Hummmmmmmmm

Here is a photo of the flower blocks I've been working on. I have one ready for bisque in my studio but something about makes me not really love it. Is it the feet? Of course it doesn't look just like this one but kind of similar. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? If so, I'd love the input!

Being an independent worker

My sister in law came out on my porch last night and said that it seemed sort of sad and isolated for me to be out working watching my movie and everyone else in watching football game. I told her some that most nights it was really nice. My mom was telling me today that the older she gets the more she gets "people overload". She said that if she has to be in a crowd or group for days at a time she needs home time by herself. I can totally relate. I think I have always enjoyed my alone time since I was little. I'm sure it has a lot to do with being an intervert. I need my space at least for an hour every day. I had a roommate in college that use to get made at me for not wanting to always go out and be social. You know, sometimes socializing takes a lot of effort for someone like me. So this thought brought me to another one which is working independently. The older I get the more I don't like people telling me what I should or should not do. ( Joey can certainly agree with that). I think pretty much my parents are the only people I will listen to. If anyone else starts bugging me about something I need to change or do it really puts me in what I like to call "testy land". I think working for myself is perfect for me. I don't like taking to many orders but I was raised to do what I'm told if I'm working for someone. Other than that, if its my own business and my own decision, I like to keep it that way. I know that one of my daughter has inherited this. Here is a photo of her in her new cowboy boats and pumkin socks that I got for her at the twin sale. For half the morning she pushed around her doll buggy and would stop to stomp and let everyone now she was in the room. It was hilarious but very telling of her little personality.

What's up?

Its Sunday - did the week go and why didn't I get on here to post??????????? Well, as far as pottery business went this week, it was kind of casual. I worked on cream and sugar sets. In fact, this evening I'm going to try and come up with a new tray for my standard set. My "opera" stage set I've decided is just for special show and stuff. I'm sure that most people cannot afford or really want a big cream and sugar sitting on there table. SO.....Tonight, its time for some thinking and sketching before I throw. I also worked on my pedestal bowls. I made some big ones and some smaller ones that make wonderful candy dishes. (I think these will be popular around Christmas). I'm finishing up these items for a gallery order and then its onto some dinnerware.

I opened the paper this morning to see a little article about my home show. A friend of mine who works for the Charlotte Observer has started writing an article about "York county" events and chose my little show to be one of her first articles. Thanks Cheney! The publicity is always good for business.

Sooooooooo, the majority of my week was trying to get set for next week. Family, kids and organization. On top of that, we are trying to do major potty training with the twins girls. This is proving to be a task with the two of them. I think Mckenna's got it but Aydan is having accidents left and right. The pre-school we are sending them too has a policy that the 3 year old children have to be potty-trained. We have 2 1/2 weeks left for her to get this. It's so hard to have two kids, the same age and trying to do the same things all the time. No one knows what its like to have twins unless you DO have them.

My final big event last week was the annual winter "Twin Sale" in Charlotte. I belong to this huge (yes I said huge) group in the Charlotte area called "Mothers of Multipals" and they have two sales a year. Its a big deal for mom's like me. You have to get things ready to sell on Thursday night, Friday night you wait in this big lottery line to buy the things and on Saturday you go back to pick up your not sold items. This event pretty much consumes my week and weekend but it pays off. I get the kids so many cloths, books and such and also make money on there old stuff. Here in the sea of mom's I feel like they all know what it is like to deal with my day to day dealings with the girls. Some of these women have a lot more on there plates then I do with triplets and Quads. The number of women with multiples have grown in the last 5 -10 years because so many women wait to have kids so they can further there career. This results in a lot of fertility drugs being used or just the bodies nature progression of getting rid of eggs when your "biological clock" starts winding down. (I'm sure this was my case since I had the twins at age 36).

Next week we will be ( or I will be) trying to figure out how to work late and get up early for kindergarten car pool. I know some things will have to change around here, I'm just not sure in what order it will happen. I'll keep you posted.

