March Comes In Like a Lion

( Its that the old saying?)

This weekend in my neck of the woods the weather has been just cold, rainy, gloomy and yuk. The bottom part of the yard looked like this below. Lots of flooding..today its worse. (I found out this weekend that the house next door which has caused this issue in our yard, just went into foreclosure. Kind of sad and gloomy - fitting for the weather this weekend.) My studio was... well cold, but I managed to heat it up and worked in it this weekend. Tonight I plan on being out there some more. Joey and I enjoyed a movie together last night. We watched "W", which was mildly entertaining. The children spent the weekend being entertained by the two of us with various activities and this evening they are hoping for snow, which the weather man in calling for. We fear that we will just get a lot of ice. Boy...such a gloomy weekend report!!!

On to pots!

Here is one of the compotes I've been working on. I ran out and bought a much needed level the other day. These can lean and I realised last week that I need to invest a bit in my tools for various challenges I have sometimes with things like this. I'm forging on with cups, bowls and odds and ends until I can get down to the Carolina Clay , pay off my bill and invest in more "fresh" porcelain. I think I have recycled my clay to the limit. We got our tax money back so this is the time of year we stock up on things, get the house and cars fixed up and pay on things. I think I can say I'm honestly ready for spring.

Last but not least, here are all the pecans I still need to take to the "nut cracking place" down in a small town about half and hour away called Lowry's. In fact I think I have one other huge bucket in my glaze shed with more!!(I'm going to try sneak my camera with me so you can see this place..truly old southern history in the making).

Boxes

Quick post just to show some progress here at the studio this week. I'm taking a break for a day or so because I other stuff going on. Tomorrow I'll back in there. I do have some shows coming up....AHHHHHH...I really need to step-it up a gear. This weekend will be good for that because I think I only have one obligation in the "mommy department" to take care of. Boy, being a mom is a full time job! I was thinking this week how I do enjoy being at home with the children. I enjoying being there for them when they come home,cooking a good meal for them and keeping everything straight. There of course is sort of a give and take with that notion. Sometimes I wonder if I do to much for them and than other times I wonder if I am really there for them enough since I spend time on and off the computer doing my class and then in and out of the studio checking on stuff. In my mind, I'm always working on something even though I'm am physically here. Ah...such a head game we play with ourselves!

Oh yes....pots.

Here are some egg cups. I am planning to make some saucers for them so when they are used the owner has a little tray to put the shells on.

These are the boxes I love to make. They do take a long time but I enjoy them and I think that matters a lot. I've used some color clay on these. I want to see how it looks so they are sort of experiment. At the moment they are under tight plastic because I do tend to have issues with them getting small cracks in the base. Boy does this upset me when it happens since they take so long. Cross your fingers for me! I am really getting tired of the clay body I'm using. Soon I'm going to think about a change. More about that at a later date!

Taking Photo's

So, we all talk about things that we do in ceramics that we really don't like. I hear most people say they hate to glaze. Some people complain about the paper work aspect of it and being one's own accountant. I sat at one demo and listened to a guy talk about how he wished he was married again so his wife could take care of the business end of things and than he could just make pots. Pretty funny and telling of this person at the same time. ( I do enjoy any individual that is truly honest so this truth brought a smile to my face as the rest of the women in the audience gasps; I think ). My true "angst" when it comes to ceramics is taking photo's. Oh, how I hate it...and with a passion I think. I tried and tried in grad school to learn how to take a good photo and once I got out of school thought that truly I knew how. After a few years of trying to get into various "big retail shows" I was told by a fellow craftsmen on the panel that basically my photo's....well...sucked.( Sorry for the slang.....)

So..in the last few years my pal Ron gave me the name of a wonderful photographer near by who has been nice enough to trade with me and take my photo's. He does a wonderful job and plus, he's just a really nice guy. These days it seems like I need new photo's every three months or so and since I don't think this photographer needs 1000's of Jen Mecca pots, I need to try once again to take my own photo's. AHHHHHHHH......

A few weeks ago, Ron Philbeck, Amy Sanders, Julie Wiggins and I got together to try and take some photo's once again of our work. We are kind of like the Four Stooges because we spend most of the time laughing and trying to figure out how to use the camera, lights and tri-pod.

