicki this weekend. Today I finished up some twin vases and organized the studio a bit more. Here are some pillow tiles and mugs.

The kids had a good break. Here is a shot from yesterday.

The girls had a friend over and Quaid was busy making his outdoor "concoctions" with various liquids I allow him to have from the inside and organic material he finds outside. He really wants to create some kind of explosion or smoke when he gets going on one of his "experiment days". I don't dare tell him that vinegar mixed with oil and some food coloring really won't do that much. And yes... he has gone through a bunch of my baking soda so making fake volcano's has been done!

Crisp Sunday Morning

I'm enjoying a relaxing crisp Sunday morning. Eggs and waffles with berries where the choice of breakfast this morning and a nice hot cup of coffee in of course a great mug. ( Maker unknown.....)

Today I will back at BlueGil Pottery with Vicki. It was obvious yesterday the economy is effecting the buying mind of the public. At least that was the case in Gastonia NC., our part of the world. Vicki and I had a nice day of talking a catching up on pottery talk. Of course I never grow tired of that! I also was able to bring some work with me to work on so it was not a day of sitting around. Today I plan on putting some handles of mugs and finishing up some pillow tiles I made yesterday. Hopefully this evening I'll be able to get back and go for a nice walk. The pecan trees around our neighborhood are starting to drop nuts all over the sidewalks so I'm one of many who on brisk walks, stop and load up our windbreaker pockets with as many nuts as a squirrel my size can hold!

Fall Open House at Blue Gil Pottery

Today I will be setting up a show at Bluegill Pottery..Vicki Gill's place. We will be there on Saturday 10-4 and and Sunday 1-5. Please come out and say Hi if your up for a visit!

Last night I was able to throw lots of mugs and start on some double vase forms...plus watch the debate!
I'll try to get some shots up of work in progress over the next few days.

Stuff, Stuff , Stuff

Yesterday I got clay made and cleaned, packed and separated pots to this place, that place and the other. Sad day...no throwing. The evening was spent at Book club talking about a book called " The Double Bind" by Chris Bohjalian. I joined book club after many of my mom friends kept asking me to come. I can always use the excuse that I have to work at night but I know I need a good balance of things in my life so I signed on. For the most part I think I can only get through about 3 books a year but I do try to keep up via books on tape and the Internet. I enjoy the discussions and always think that in the later years in life I'll have more time to sit around and enjoy a book in my free time. I'm enjoying see Quaid laying around his bed after school and on the weekends engrossed in one of his books. Joey and my father are both big readers so I hope this is a family trait that my kids will inherit. It took a long time for me to enjoy books growing up.

Today I'm here for the morning grading tests and doing my usual morning world-wind clean-up, back to Gastonia at noon, off to shop and do parent teacher conference than back for dinner time. TONIGHT I can throw. Mugs and butter dishes are first on my list I think. ( But true to form I can change my course of action depending on which way the wind is blowing.) We'll see what I come up with!

Shipping...good lordy!

This morning I had to get a box out to Illinois for a show and of course half way through the process I realised that I didn't have a big enough box to fit my other box into!

Yikes...time to go dumpster diving!

There I was today at noon in my clay cloths, studio clogs, hair up in a pigtail and no make-up just driving around behind the local dollar stores in hopes of a sea of fresh boxes. Low and behold I found a bunch right in plain view of the road next to Dallor General. I have to admit they where a little wet but the perfect size for all my shipping needs. I decided to stock-up on a bunch and I quickly returned home to finish packing up my plates for a show called "Clay 3".

Here is the box and yes I know it looks a little stuffed and beat-up but I always feel good that I don't go out and buy new boxes and packing material. One reason for this is I don't want to add that expense onto my business cost and two I like to recycle with my newspaper, old peanuts people send me and boxes that are just being tossed out.

I'm I the only person that hates peanuts out there in the packing world? To me they are like that game "hot potato". As soon as I get some I try to ship them out to someone else the next day because they are just so messy! And if my kids see them....well...its curtains for my studio and the yard.

Anyways back to packing...the biggest issue of my packing day was the cost once I went to UPS to send this guy out. LORD, I nearly fell over backwards when I found out how much shipping has gone up in the last two weeks!