Great Day

Today the weather was wonderful here. It felt like early fall and in turn it was a great day to be out in my studio working. Not to hot, not to cold. ( For those of you who don't know, I work on a screened in porch off the back of our house and in the winter I freeze, even with pounds of plastic nailed up and in the summer I bake, even with a fan going). I put on some Ryan Adams and went to town making pedestal bowls and creamers. The kids got to play outside and go to the pool with Joey and then we went to my folks for dinner. I can't say that was so good because Aydan managed to sneak away after dinner and she smeared red toothpaste all over my parents upstairs bathroom. Thanks goodness my mom was kind of use to things like this since about 37 years ago I was doing the same kind of things. Than both twins had a super meltdown and we decided it was time to get in the car and go. But all in all it was a good Sunday! Hope your was good as well!

Low-Key weekend

I'm still taking it easy. I guess I should kind of start getting into action or I could be in for a major shock soon! I got on order of plates done and shipped out last night and after that I decide to putts around the yard. I'm addicted to planting stuff and seeing what happens with it. I have to admit I don't think I'm very good at landscaping but maybe its just trial and error to see what lives, where it should go and how tall things really get. I've noticed some real planting "boo-boos" I've made with heights of things. I tend to like perennials a whole lot because I get excited each year to see them come up out of the ground. Its almost like an old friend that has surfaced. I tend to be a little strange with placing human feelings on things like animals and plants. Since the loss of my cat Mindy I've taken a real shine to our outdoor cat Paws that Quaid found last summer( she really is more of an indoor cat these days because I want to pamper her so much). The kids think its funny how I talk to her about all sorts of things. Mostly her weight. She came to us pretty skinny and with kittens so now that she has food at her disposal she tends to over-eat a bit. She seems to always be at her dish asking for food and I give it to her because I've never had a cat with such an appetite before. She's getting quit a large tummy on her and she enjoys laying around and I haven't seen her catch a thing in months. Anyways, she's very sweet and like all pets a big part of the family.

Tomorrow I really need to get myself back in full gear. Hopefully the weather will be nice so the kids can have fun outside, Joey can get some house painting done and I can turn up the tunes and throw, throw, throw!
Have a good one everyone!

Good Week/Finally an article I can relate too!

Its been a good week! I was reflecting today how I've really enjoyed this summer and just hanging out with my kids. Quaid was back at camp this week so the girls and I just kind of hung around the house and played, read books, did some shopping and I just enjoyed being here in my house with "my little chickens". ( I'm trying to potty train so its better to just lay low when your dealing with accidents anyways).
Since I'm the mom thing again,I've been meaning to write about a great article I read in Clay Times this month. It was by Lana Wilson and of course it was about being a parent and a potter at the same time. This article is the 2nd in a series she is doing and I think( for me atleast) its about time! Ever since I had Quaid I have been thinking how there are not many people who I can relate too that try and juggle two jobs. That really hit me dead on at a pottery conference I went to where the majority of the potters there did not have children. My mother-in- law said to me once that she was surprised that I wanted to have kids because she always thought most artists where selfish with there art and didn't want another responsibility like having a child. At the time I thought that was a strange observation but it is one that I think does ring true in a lot of cases. Ever since I've been out of school I've seen several young potters like myself go and do all sort of amazing things and have great opportunities because they are not tied down. I admit I have been very envious of them. The fact I can't go here or there any time I want to or spend a whole day on one idea limits me but also empowers me to want to push myself even harder. As I approach 40 I've hit the point where I can't stay up like I use to for long hours and I have to change my position on the wheel or I'll be sore the next day. But, as far having drive to get ahead, that still has not changed and knowing there are other parents out there that have done it only helps me see how far I can still go.

Maybe if my Tec guy can get our printer up and going I'll scan the artical so it will be there for all to read.

Reflect, Rest and Revamp

It took until today to decide to get back in my studio and head into my Sept. orders( and finish up my August ones). I was so worn out from last week I didn't even want to step foot on my porch. It was like going into some office or job I just didn't feel like being at so I took Monday off as well. When I was a teenager and I just did not feel like going to school for some odd reason my mother would tell me to just stay home because I wasn't going to do my best anyways. She was a teacher so I know now as an adult that it was good advise and makes lots of sense. I always hear her saying that to me in my head when I'm just worn out and need a break.