Here are some of the photo's that we took. I am thankful that those guys helped me out with some photo's since I gave up years ago! Hopefully we can keep trying to perfect this art. All I know is that if we keep getting together to take photo's, I think I'll provide the lunch and let the new "experts in technologies" do the photographing!

Workshop at Clayworks

I'm always so amazed at how small the world really is. It seems lately that I've gotten the chance to re-connect with people that I haven't seen in years and its been such a great feeling!

This was true yesterday when I attended a workshop given by Allison McGowen. Back in 1998 when I was in grad school I got the opportunity to be a studio assistant for Silive Granitelli and Allison was one of the work study gals in the class. At that time I remember her being very motivated and eager to get as much out of her experience and the class that she could. Since than she has gone on to do great things and lucky enough to attend Alfred for graduate school. Her pots these days are so interesting and I really enjoyed listening to how she worked out her idea's to get to the point she is at now. The workshop was really well attended and it was nice to see other faces from the Charlotte clay community.

The added bonus about reconnecting with Allison is that she is living on the other side of Charlotte these days and is also a mom of young children. Knowing there are young, successful pottery mom's sprouting up all over these days makes me feel not so in the minority anymore.

Check out Allison's website when you get the chance!

Fridays Work

Today was productive in the studio. I guess yesterday was too but I had to spend the evening away from home, so I didn't get back in there to finish up stuff..which was a bummer. You know how good it feels when your on a roll and I think I've finally gained some momentum that I was lacking for awhile.

I have started on the new compotes. You see in the photo some closed forms that will become boxes. I love to make boxes and I just to check out other potters boxes too. Boxes are one of those items we potters make that don't have a "food" related use to them but the thought of putting something in them that is very personal and special to someone really applies to me.

Today I started throwing some egg cups. I guess when I walked outside and saw that some of my flowers had blooms on them my thoughts went to Easter, which then led to...

"Hey, I need to make some more egg cups"!

Being In The Moment

A few weeks ago I started doing something new to my pots.I was working one Saturday and I started thinking about all that goes on around me while I'm in my studio and my family is busy doing different activities. I was thinking how really I wasn't to separated from what was going on because I constantly have interruptions while I'm working on the back porch that is off our kitchen. There are days I do try to shut all the noise and activity out, but most weekends it is pretty impossible. After lights go out and Joey and I think everyone is settled in for the night on the week days,( I go out to work and he catches up with life on the computer) many nights I get pulled back into the house for a moment or two.

I've become so use to interruptions in my routine that some how I think it determines what I start to make or how I finish something. This is where the phase "In the Moment" sort of came into my head a stuck there. After finishing a platter one day I wrote my name, the month and the day on the back. Lately I thought it would be interesting for whomever bought one of my pots to know what was going on that day. I tried to take a photo of the back of one of these mugs.Half of them say " Mecca, February, Valentine's day" and the other half say " Mecca, February, Bed time for kids". I like the thought of having the added view into the my world when I'm creating something. I'm curious if at the next show I do, anyone comments to me about this. I enjoy little surprises and tricks to see if people are really paying attention. I'll let you know what happens.

Revisiting the Compote'

( Something about that titles makes me want to giggle....)

Years ago I had a gallery owner ask me if I would make her some compote's for her table. At the time I had no idea what she was talking about and made her draw a picture for me. I remember thinking why would she use one of these add looking pedestal bowls when you could just use a serving tray. Even though I did grow up in a house with a mother who enjoyed a very fancy set table from time to time, I had never encountered a compote for any type of entertaining. I should also say that at the time I was asked to do this, I had a 6month old baby, I had spent about 10 of my adult years still in college and not doing a whole lot of entertaining. Our idea of entertaining was inviting a few of my graduate friends over for grilling out and using whatever seconds I could find to put out on the picnic table.

It wasn't until we moved to York SC and I became part of some old southern traditions that I finally understood the need for a compote. If I can elaborate on this, entertaining for friends in an old southern town that is very into traditions has been an education in etiquette for me. I belong to a book club of women who use there fine silver and linens when it is there turn to host no matter what time of the day it is. Among this group of women, I am invited to tea's and baby showers where the table and food looks like it has just come out of a Martha Stewart magazine.( Some days I do live a double life. Mud from head to toe in my birkenstocks one minute and skirts with heals the next. Shhhhhhhh...don't tell anyone!) It all makes for great idea's to come forward, not to mention the sit-com/cartoon that lives in my head everyday.