Good lesson for me.....charge more for my pieces going to juried shows to pay the ridiculous cost of shipping them there.

Tomorrow is a clay making/throwing day. YAH!

Photo's from Barn Sale

Here are some shots from yesterday. The first one is one of my new bottle forms that I'm really "diggin" with the red added.

Here is a shot of Ron's booth, mine and Vicki Gill's all together. Its always fun having a neighbor that you know!

Here is Kari and her sweet little boy Colin. Kari is a wood worker and helped make my booth set-up along with Amy Sanders husband Brian. (I can't resist a baby shot.) Another potter took pity on Ron because it rained a bit.She brought over this umbrella for him so he would'nt melt. He's such popular guy and I love to tease Ron!Here is Vicki. Next weekend I'm going to be a guest artist at her studio for her annual Fall Sale. I'm so thrilled that she asked me to join her.

Here are some of my current and former students. That is the great thing about the Charlotte clay guild. This sale has such a wide mix of potters who are just learning how to sell their work and those of us who "think" we know how to sell our work. Ha!

Here is Robin and Chris.

And here is Dorothy and Susan.

Today is family day for me and a little studio clean-up so I can get back to work in the morning.

Barn sale Check-In

I'm winding down my day from the Barn Sale. I just wanted to put a quick little post up and tomorrow I will get some photo's down loaded and put up for everyone to see.

It was a beautiful day weather wise and at the beginning of the day there where a ton of folks walking around so I think many people came out to view a lot of pottery. I saw lots of students and familiar faces that I took some snap shots of. Joey even came out to help me towards that end of the day and of course, I always enjoy having him around. Thanks to all who came by my booth and said HI.

We ended the day with a great meal at my folks along with my sister and her family. They all came down from Raleigh for a visit since we'll all be scattered this Thanksgiving. Once again the topic for most of the meal was on the election and the economy. I don't think a day goes by that we can get away from it! I know many people came in my booth and said they where buying a lot of practical things this time around.

Check back in a day or so for some photo's. Hope everyone is having a good start of fall weekend

Fresh Pots

I really liked that way my kiln came out today. Not one second which always is such a relief and only a tiny bit of grinding so that is good as well. Here are some shots for you.

New mugs. Nothing to fancy so I can charge a good price. I decided since the economy is in such a wreck that I wanted to make some smaller items for gifts people could afford.

Here are some mixing bowls. They are not meant to be stacked but I liked the way they looked together.

Raven pots.

Small covered jars.

Plates. My amber is pretty yellow this go around because I ran out of the colorant I use for this glaze and had to skimp on the measurement. I do miss the amber, but I think some people will like this color also.

AHHHHH...the glazing

Yesterday was my glazing day. I was thinking how at one point in my career ( I think it was the beginning), I use to say how much I liked glazing. Boy has that changed! As I was uploading these photo's I was thinking how horrible the pots look with wax and dray glaze all over the surface.

I always approach a glaze day with a sort of sour look on my face because I know I'm just going to be covered in dust and chemicals for a day and I know how unhealthy that has to be for me. I always clean up my glaze shed before I start and most of the time I wear a dust mask. I'm sure I look like a crazy person to any onlooking from the street because while I am sweeping, about every other second I'm running outside my shed to get away from the dust! I dream of having some sort of Dr. Seuss looking machine that would just go to work for me and sweep, suck-up and wash down all my surfaces each time.

The count-down to show number.....I think four?? is soon approaching. The weather is looking iffy for Saturday so wish all of potters in Charlotte good luck!

My Only Political Rant

I'm sure by now if you read my blog its pretty obvious that I'm a Democrat. I'm also proud to say that I come from a long line of Democrats. My earliest memories of childhood are of my father dashing from the dinner table at 6:30 to see the evening news and pretty much yell at the TV every time Nixon came on. When George Bush senior was in office, the same thing occurred.

Now that I'm grown-up ( oh..that is a funny thought) I still enjoy the fact that my parents have been liberals since day one. Last week they went over the Obama headquarters and volunteered. Pretty much the talk whenever we go over to my parents house is how much of a mess the country is in and how they are sad that their kids will not be as well off as they are due to the last eight years and maybe perhaps the many before Bush Jr.