So, here it is Tuesday evening and I did get back to work. I cleaned my studio, ground some pots, organized my orders that will be shipped out when completed and packed a piece for shipping. Tomorrow I have to get some plates in a bisque and then I will start to throw again. This month I won't really be working on anything new even though I'm itchin' to do just that. I have some pretty straight forward orders to finish and a big dinnerware set to begin. I'm really curious to see how I can fit all this in with the starting of..............DRUM roll please...........................................
KINDERGARTEN
Up at 6 to get everyone rolling. Why can't school just start at a normal hour like 10 so people can wake up at a sane hour like 8!~

Win some you ....Well you know the rest

My sale has come and gone. I'm so worn out today I'm in a daze. I'm going to go do some shopping today since its tax free shopping for school stuff and then visit with a friend over dinner and a movie. I always seem to need this kind of treat after a big event.

I had decide last year to only do my home show once a year because of all the work involved. Its just not me who has to get everything together when there is a family involved. I always need a lot of help from Joey and my family to keep the kids occupied, spiff up the house and what not. Of course they are always supportive of my efforts but this show was a bit of a disappointment and Joey said he thinks I need to just forget the home show business and focus on another show. Seems I always have lots of people who want to get on my mailing list and seem really excited when I say I have a show at my house but this year....few showed up. The weather was hot out side and it was a big shopping day, but one does get pretty bummed out when you feel like your support is not there. I do thank everyone that did come out. I love doing the sale and visiting with people but for some reason it was just not in the stars this go around. My friend Amy that did the show with me was great company and we made plans for doing a workshop together but I of course felt responsible for the lack of traffic to my home.
So onto other things. The calendar of evants keeps rolling along. I have a super busy August still and September. I did get a great suggestion from a customer about a vase shape to try so I think this week I'm going to start on that. When I get some made, I'll put a photo up hopefully and get some good feedback.

It will be great this week to get back to some normal activities with the kids. Quaid is back from a wonderful trip to DC with my folks. For being a 5 year old he really soaked up a lot about Mt. Veron and George Washington , which little by little we've been hearing about each day. It was so wonderful to see his little face come beaming into the back yard on Saturday saying" I"mmmm back!!"

Home Show with Amy Sanders
Friday * 6-9 and Saturday * 10-3

Come enjoy some refresments
and see some new work we have
been doing.

The heat!

Ok, everyone on the east coast knows it is hot. Well the heat really slowed me down today, which all in all I don't think was a bad thing. I needed it. I took the girls this morning to a pool party which in these conditions was great. They had fun, I spent time with them and we cooled off. Than around 2 my babysitter came and I headed out to the barn to glaze. My kiln really wasn't cool so having a hot kiln and the temp. being over 100 was not a great mix. I managed to get the glaze studio cleaned, made up a glaze and started to wax; by 4 I had had it! I had planned on getting everything glazed this afternoon and then this evening putting together some candle holders I had thrown Monday night. NO DEAL. I had to go shopping tonight for food for the show and got back into the studio to glaze at 8:30...I just finished and it 11:00 now. Tomorrow I have to teach so I will start again finishing up stuff for the second kiln at 2, lets hope the heats lets up a bit.

My son Quaid is on a trip to DC with my folks this week and I miss his sillyness so I had to post a photo of him and one of his little friends on here tonight. My friend Debi( the mother of the little girls) just sent this to me. This photo reminds me of Joey and myself( only as smaller people)-it tells such a story.

When you get overwhelmed, focus on something else.

I'm working like a mad women on my show stuff- trying to cram an extra week of work into a few days. I've had some much help from my mom friends here that I feel like I need to give them a little coupon to my show! So, what I was feeling all day while the girls where at someone's house playing or they were being entertained by the babysitter was how I need to do something fun with them soon. Some days I spend so much energy trying to keep everything going in my studio and my house that I forget to just relax and have fun with the kids. Its constantly popping up my head weather or not when they get older if they will only remember me running out to my studio all the time in a mad dash to finish something. Lots of time Quaid will stand by the door of my studio and ask me if I'll come play with him and I'll have to answer" I can't I've got work to do" and in my head the song "Cats in the Cradle and the silver spoon"......ect. Plays over and over. The girls where having so much fun in there little pool today playing with there fish and with the heat and the fact I had been basically working all day I just decided to quit and tell the sitter he could go home( yes I have a teenage boy who helps me with the kids...He's great!) We all came inside and layed on the couch and watched Snow-White together. The girls where thrilled to have me there talking to them and singing all the songs. They are so cute and sometime I think I'm missing out on so much by trying to be two people. On a positive note, I think seeing there parents work is a good thing for teaching work ethic and I think my kids have learned to be really good at entertaining themselves. They certainly are not shy with people because they have had such a host of people in and out of our house taking care of them while I'm in and out. So, see I could be overwhelmed with all that needs to get done for my show but instead I'm focusing on my other job instead. Sunday, I think will be a no work day for me.

