Making Progress

Having adjusted my work expectations earlier this week, today I find myself with an entire day in the studio to do a little catching up. I'm not "caught up", but I'm making progress and that's all I need right now.

On the drying boards today are some soap dishes, lids for butter keepers, an oblong platter and several bottomless pieces (pictured above) which will be shaped into an oblong and a slab bottom will be added. I love the oblong pieces. Wheel thrown but not the typical round shape.

So that's my progress for the day. I'm pleased with it and hope to have similar progress tomorrow.

Be well

When Life Gets In The Way

I started out writing about how unexpected things like dealing with family health issues can upset the apple cart of life but then realized it just sounded like whining.

Every day we choose how to spend our time and lately I’ve spent more time than I intended on other things besides pottery making. The full time job takes its required time each week and then the rest of the time is split between making pottery, family responsibilities, relaxation and occasionally helping a friend at her shop. But when unexpected things take some of that time away, we must adapt. I must adapt my expectations of my pottery work schedule. Not adapting would mean giving up other thing I enjoy in my day, like a little time catching up with online friends or watching a movie with my daughter on her day off so I could get the pottery done I anticipated. Those things are too treasured to be given up so readily.

So this week, I’ve not gotten much pottery done. I haven’t listed any new items in my shop, photographed any pieces or applied to any shows. But I did have a nice time watching a movie with my daughter, had dinner with my husband each evening, visited with family more than I normally would and spent a little time with the winter sun shining on my face. And those things are way more special than any piece of pottery I’d have made in that time. This weekend I may have some extra time to catch up or maybe not.

Grrrr

Today I managed to get several custom order plates glazed and ready to fire. Unfortunately, in loading the kiln I lost one of the plates by dropping a shelf post on it.




Good thing I made a few extras when I was throwing them. Now I'll just need to get one of the extras glazed. The first glaze load in the kiln is running and hopefully, I'll get a second glaze load of plates fired later this week.

What's new?

Not much is new around here lately, how about with you?

Yesterday morning there was some wonderful hoar's frost on everything, making the swamp behind the house look like a magical ice kingdom. But then we're in Minnesota, so it is a magical ice kingdom I guess.

I got a lot done in the studio yesterday. Kevin was gone to the farm to clear the driveway of snow so when (if) the sun came out, the driveway would melt off nicely. So I used the time while he was away to load and run a bisque load in the kiln, rinse and wax a kiln load of pieces to get them ready for glazing, mixed up a couple glaze batches for some that are getting low. And threw several pieces.

One of the things I'm working on is a salt & pepper shaker design I'm happy with. Not really there yet, but enjoying the experiments. Here is yesterday's version. Still not sure what I want them to be so I'll keep trying different shapes and techniques until one speaks to me.

Today, I'll sieve the glazes mixed yesterday and glaze a couple test pieces to go in the next glaze load. The bisque load I ran yesterday should be ready to unload late today and I'll probably work on glazing the things I waxed yesterday. That of course all comes after spending a little time with my sweetie for Valentine's Day. I might even get a few more pieces thrown today.

Be well.

Notes from a Slacker

Earlier this week, fellow potter & blogger, Michael Kline challenged the makers of clay things to get working early the next day and make twelve things before 12:00 noon. Since this was on Tuesday, I had to wait until yesterday to even attempt this since I was at my day job on Wednesday and Thursday.

Yesterday, I got up and through my morning routine. I had to take some things to the Market on Oak, but figured I'd be home in time to get twelve of something done (ever the optimist ya know). I didn't get home from the Market until 11:45 so nothing got made yesterday before noon. In the afternoon, I trimmed several pieces from earlier in the week and did manage to throw 15 butter keeper bases.

Today, I again had hopes of accomplishing the challenge Michael had put forth. After completing my walk on the treadmill because it's too icy, slippery for outside walks here. Checked Facebook, other blogs, my e-mail and Etsy, then had some breakfast. Completed several show applications and got those in the mail and then headed out to the studio. Still needed more butter keepers so I figured I might as well make twelve or more of those today.

And I was making great progress. About 1/2 through my daughter was leaving for work, this is really our only time to catch up so we visited for a while. Then hubby came home from his errands, we visited and he offered to make me lunch. Lunch - of course!

So around 1:15 I finished the butter keeper bases. A little late, but it's noon somewhere right? Maybe the best thing we can take away from this is a better understanding of our work habits and how to organize our day around when we work best.

Click here to see all the people who did complete Michael's challenge.

10th Annual Bluff Country Studio Art Tour - 2010

The 10th Annual Bluff Country Studio Art Tour will be held April 23 - 25th in the beautiful bluff country of Southeastern Minnesota. This fabulous tour provides an opportunity to visit artists in their studios or work spaces which is a special treat.

Since a number of artists don't have studio space suitable for visitors, a number of host locations are also utilized as group sites. The driveway to my studio space is always muddy and difficult to navigate during the art tour (I got stuck in the driveway twice last year during the art tour).

So I'll be displaying at this great old stone schoolhouse called Grubtown School which is just a couple hundred feet away from my driveway, but without all the nasty spring mud to traverse. The school house has been remarkably restored and is used as a seasonal rental south and east of the historic town of Lanesboro.

I've been working diligently during the cold winter to create a huge inventory of pottery for the tour which is my first sale of the year. So I should have some new items to unveil along with the most extensive inventory I'll have at any shows for the year. And as an added bonus, I'll have some wonderful snacks and beverages created by my friends at the Highland Store & Cafe which is just a couple miles north of the schoolhouse.

If the weather cooperates, I may even get to do some throwing demonstrations on the patio outside. I've got my fingers crossed.