Today my husband called to tell me that 40 people in his company where laid off. We sit pretty much every week in fear that this will be us as well. Its cost Joey lots of sleepless night lately.

So..on that note, if you do read my blog and others that are in the "pottery blog" circuit, you'll see the "Obama cup campaign" that a number of people are participating in. My good friend Ron Philbeck is one of the people working hard on this project and I plan on getting a cup for my Dad this Christmas. This way I know I'm supporting two good causes, Obama and maybe some smart change for the country as well as my fellow potters who always are in need of more currency to keep them going in this world as well.
Below is a link you can go to for more information!
http://ayumihorie.com/obamaware.html
Peace everyone!

Saturday Post

Its 10pm and everything is silent in our house except for me typing away. I thought I'd turn in early this evening and give my body some much needed rest. Of course I have to end my evening with a few minutes on the computer.

We've had a great weekend so far. Friday night Joey and I got to spend sometime together at the opening for a Circle of Eight show at Lark and Key gallery. Ron Philbeck has some great photo's from the show up on his blog so please go look. It is a very nice gallery and the gallery crawl was fun. After the opening a few of us went out to dinner and had a good time.

Our big event today was going to the Cleveland County Fair in Shelby Nc. Ron last year talked about the fair so I thought as a parent it was high time to go visit the pigs, cows, bake goods and rides so my children would not miss out on such lasting memories I have as a kid. When I was a child my grandparents lived right behind the NY State Fairgrounds so every year I could not wait for my grandmother to take me and my sister for a whole day of fun and fair food! Today brought back memories of how my grandmother never would take us "down to the midway" because she was always scared the some Carney would steal us. I have to admit, being one with the huge imagination, I was holding on to everyone hands pretty tight.

Here are some photo's from today. I think everyone had fun. We figured out soon that you needed to take a second mortgage on your house to REALLY have fun at the fair. But we managed to let everyone ride one ride and pick one type of fair food.

Tomorrow we have birthday parties to get to, football games and of course more studio work. Next week is firing time in the studio for the Barn Sale.

Lipstick on a pig!

WEll, I guess I got you there because I don't have anything political to talk about today ( I'm waiting for the debate tonight!) I do have a pig to show off! My fellow blogger buddie Becky Story made this cute little pig and she gave it to me last week as a surprise when I got to class. Isn't it great! Thanks so much Becky. She's going to live up in my shelf with all my other little treasures.

Here are somethings I was working on today.

Today was a fun day because my friend Debi came over and kept me company while I worked in the morning. Alittle bit of company to pass the time is always fun.

I got some exciting news yesterday via email. After a few years of trying to get into the ACC here in Charlotte, I finally got accepted for the 2009 show. Ye-ha!

No Fancy Handles

I got back in the studio tonight to stain some of my pieces in preparation for a bisque kiln. Here are some mugs that are getting ready for some incising and sprig work. I went back to my basic pulled handle. No upside down ones this time. I have to say all the mugs I have made with an upside down handle seem to sell really fast so we'll have to see how these tried and true one's do for me next weekend.

Here are some plates getting ready for the stain to be sponged off.

My good friend Scott Smith found me the female Flash. She's quit something. Maybe if I keep up the rate I'm going with working I'll end up with a "bod" like this! ( Well....most likely not). Wouldn't we all look so silly if everyone did have a super-hero's body? They all have either squared off heads, huge heads or smaller than normal size heads.

I'll leave you with those thoughts to ponder!

Lark and Key

If your in the Charlotte area, The Circle of Eight will have a show at

Lark and Key in the No-Dah section of Charlotte. Our opening is 6-9 this Friday night! I got all my pots wrapped up and sent yesterday and I think ( hopefully) I put together a good grouping of stuff.

I did take some photo's this morning to show that I do have some pots in progress. I'm having issues with my camera so...............

Boy I hope I've been good this year so Santa will get me a new camera! He may be bailing out Wall Street so who knows. Doesn't the whole economy, election and gas crisis make you want bite your nails all day? My husband and I last night were talking about how we both have such an anxious feeling all the time, sort of like when 9-11 happened. I've been listening to NPR none stop these last few days and I swear its like a horror movie that you just can not keep your eye's off of.