Amy Sanders

I just wanted to put a photo of Amy's work on here since she's coming to do my show with me. I love Amy's work and she is such a great person as well. I always likes someone's work that much more when they are a great person. Sandy Singletary usually does my home show with me but she's getting ready to go back to school so she just going to come hang out with us. I'm really looking forward to next weekend.

In my studio with Willy Nelson

Last night I took a break from my usual in the studio throwing on Friday night and Joey, my parents and myself went to see Willy Nelson and Family. ( And it really was his family, his sister played the piano and his sons where in the band). It was a great outing for us after all the went on last week. We had a good time and it was nice to go out with my folks.

So naturally today I had to listen to Willy while I worked. Joey was kind enough to take the kids away from the house so I could concentrate on working; which is what I did. I cranked up Whiskey River and went through about 3 of his disc making various stuff. It took me awhile today to get into the swing of things. I think always when I feel a bit out of sorts and pressed for time, I don't concentrate so well on throwing so I had to crash a few things. Usually when this happens I figure it is no time to mess around with hard forms or I'll waste time , which is in small amounts, so I throw things that are comfortible to me but need to be made. I got some pedistals bowls made, berry bowls and dipping dishes. I finished up the evening with decorating some stuff and throwing the base for my flower blocks. I'm determined to get those forms down because I think people really like those. I've been singing Willy songs in my head all day. You forget how great live music makes you feel until you experiance it again.
Over and out, I'm off to bed for another day. Tomarrow I tackle some casseroles.

I've been lost without my blog

Ahhhhhh, I have no idea where to begin, or what has been going on since July 11th, my last entry. If I really wanted to bore everyone to death I could go on an on about stuff but I think I'll just list the evants that has led me up to today.

- computer got zapped in a storm one night....a very "sitcome like " evening where the cat got left in the house and pee'd on my bed, the electricity was out so I could'nt find the black cat to put her outside or locate new sheets and then deal with my kids waking up because they house was pitch black. Did I mention my kiln was fireing and the placesetting in it had to go out the next day for a client?
So, here I am with no computer for 2 weeks. I've been lost.

-I had my show with my Dad, which was nice. I got to see alot of people I had'nt in a long time. Some old art teachers and friends from Greenwood. The show looked really nice and it was fun spending the evening with my Dad, Mom and doing something like that. Dad sold a few painting and I a good amount of pots and we got some nice write ups in the local paper. I guess that is the most attention I've ever gotten in that little town!

- Then we move onto a horrible week which makes all my "silly" sitcome disaters seem rediculous . Joey, my husband, lost his Dad very suddenly and it was just awful...it still is~ things keep popping into my head about him and his interaction with the family that I am going to miss so deeply. My favorite story about him is when Joey first told him what I did for a living and his reply was" what does she do for a living? She makes pots and pans? How do you survive on that?Now, at this time I had'nt even met the man and I thought, what I'm I getting myself into? But Joey just laughed and said, you have to know my Dad to see how funny that statement is. When I did finally meet Joe and was around him more and more comments like that where just his way of getting an inoccent rise out of someone and cracking a joke. He always asked me about my work and what I was up too and seemed real interested in my work. I am very lucky to have married into such a nice family, not many people can say that.

Well, I"m back on line and so glad to put my thoughts down once again. I'm getting ready for my home show next weekend with Amy Sanders. I hope some of you can make it! jen