( Look at the attitude those handles are putting forth on this blue glass compote!)

So...about three years ago, after attending a function with my lady friends, a wonderful old glass compote with strawberries dipped in Chocolate made me want to run home and make one of these things. Below is what I came up with. At the time I was thrilled with this, but now, I want some revisions to take place.

A few days ago when I was baking a bunch of cupcakes for a Valentine's party at school the thought that I needed to re-visit this form. So, I'm sketching and getting some idea's and soon I'll see what comes from my brain, down my arm and out my fingers to the clay.

(Hope you enjoyed the images!)

Pots in use...wheel not in use.

I did work yesterday..I made some mugs in the hopes that it would push me through this "mind rutt" that has been going on for a few months now. Some days I think I've worked out the hesitation I've had to just GET GOING in my head, and than I wake up and realize I have other things to do and I get sidetracks from my pots.

Here is my cat Clayton taking a snooze on my wheel. She likes to talk to me while I'm working and scold me for not staying out there as long as I should. Today she felt the need to put cat hair all over my wheel head. AHHHHH

The last two days I've also been working on my taxes and updating my mailing list. At least all this is Studio related! Time to start taking my sketch book around with me and writing down my thoughts, plus my ideas. I seem to get in my studio and I have this blank. Maybe I just need to fire some pots I have and then I'll get right in there. Also, deadlines are a good way to light a fire under me...and I do have those coming up. We all do this....don't we???

A few days ago, Joey made some Black Bean Burgers for me while he and the kids had some deer meat burgers. I'm not a big fan of "Bambi Burgers" so he's always good about making something else for me. I'm sure if the kids really knew what this was, we may get a lot of resistance! Here they are ready to be cooked in some of my pasta bowls.

More Bottle info.

Here are a set of bottles that I talked about throwing in the last post. I had someone ask about why I throw standing up, which I guess I should of written about in the last post so..here it goes.

Back in undergrad I did throw sitting down. I guess I had been making pots for about 3 years at that point. As we all get at the beginning, I would spend hours at the wheel just working on one form. I found after awhile that my tail bone was really giving me some pain the shot down the right side of my leg. At that time in my life I was also going to the gym everyday and doing a lot of power walking so I'm not sure all that physically activity worked well together. In the summer of 2005 I did a workshop with Silvie Granatelli and watched her throw standing up. When I got back, I decided to put my wheel up on cinder blocks and work that summer on teaching myself how to throw a totally different way. It did take a few months to get the hang of it and when it comes to making big things, I have to admit sitting down would be better. I am so use to throwing standing up and "side saddle" as I call it, that I would never got back to sitting so I've figure out ways to modify my throwing. I have no more pain in my lower body now but there is a trade off with some shoulder issues I kind of baby.

I highly recommend going from sitting to standing if your having any lower back issues.

Throwing Bottles

I was thinking today while I was working in my studio ( on a such warm day...ahhhhhhhhh)....that maybe it would be nice to show how I try to balance myself while throwing standing up.

Today I was making bottles and since my wheel is at a certain height, sometimes its hard to for me get on top of a piece and throw taller. One of my students was asking me the other day how I steady myself while standing and I explained to her that at times I have to use bricks to stand on.

Here I am throwing a pretty narrow bottle that is about 15 or so inches high ( maybe more) and what I do is get a brick and put it under one of my feet and the other one I use to push the top of my pedal. Sometimes if the piece is really tall I just put the pedal at a certain speed and sstand on many bricks for height. I really don't like doing it this way because I like to control my peddle speed at all times.

Some people are lucky enough to have hydraulic wheels that change the height in order to make bigger pieces. If you don't have one of these types of wheel perhaps this piece of advise might help you!

This week I have more taxes to figure out and my mailing list to straighten out. I'm hoping the weather stays nice because the cold has been keeping me away from my studio and this is never a good thing.