Hope your part of the world feels a bit more calm. Peace!

12 Lashing with a wet noodle!

Ok....I'm feeling so guilty about my blog! The end of last week was spent making up tests for my Art History class and only doing a little bit in the studio .YIKES! Today in Sunday and I'm getting ready to head out for a whole day of throwing while Joey is busy watching The Panthers play and the kids are occupied with a friend. AHHHHHHH.....escape!
Yesterday we took a quick day visit up to Raleigh to meet Joey's uncle Peter from London England. The kids loved his accent and Joey enjoyed visiting with him and his family for the day. Since Joey is the only boy in his family I enjoy visiting with his three sisters because they always have great stories about growing up with him. They love to tell me how much our son is just like Joey when I tell them the adventures I have with Quaid. We both are very lucky we have such tight knit families.

Ok....off to make pots for some upcoming show with the Charlotte clay Guild and Vicki Gils Fall Open House sale. I also have to throw in there a host of galleries orders. Good grief, I need to be "The Flash" these next few weeks!

Salt shakers

My new group of students asked me at the beginning of this session to bring in my salt and peppers sets and talk about them a little bit. I have to admit, this was fun. I love to make sets and talk about why I think I enjoy making them so much. The great thing about teaching is that you learn a lot about your thought process because you have to explain what your doing a lot. As I was out for my walk that morning I was thinking of all the cool and creative salt sets you could come up with. To me, it seems like the possibilities are endless. This session we are going to come up with some sets and I gave them the option of either doing something creative or just totally functional. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. I showed them a new idea for some houses that sort of came out of a box and teapot I did this summer. I can't wait to see if my idea is as good as it looks on paper.

Here are some of the sets I just finished for the Circle show. ( Wow, that's a lot of aqua!)I need to save one of these to get a photo of . Stay tuned for some images from the Salt and Pepper show that I'm in at Cedar Creek the first of October.

Quick hello!

I was just thinking today how much I am really enjoying being home in the peace and quite of my house/studio. I feel like I have been able to get so much done these last few weeks and I feel more relaxed about things. When I pick up the kids at school I look forward to spending time with them when I get home and I don't fret anymore about what I should be doing because I have gotten most of it done while they are at school. Its been a great start to the school year!
I'm back throwing this week. I was actually amazed at myself for getting back working on Sunday night. Normally I feel like I have to take a week off from the studio just to play catch-up on my MOM duties. This time it has been different!
Tomorrow I'll post some close-up shots of my salt and pepper sets. We talked a lot about them in class last night.
Have a good one!

Lights, camera...show!

I think this was the first day after a show that I was not totally whipped out. I have no idea how that happened because I still feel like I worked to hard to get everything made and done in time! We had such a great day yesterday for the sale that I guess it made all the stress that usually stays with me, go away. Having some good laughs with my friends and all the great folks the came out always helps as well.

Here are few photo's of our new set-up. Ron, Julie and Amy got this idea from the big sale they all have attended in Minnesota. It was nice not having to deal with my tent and the other big set-up that I have. We got a lot a great feed-back on the way the new set-up looked so I have to thank Ron for putting it all together for us. Thanks Mr. Philbeck! Here are photo of Ron with a mug made by fellow blogger Doug Fitch .

Here's a shot of my set-up. Look at those pink roses I got for $4 bucks yesterday morning!

Here is Julie's table. She did a smart thing and made a little dinnerware set-up for her table. The red was a nice accent for her yellow celadon.

Here is Amy's set-up. She spent most of the day going in and out of the house with little Guthrie. Watching her and Brain care for him all day really brought back memories of how different life is with a baby. She still did an awesome job of making some great pots before the show. My Hero!

Such a small Pottery world

I met a women by the name of Ann Lindel the last time I was at the Conference at Arrowmont. She happened to know my friend Amy Evans. This time while I was sitting down for breakfast the second day of the conference and we had just gotten our cup from the cup exchange, Ann sat down with my cup in hand. I of course knew my cup and was happy that I recognized the person who had gotten it. Even more funny is that Ann said she reads my blog and I found out today that she has one as well. Better than that.... I was told that a photo of my cup came up during a demo that Ayumi Horie did and sure enough, if you click on Ann Lindel's blog, you will see my cup. To cool! If your out there Ann, thanks! The world just circles around and around and it amazes me how one way or another we all have some sort of connection. Boy if you stop to think about that it can really get mind blowing!
( Guess I'd rather think of that rather than what is happening in the world markets these last few days....that has also been mind blowing but not in a good way...YIKES!)