Small steps

This week I've been making plates, bowls and mugs. I'm working on a sample place setting for someone and some plates for another customer. Pretty comfortble stuff. I like throwing these things, they are kind of like therapy some nights I think. I"m working but I don't really have to think super hard because it comes naturally to throw these things. I love to put handles on mugs but something this evening with the days events effected making nice handles I think. Maybe it had nothing to do with the noise of the day, some days you just can not throw and the same goes with handles. I'm sure only I would notice that my handles just weren't the way I think they should be - the actual mugs shape was pretty pleasing so I was happy with that. Anyways, tomorrow I have to stain everything and get it into the bisque tomarrow and through the rest of the process. Joey's going out of town for two days so I have to find lots of things to wear the kids out in the day because I'm on my own for getting them into bed at a early time so I can go out and work. Of course lately trying to wear them during the day does the same to me so I'm ready to plop on the couch come 9o'clock. Good thing I"m not trying to get a whole dinnerware set out by the end of the week! So once those items are done I'm onto stuff for my home show! This year Amy Sanders, a friend of mine from Clayworks is going to be making a "quest appearance"; sadly Sandy decided she couldn't do it this year with me. As always, I'm looking forward to the event. I love to have people come and visit our back yard full of pots and put out the teki tourches for friday nights opening!

Trip to Asheville

I went up Saturday to Asheville with my Dad. He was nice enough to drive me up there, partly because he has a truck and the other because I'm sure my mom was worried I was looking a bit to ragged to drive a 2 hour trip. So, Dad and I hopped into the truck , listened to Car Talk on the way up there and had a nice day. I always love going up to the mountains. I always feel like Joey and I missed out on not trying to move up there. Of course there would be more competing for me but there are just more things and people that we are both into up there. It reminds me of where I grew up in Ithaca NewYork because there are all sorts of interesting looking people walking around. When I was little we use to call Hippy looking sorts "organies". If your into cookbooks and your a vegetarian you should know The Moosewood cookbook. Well when I was little my mom use to take us there to eat. ( Being a kid I wasn't to keen on the organic peanutbutter sandwhiches or the carob cookies but now I feel like I was a part of history!) So, I finally got my clay and a lot of it so I have a HUGE bill to pay off (porcelain has gone up again!!!!YIKES) and now I can start throwing like a mad women for my home show in August, not to mention all the special orders I have going on. Oh, the thrill of a race once again.

July 4th

I did get back to throwing a bit on July 4th but I ran out of clay last night and found out I still could NOT get any of my clay here in Charlotte. So......Tonight I made some glazes and I guess I'll plan a trip on my own up to Asheville (which feels kind of lonely at the moment). I asked Joey if he wanted to make a family day of it but he has all sorts of house things he wants to do so I'll let him stay here and maybe take one of the kids with me on a little adventure.I put a photo of the girls up from our July 4th outing. Like I said before, I love to post photo's of the kids. I tried to get a good one of Quaid but he wasn't in the "festive mood" that night. He was just focused on the fireworks. I'm really not a very patriotic person (mainly because I find so much wrong with the county right now) but of course it is a tradition to celebrate and I don't want the kids to miss out on that. So every year I drag Joey out to fight with the traffic and we have a usual back and forth banter on when we are going to bolt for the car. As a kid my father always made us miss the finale because we had to beat the traffic. Low and behold I married someone who feels the same way. This year I was the one who wanted to run because there was talk of a huge rain storm coming and nothing is worse than dragging 3 sopping wet kids whining through a rain storm. All in all, once again it ended well and the kids had a blast and I believe the two of us did as well!
posted by Jen Mecca at 11:05 PM 0 comments

Greenwood space

Here's the space we are showing in. Its kind of dark photo's but you get the idea.

All's well that ends well & thoughts on creativity

The lusters came out of the kiln Sunday morning and at 10am Dad and I where off to Greenwood. I have to say that going through the pots with the luster on them was much more joyous than I had thought. As I was packing them up I suddenly become very attached and attracted to these "over the top" sort of pots. This was a surprise to me and also an enlightened when I thought about it the whole way down to Greenwood. ( I'll talk more about that in a minute.)

When we got to the Arts Council building ( which was the old Federal Building) I was pleasantly surprised. The space is new and very well planned and layed out. I had brand new pedestals that where huge and 6 of them had plexi-glass tops. I wasn't to keen on putting the tops over my pieces because I think that pots should be touched but with the lusters on them, I had a whole new view of my work. For once when the glass went down I really studied how much work goes into my pots and how so many times I undercut myself because I just want to move onto the next piece or I don't value there worth. Something about the luster/porcelain and pieces I made just asked to have a little class brought to them. At this time I think this was the place for it to happen! Dad got all his paintings hung and with my pots I think it looks pretty good and the space is just wonderful. As usual it all comes out well in the end after I put myself through a whole lot of unwarranted anxiety( along with the 4 other people who live with me).