Middle of The Week

Tomorrow night I will be in Shelby at the Cleveland County Arts Council for a show called Treasures of The Earth. If you read Ron Philbecks blog or Vicki Gils, they have mentioned this show as well in there posts. If you'll notice, I've added a few more shows to my side bar. Slowly my calendar is filling up which is great. This is what gets me really motivated! Today I spent most of my day setting up for that. No time in the studio. This evening the temp. is in the teens and even though I use to layer and deal with the cold last winter, I just can't bring myself to do it this winter. I have extra day time to work ( so I'm telling myself) this year so I figure I can take a few nights off and do "inside" work. Tomorrow I have NO errands to run, kids functions to be at or other work related things so I can just be me, quiet and to myself in the studio. I'm kind of looking forward to that!

Yesterday I went Ice Skating with Quaid's class. Here we are and here he is on the ice. He was a trooper and finally got the hang of it. I was suppose to teach at this time but my friend Julie helped me out and taught my class for me. It meant a lot to Quaid to have me there and I'm thankful I can have such a flexible career to do this.

Time to Pay The Piper

Yesterday I got back from Richmond Virginia where I had a wonderful visit with a great old friend of mine. Nothing is more important in life than to have great friends, a good family and lots of laughter. Laurel, who has been my best friends for years, treated me like a queen and indulged me with all my favorite past-times..food, movies, theater, junk TV and lots of silliness this weekend. It was an over due visit and for once I did not feel guilty for being away or taking time to myself. It was a great way to end January this year. I'm NOW ready to start 2009. I guess my calendar has always been a bit different than normal folks. New Years always comes to soon after Christmas for my taste so I spend January still getting over Christmas. The first of February should be New Years in my book!

So....here I am February 2nd and its time to "Pay the Piper" ( I love silly expressions) and get my butt in gear! I have to admit, I've been playing to long this last month and although I have needed the time away from my normal, I need to get going.

Today I spent most of day in my studio and plan on getting started on some new porcelain forms and ideas this week. I do have two days I will be away from my studio setting up shows and doing other things but I think by this weekend, I'll have some new stuff to talk about and maybe even show some work in progress.

Hope everyone had a good Groundhogs day. Does anyone out there really understand how he sees his shadow anyways? This question came from my kids today and I didn't really know how to answer it. At any rate, guess we may get a few more snow-flakes here in the South!
Have a good one! Jen

Last week in January

Boy, I haven't posted in awhile! Where in the world have I been?

Well.......you know me, here, there and everywhere.

Always in January, besides doing something different with my clay, I like to volunteer by either making a bunch of things to donate or donating my time. Last year I decided to help the art teacher at school with a clay project for her students so once again, this last week in January I have been at my kids school. They have a fantastic art teacher and someone I really enjoy spending the day with so sacrificing my work time in the studio does not feel so bad! I've had a really nice time getting to know all the kids better and being able to see my own children happy and content in such a wonderful environment. My heart just sings when I see them so happy and safe. ( I'm sure I've said this a 1,000 times before..such are the thoughts of a mother!)

Next week with the start of February so comes the real push in my studio. I am trimming my last piece of stoneware this evening and soon it will all be cleaned up and put away.

Below are some different sort of flower blocks for me. They kind of look like jugs with openings but I think this design is going to take me somewhere else. This whole month of stoneware has really been a good thing to refresh me after feeling so warn out from the fall.

This week I'm taking a little trip to visit an old friend of mine, which is also great for re-energizing the soul.

Boy, with all this rejuvenation I should be cranking out master pieces next month!

Quick photo

I'm still slowly plugging along on stuff. Here is a flower block with slip and some drawing on it. The other items is a spoon jar. Boy I haven't made those in a long time!














I'm looking through a bunch of glaze recipes to hopefully find something that is quick to make and I have all the ingredients for. I'm going to start to load my bisque with all this stuff this evening. Just a few more things to finish up, clean my wheel and than onto some quick porcelain items to fill up my bisque load. ( I feel so guilty if I only fire half a kiln load).
My idea's are to use a black and an amber for the pots than I will down fire them with some accent glazes. This is my "Plan" but I have no idea what they will look like after they come out of the salt so all my "visions" could change. I have found that what you think something will look like, never truly does so I've learned to be opened minded with any sort of new results. We'll see!