Back in Business

Quaid found my camera today and got a $2 reward for it!! He was thrilled and so was I!

I'll get snapping some photo's soon because my kiln is cooling this evening. Lets hope for some great pots!

Busy week catching up on stuff with my Art History students, the house, the kids and getting ready for our fall Circle of Eight show. Did I mention that my good friend Brad Tucker will be our quest this time! Brad makes some of the nicest functional pots I've ever seen!




If your in the area please stop by and say Hi!

Ron is making some Peach Tea for the occasion!

A few more thoughts

Monday nights for me means class time. I told everyone all about my adventures at the conference and brought a poster to show them all the work in the show.

Everything has still been fresh in my mind. I even did a demo on a dry thrown plate that Ayumi Horie demonstrated. Today was a great day in my studio and I got so much done for our up coming show this weekend.

Conference Thoughts/Observations.

I wanted to report from the conference some overwhelming themes that came to mind while I was dashing in and out of the demo's. Lots of talk was given to the web and how its really hot right now in selling and promoting one's work. The next theme and how we all need to go green with our work ( boy, that is a big one!) and third, what I would like to talk about today is just my own quiet observation that I know I've said before - likeness of ones work to there personality.

I'm always intrigued how most potters fit the pots they make. I really enjoy seeing the person behind a pot that I love. I guess the majority of the buying public feels the same way. For this reason alone, those people that have galleries or store fronts at their home I think must do pretty well. People enjoy interacting with the person who has made the object they want to use or have in their home.

Here are some examples of people's work who where presenters at the conference that I had never met before. Once I listened to them speak or saw what they finally looked like, the connection between the object and the artist became clear to me.

Victoria Christan's pots are colorful and fun and so animated. A few minutes listening to Victoria and she had me smiling and feeling easy about being in the same room with her. Very bouncy and colorful. She also fires these in a salt kiln at Cone 6, which I would like to do with my work.

Ursala Hargens work is also fun, colorful with a bit of seriousness in form but quirky at first glaze. I could really connect to Ursala because she is a mom with young children getting ready to move her studio home because her family needs her. I could tell when she spoke of this issue that it tore at her and I felt so connected to her feelings. The good news about this was I think there are many more females today trying to make pots and be a mom/wife, so I'm curious to hear more stories about making this work.

Lorna Meaden spoke about how people always come tell her that her pots remind them of Alice in Wonderland or that they are cute. She really didn't like this compliment and was hilarious when she spoke about this. I too always have people tell me this about my work but I guess I don't take it in a bad way if they enjoy the work. I think I've learned that the source of a comment matters to you, not the comment. I'm sure if one of my instructors years ago said my work had been Cute, I would of gone off in a corner to cry. Since customers tell me this I just feel good that they want my piece in there home. I really enjoyed Leana demo's as well because she was very Witty and I could see this in her pieces.

I'm going to have to stop there for the day. I have pieces of my own to finish and look like something out of a Disney cartoon.

PS....yes, yes I hate to admit it but I can not find my camera anywhere, so I'm covering up by posting already posted photo's from the web. AH!!! Very fustrating.

If you want to see some great photo's from the conferance go to Tracy Broomes blog, she has some great ones.

Utilitarian V ( report)

I came home a day early from being up in Gatlinburg at the Utilitarian Clay Conference. Tonight I'm sure the beer is flowing and everyone is dancing and having a good time.

I took three days off from my usual to get re-energized and educated in a few new things. I always go to workshops these days with the attitude that I need to learn some new "tricks" for my students ; not necessarily for my own work. Years ago I would seek out people that I wanted to emulate and now I think I'm at a place where I want my own voice so bad, that I try really hard not to do this. In all honestly I think it does still slip in here and there and from what Pete Pennell lectured about in the evenings, it always will seep in. But that is a whole different topic that I'm not sure I want to take on.