Back to my "luster thoughts".................................The whole notion of what we make is who we has finally come full circle to me. There are many pots I just love and through the years I have longed to make those sort of pots but once you start creating something your brain and hands sort of take over. The end result, if its true I think is really YOU. Now to explain this a bit better, when I was working for Cedar Creek and we would go on our buying trips. Lisa Oakley and I would often laugh about how some of the crafts people looked like there work. Even after you spoke with them, you could totally see them in there creation. A potter by the name of David Vole comes to mind. He was the nicest, soft spoken guy but dressed with a little flare, not to hippies, not sloppy but just a touch of yuppie( If you will) appeal. His pots where very nicely made, soft in form, had lots of rich color and very pleasant to touch and have in your house. My mom has one of his creamers and I'm always admiring it when ever she pulls it out. So...............Where does that leave me and my lusters? Well, I am very visual and I love color( hence all the stuff I have to put on my pots), I'm pretty dramatic at times and I think my odd shapes have drama, I am a bit of a "mess" as my husband says and sometimes I find my pots reflect that and (Here's where the luster comes in) I really enjoy anything that is a bit over the top. Stores, cloths, shows, jewelry ect. I"m sort of like a moth that goes towards the light. I know I shouldn't sometime but I'm always draws to things like that. If nothing else but to just look at it. So, I think you make what you are and if you can stay true to what your hands, head and heart just tell you, it will show in your work. End of lecture
Hopefully tomorrow I can get some photo's up that I took at the art center. CHOW!

The endless sighs

Ok, scenario's from Thursday to Saturday:
Thursday day- I try to get a sitter/mothers helper here in the morning so I can quick dry/decorate my pieces for a bisque. Since I was at the beach for 4 day and it rained the whole time I was there the big things are not totally dry and the fan in my studio has not dried everything overnight. No luck with the sitter so I'm forced to have a long night and a lot of anxiety. I end up finishing decorating everything about 12 and start to load the kiln but everything won't fit. This had not taken into consideration. I had many large things and awkward shapes. I bet a loaded and unload that kiln about five times for everything to fit. I crack the lid, turn everything on low and go in to bed around 1:00 - I set the alarm clock for 2 so I can shut the lid.
Friday morning.........I wake up at 6 and relies the alarm did not go off. AHHHHHHHHHH Joey give me a lecture on why it did not go off ( just what I want to hear!) I decide that there is no need to get super upset......If I'm a day late with the work people will just have to understand. I'm really not worried about the arts council people( I'm use to explaining these mishaps to people) but my Dad.......hummmmmm that is another story. ( Your dad is always your dad). I just go ahead out to my kiln, look at the pots to see they are all bone dry and turn that sucker up to high! I might as well go for it! The morning goes on and about 1 o-clock I notice that kiln had fired off. Hey.........the pottery gods are on my side.
Friday night........I start glazing about 7 o'clock. Something comes up that day again where I have no outside help and I just have to count on Joey when he gets home. I know its going to be another long night. I glaze and glaze and glaze. As I'm unloading the hot bisque kiln I find that two of my favorite pieces have cracks in them. AHHHHHHH. I go on. I carefully try to glaze everything and relies once again that I'm short on kiln space. Its about 1 in the morning when I finally get everything but one piece in the kiln. I'm sure I've loaded and unloaded it about 10 times. SO fustrating and I"m so tired. Once again my tired risk taking side takes over and I just turn the kiln straight to high after its been just sitting on low so dry out the pots while I"m loading. I'm just to worn out to get up with that kiln for the turn ups...I need sleep.
Saturday morning.....I get up at 8 and by 10 I see that at some point the kiln has turned off. AH the kiln gods like again! I put a fan on the kiln and cut the grass, go swimming with the kids, take a nap and around 4 I start quick cooling it by putting various size blocks in the lid. When I finally start unloading stuff at 9pm my heart sinks. Glaze runs on my two big vases. AHHHHHHHHHH, the jam-jar looks like do-do. And as the three days go on I relies that I must of sighed about 100 times and not the way my yoga teachers would like me to breath!

( At the moment I'm doing a cone 19 luster firing. Tomorrow Dad and I are off to Greenwood to set up the show).