Time line of Day

I'm back to the time line of most of my days.........which is as follows.


Get up
Eat
Kids
Computer
Art history
Eat
Clay
Kids
Gym
Eat
Kids
Clay
Art history
Computer
Sleep


( repeat again in the morning)


( Joey does come in there somewhere but some days we are more like captains of a ship that we are trying to keep a float!)

Here is a little photo of a flower block in the stoneware clay. I'm getting down to the last of it. Its taken me longer than I thought it would....there was a day of cleaning the pug-mill and making some porcelain so that took time away from throwing.

This weekend Joey get to go spend sometime with his high school buddies so I'm on my own with our little troop. I hope he has a blast...he deserves it!

A Good Day For Snow

This is how we started the morning here at the Lawler household. I was in much need of some snow since we didn't get any last year and I always feel cheated in some way at Christmas time now that I live in the South. So, today was magical even though we just got a dusting.

It was also magical for all that I watched on TV today. I could not pull away from what was going on in Washington. What a historic day! I sat the kids down around 11:30 and made them watch so they could remember this day as well. I think whenever the Obama children came on the screen, I got a little choked up. I think we have learned so much as a nation and it all showed today on the faces of all those people that where on the mall in Washington.

My favorite part was when lItzhak Perlman and Yo Yo Ma played a version of a Shaker Hymn called "Simple Gifts". I remember singing this as a child in the choir and it has always stuck with me for some reason. The words are:

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.

Mckenna learned a little something today from my past. Here was my favorite dessert as a child. Simple but good!

No pots today, just a day to get re-energized on so many levels.

I Have An Obsession

I have a bit an obsession with poka-dots I have to admit.

I want to put them on everything. When I see them in stores, I want to buy them, wear them, eat them and paint the town with poka-dots.

My favorite book as a child was "Put Me In The Zoo". I loved the part where his spots fly through the air and he also makes socks with them. That would be the coolest thing to make spots fly through the air!!

So, it is any wonder that I have to refrain from putting poka-dots on all my pieces? I have, for the most part in recant years but I couldn't resist on these pieces for the salt kiln. I fell off the wagon. In fact these pieces look a lot like what I was doing in grad school. I think I spent more time trying to work with the clay and the form and I didn't give the surface as much thoughts as I do my porcelain work.

Ah...poka-dots..they just make me smile!

Checking In With Other Bloggers

I was tyring to recall the other day off the top of my head how long I have been blogging. I know I can go look it up on google, but than I would get so taken away with all the graphs and maps, that it would be 2am. and I'd be regretting that in the morning.

I was thinking back about this because I wanted to say thanks to everyone who does check in with my blog to see what I'm up to. Its nice the days I go to teach and my students ask me about something I've posted. And sometimes when I'm at a show, a customer will come up and tell me that they have read my blog. I know that so many other bloggers have said thank you to their readers so I wanted to do the same.

I also wanted to confess how guilty I feel that I don't get the time to check out everyone else's blogs out there. I know so many people have wonderful sights and great things to say. I feel like I miss out on a lot of important info. about pottery and life in general. I do enjoy all the blogs that have the side bar with photo's you can check out. Those usually grab my attention or a title and I'll click to see what is going on. But, for the most part, it is a added treat when I have time to just sit down and read every one's thoughts.

So, I wanted to say that if you read my blog and I don't seem to get up with your as much, its not that I'm not interested its just that...well, you know the rest of the story if you do keep up with me.
Happy blogging and thank you! Jen

Thurseday check in

Today I got back in the studio for a little bit. If you read Ron's blog I spent a day taking photo's at his house with Amy and Julie and Tuesday was spent teaching. Today I was back to sort of a normal day except for some mom things that needed to be taken care of. Tomorrow will be a pretty full studio day with some Art History thrown in. It is suppose to be super cold here this evening so I'm a bit worried about my pots. I've only had them freeze one time so I think I've learned my lesson on that. I have some flannel sheets that I drape over my shelves when it gets this cold and I'm keeping the heater going all night in there. (Don't worry, its got a safety switch-off if it knocked over or something odd happens in the middle of night...which occasionally does on the back porch!)