Tonight I thought I just say a few things about how I personally felt driving back and thinking about what I saw and heard these last few days. Maybe during the week I can kind of break down my other observations on what I saw.

In a nut shell, the longer I'm in this field the more I realize I just need a few days of talking about nothing but clay to give me a real boost for a good year or so. I feel so re-energized and focused on goals and taking small steps with my work one day at a time. Slow and Steady is what I always tell my very shy daughter every morning when she timidly goes into school unsure of herself. This motto rings true for me also; Slow and Steady..just keep plugging' along. In the past situations like these where there are so many big names and lots of networking, I only felt lacking in confidence with my work. This time I realised that I feel pretty alright with where I am even if that next kiln load brings does not bring the prospect of better pots than the last. Kind of deep stuff to talk about but being immersed in something always brings deep thoughts to topics.

(Ok...enough deepness...back to surperficial fun stuff!)

On a lighter note, if they gave out a badge this week for the most antsy person, I'm sure I would of won. I must of jumped around from demo to demo more than anyone else there. I kind of felt like the fly on a wall that couldn't stay still to swat! I swear our house must be the poster family for ADD.

............I'll think I'll end there tonight.

I'm in the Weeds!~

(If you've ever waited tables, you know what this means.)
Yesterday we got back from some fun in the sun with the kids and I ran off to teach my first class of the fall session at Clayworks. Today I had to grade tests for my online students, work in my studio, get my family organized for my departure tomorrow and .....I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed but its ok, I know it will all turn out fine in the end. ( I have a big hunk of wood sitting next to me!!)
I'm excited to be going to the Utilitarian Clay Conference for a few days. I hate to say that I"m going to be cutting my trip a day short to come back and make more stuff for our Circle of Eight sale next weekend.
I still have yet to locate my camera but my mom is nice enough to let me take hers so I'll get some good shots to bring back and share.
I'm out of here!

6 Random things...........

So Ron Philbeck tagged me last week as well as Judy Shreve so I here I am playing along! The game is 6 random things about me .
I'm wondering if anyone is left to tag?

Here are the rules of the game:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog. (this is what you're now reading.)
3. Write 6 random things about yourself (see below).
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them. (This is only a game.)
5. Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

And here are six random things about me:

1. I have to have an ice cube in the bowl when I eat cereal. I don't like warm milk!

2. I had the opening for my thesis show on September 15th, 1999. On September 16th, hurricane Floyd hit Eastern NC and my entire show was UNDER water!

3. I married a guy who was wearing a skirt.

4. I repeated 2nd grade.

5. I have three college degree's.

6.I spent many Saturdays at the Moose wood restaurant in Ithaca New York.( IE. Run by the people who are famous for "The Moose wood" cookbook.)I grew up on a lot of carob as a child.Who invented that stuff anyways?

So, who hasn't been tagged yet??? I'm coming to get cha'!

End of the work-week check in.

Aren't Fridays the best day!

Today the weather was warm but crisp on my walk and it just put me in the best mood! As I was hoofin' it around our neighborhood I noticed tons of different kinds of mushrooms and it took me back to one of my visits to Penland. I think I was taking a jewelry class at the time and there was a guy in the wood class ( I think ) that was an expert of "mushrooms". ( Yes, you can laugh.) I recall one day he was going to take a group of people on a mushroom hunt through the woods to find some varieties your could eat and then he was going to cook them up that night! Only at Penland.

Onto pots! Here are a few shots of salt and pepper shakers in various stages. At the moment they are in the kiln and I'm onto making another kind of set so I'll have two to choose from. I was working on the trays this morning and .....can't find my camera again. SORRY, I'll keep looking tonight.

We are off to the coast tomorrow for our first family vacation of 2008. Joey has been planning this beach trip for awhile and even though Hanna is about to hit, we plan on going after it clears somewhat. We both are old masters with hurricanes. If I can get the time to do "6 random things about myself", (that is being pasts around the pottery blogs,) one of those things will be about a hurricane. I'm a bit antsy about leaving my studio for three days but I learned last year that I need to balance everything so off we go. Next week I'll be in Gatlinburg at the Utilitarian Conference V. I can't wait!