Here are a few more shots of finished things. Some soy sauce containers, creamers, tea bowls and the soup bowls with Tile6 on them. I am enjoying the change of pace and I am sort of playing with the same sort of motif I normally do on these things.I think they will be a bit different since it is stoneware. I have to admit that I can't be as loose with my forms when it comes to this clay body. The clay is so stiff I don't have as many opportunities to make my forms as altered and free as I normally do. This is a bit hard for me to get use to but I think its also good. It puts up some boundaries for me to work with. I'm getting down to the last bit of this clay and then I'll have to get back to my porcelain. The time has come to "get back to work" and finish up my playing for a bit! Its going to be fun to see how these come out after they go into the salt kiln and then I have other plans for them after that. Stay tuned once again.

More Stoneware

Quick post, I'm off to pick up the kids. Here are some shots from this weekend.

Here are the tumblers and cups. They are dipped with Tile6. I've had this in a bucket since school..(oh good lord that was 9 years ago!) Guess we'll see if it works!

Next are Pitchers, teacups and bowls. As you see I'm doing that scalped rim like lots of folks these days. I have to admit, its fun to do and it almost looks like a crown sitting on top of my pitchers!

Here are somethings under plastic that I'm finishing up today. Its been a good working day!

Stoneware Cups

Here is some progress I made last week on getting back to making pots. I did have to re-pug a bunch of this clay but in the end it did turn out to be a lot easier to throw so I had an enjoyable day making things on Friday.

I thought I'd just post a few shots of some tumblers I made. I love how stoneware looks right after the rib has cleaned up the outside. Those slick water marks that go around the cup are great! Of course, a round cup to me is not something I can leave without touching it again..... Here is one side that I have started to alter with my rib.

These are the final cups squared off on all sides. ( Its funny how here the clay looks more brown than the other shots..go figure.)

These are the final cups with the edge I always cut; making the cup my own style. You can also see some mugs that started off my throwing adventures for January. I've finished some bowls and I'm working on putting some handles on a few large pitchers.

Today Joey and I cleaned ( really cleaned with rags, soap and water) my whole studio. I have someone coming this week to do a story about me for a local magazine so it is always good incentive to not look like a pack rat. She particularly asked to take photo's of my studio! HA! I of course laughed when she said this but a friend of mine pointed out that it was awesome for people to see that you can create in the most modest of circumstances. (Some days I feel like the poster child for this statement.)

As I said last year, I love January, its a time to get your head together, take care of yourself and your home, spend time together with out needing to go out someplace. This weekend are the football play-offs so Joey has the rest of his days planned out. The kids are playing "Restaurant" at the moment and I plan on working for a bit. Maybe when they all need a break from each other, I'll do a little art project with them.

Have a great weekend.

Back Track to New Year Eve

Amy Sanders put some great photo's up on the Circle of Eight blog from New Years eve. If you get a chance, click on the site and see what we did that night. Ron is even wearing his piggly-wiggly hat I gave him! It was so cold I didn't even notice it that night!

I am throwing the stoneware as promised. It was super hard and even though I pugged it, I'm still kind of wrestling with it. Tomorrow I think I run it threw again with some slip from my bucket and see if I can soften it up some more. I've made some mugs and tumblers that I like. We'll see if I can get some photo's up in a day or two. You'll have to keep bearing with me on my camera shots. Santa did not have the cash to get me a new camera so....there is always my birthday!

The tease....

So Monday we got back to the normal and I was surprised to find that I was Ok with that. I started my new Yoga routine in the morning, packed up some pots, got going on my online course and got the kids off to good start with evening routine. Tuesday I started a new class schedule at Clayworks - from 2 - 4:30 I teach an intermediate class and from 6:30 to 9:00 I have some advanced beginnings. I spent the few hours in between that working yet again on Art History stuff while I enjoyed my dinner. I have to also admit that I did miss not picking my kids up from school but i thought I'd give this new schedule a try this session and see if Joey, I and the kids to adjust to the change.

So....where does my clay come in and what is this talk about stoneware???I had many people asking me this at Clayworks who read my blog. Today, I plugged out some wonder white, cone 7-10. Ann Riggs whom I bought the salt kiln from was kind enough to give me lots of stoneware. Here is it in my glaze barn just gathering dust. For me January is all about getting back into the swing of things and doing something differant to jump start my hands and mind. Tonight I plan on cleaning all the porcelain off my wheel and throw some stoneware. Why.......??? Well, it all has to do with my salt kiln sitting in the backyard. I'm not sure yet if I'm ready to purge my feeling about what is going on with that as of yet. I started to talk to my friend Julie about it yesterday and I could feel the emotions well up. CRAZY...right? But these emotions, thoughts and a bit of a funk I might add that I've been dealing with over the Holidays shows me how personal what we create and do for a living really is to all of us.

My good friend Ron Philbeck is letting me put some pots in his salt kiln next month. I feel like I need to see my work once again in the salt. I haven't done salt work since grad school and at the time, that was all I lived and breathed. I need some clarity on what path I'm planning to take with my lonely salt kiln out in the backyard that calls to me ever time I'm loading my electric kiln. Like I said.....if I can dig deep one day maybe I'll purge my feelings about this a bit more. For now, I'll start by throwing a few mugs this evening.

D Day

Tomorrow is the start back to our normal world; if you can call it that. No more late mornings, lavish dinners ( well...maybe some) or several days of family togetherness. Its up at 6:15am and I'm off and running. Today the Circle folks met for an agenda meeting that was time well spent and I spent the rest of my day getting my calendar set for my new group of Art History students. Tomorrow I plan on making clay and making some mugs I hope. Here's a twist....I'm not going to be pugging porcelain this month but rather a bit or stoneware. Surprise! I'll talk more about that this week. Right now I need to get back to Art History and than off to bed. ( I think I may grease up my running shoes...)

Hello 2009

The Circle of Eight crew said goodbye to 2008 by making pots until about 10:30 in downtown Charlotte. On my ride home I thought about how as a potter, we all did what potters do most of the time, we braved the elements, pulled out our creative voices, laughed about the absurdity of it all, got the job done and went home to take care of our tired bodies. Pretty much doing a demo in the cold summed up all the hard work I encountered myself in 2008. Once again anther pile that I straightened out in my head.

Joey and I have had four days together with the children before we all start back in our normal routines for 2009. We have worked together on deep cleaning and organizing the house, which feels great. Had several family movie nights and friends who have come by for some laughter and play dates. The kids have had a great vacation and I've had time to get my head a bit settled for a start fresh.

So to sum up 2008 for myself professionally. These are things I can give myself a pat on the back for. Baby steps in the competitive world of clay in my eyes, but yet accomplishments for me that I can be proud of.

-Getting into Strictly Functional in 2008

-Getting my an image of my work in both CM and Claytimes

- Doing more shows this year than ever before. ( My body still is not sure if that is a good thing or not.)

-Teaching an Art History Class

-Being accepted into a International show

and Finally getting accepted in the ACC for next year.

*Personally......

- I put my family first and not my career this year. I tried to have a good balance with everything.

-Joey and I had a good year of working together as a team to keep our little crew on course. This has been 9 years in the making for us. When you get married late in life, its hard for two independent people to work as one. At least for us and its always a work in progress..but a good one.

-The kids have had a successful year in school...all three have escaped my learning issues, which makes me so happy and proud.



For 2009
- I'm going to take better care of myself health wise. I'm starting to feel the effects of what I do and I need to exercise more, eat right and rest more.
- Work on Content and Quality..not Quantity in my work.
- Figure out what to do with my salt kiln ( more on that to come..that is a HUGE pile in my head.... more like a basement than just a door I've shoved thoughts into!)
- Work on just having pieces for my wholesale accounts and pieces for juried shows and sale shows.
- Get back to having a set price list and narrow down the amount of pieces I make.



Finally, the best thing to clear my head, work through thoughts and purge my head of "stuff" is music. Joey made me all sorts of new CD's for my studio and digging up old tunes is one of the best things. Here is Steven Forbert singing "Romeo's Tune".
This song is a little quirky, but it puts a smile on my face.

http://www.downtowntv.com/downtown-live/2007/7/10/episode-24-steve-forbert-romeos-tune.html