Intersection

Intersection – a place where paths cross. It’s been one of those weeks where my life, my art and people from near and far have intersected.

My nephew, his wife and new baby who live in Korea, were in town this past week. It was fun to spend time with family and a great excuse to knit up a cute sweater for little Sidney.

I recently completed a series of clay vessels for a good friend I’ve known since middle school using leather cord and driftwood I collected on Hilton Head Island beaches. This commission combines two of my passions – knitting and clay and will be delivered to New Jersey next weekend.

The week ended with a great visit with friends from childhood who made a trip to the studio. This intersection resulted in a future project collaboration, good discussion of ways to sell my work and a reconnection with friendships that have faded over time and distance.

It was a great week filled with lots of paths crossed. 

Clearing the Clutter

A colorful array of vases recently sprung from my studio!

One way I know it is Spring time in my household is that list of projects I’ve been meaning to do, are now getting done. And that clean up and clean out attitude is evident in my studio as well.  I am a messy potter. I admit that happily and freely. When the creative juices are running, organization and tidiness are not part of the process. Somehow that clutter helps release or lead to ideas that translate into my work. But after a creative flurry, I like to clean up and organize my studio for the next rally.

I think I do this for a number of reasons. I often hear two of my mother’s mottos in my head, “Every job has a beginning, middle and END (the End part meaning 'clean up')!” and “There is a place for everything and everything in its place.” By putting tools back where they belong (so I can find them the next time I need them), wiping down dusty surfaces, washing brushes and creating a new clean slate, I’m ready for the next round of work.

I find the clean up process offers it’s own satisfaction as well. It’s helps me close out and erase what I’ve completed and begin anew. Isn’t that what Spring is all about? 

My father made this chest over fifty years ago to organize his tools for woodworking projects. It's got a central location in my studio and holds many of my own tools.

Texture is a big part of my work. I've recently organized my stamps and rollers in this lazy susan contraption I found at Home Depot. 

Displaying my color samples on the wall helps me during my glazing process. This foam 'board' works perfectly with my test tiles! I found it at The Container Store. 

 Even my kiln room gets put back together after a firing flurry!

A place for everything and everything in it's place!

Say It In Pictures

I spent the week in the studio working on some new pieces. Here is a pictorial of yarn bowls in process. 

It starts with my trusty slab roller. I usually roll the clay to a quarter inch thickness. 

Next I cut out the shape of the clay using a template I've made. In this case it is a circle which I cut in half. 

Now the fun begins! I texture both sides of the circle with complimentary stamps.

I seal the two pieces together with the second texture tool. 

I use mini basketballs I've collected over the years to help create the correct size and shape for the yarn bowls. 

The bowls need to dry and set up awhile before I can continue working on them. I'm okay with the unevenness of the edge. I think it adds to the organic uniqueness of each bowl!

I cut out the foot for each bowl. I even texture the outside of them to complete the finished look of each bowl. 

The bowls must dry and set up again before I can add to them. 

The accent shape which holds the yarn and needles of the yarn bowl has evolved over time. Can you tell I'm partial to hearts?!

When the finished bowls dry to the leather hard stage I apply a layer of underglaze color before I fire them the first. time. Next I apply a glaze color to each bowl and fire once again. 

Here a picture of a finished bowl!

Do What You Love

Work table.

As I move forward on this life journey I have learned to eliminate activities I don’t like and progress toward spending time loving what I do. It’s a good lesson to practice in a career, relationships and daily activities. And sometimes I’ve found it’s easier to figure out what it is you don’t like which helps lead you to what you do.

Glaze Kiln opening.

Here’s one of the ways I know I am still loving working in clay. Each time I open the lid of the kiln and see the results of my efforts, I get excited and a sense of satisfaction. Of course there are the occasional disappointments and broken disasters – but when I lift the lid and the 'kiln gods' have cooperated – it’s such a great feeling.

For some funny reason, I get this same sensation when I unpack my work to set up for a show. Even though I am the one that has carefully wrapped, packed and lugged it around to an event – when I unfold the paper protecting my work, I still get a jolt of happiness and it’s almost as if I am seeing the work for the first time.

Bird House in the Garden.

See what makes you happy today, and try to get more of that in your life on a regular basis!

Silver and Gold

Lady Bug Potstickers in process.

I'm in production-mode in the studio. I'm finishing up work for a trunk show at The Muse in Frederick, Maryland during the first Saturday event April 5. I'll have lots of my garden pieces available for sale and despite the rainy-snow we had this past weekend, I'm confident that Spring is going to make it's way here one of these days very soon. If you are in the area, stop by between 5 and 9 and say hello!

Life-long friends!

I did take time out to gather with a group of girlfriends I've know since second grade for lunch. We share a history and seem to easily pick up where we left off even though we don't all spend time together frequently. Our 'historian' Dawn likes to bring along long-forgotten childhood mementos she has kept including notes we passed in middle school and trinkets from our days in Brownies and Girl Scouts. These often spark memories, laughter and conversation about our past and how it has framed our present. 

For me, friendship is a pillar of who I am and what I do as an artist. And two of the things I learned in scouts long ago still echo true for me today. 

Dawn's Brownie  Beanie.

1. Treat people the same way you would like to be treated. 

2. 'Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other's gold. A circle is round, but never ends. That's how long I will be your friend. '

Creative Resourcefulness

Workshops are a great place to learn. I've taught and taken clay workshops throughout the years. For me, the end goal is usually a new skill or information in the art of clay. The extra added bonus, I've found is the people connections I've made and the sharing that goes on with all class participants.

For example, Pinterest is the 'gold mine' I discovered while taking a clay workshop in Charlotte, NC. One of my class-mates asked if I'd ever heard of it. No. She opened up a whole new world of creative exploration for me. 

In the olden days, I would collect pictures from catalogs and magazines  to store in an 'idea notebook.'  I used these visual images to trigger my own creative juices  -- maybe a new shape, type of vessel or color palette would emerge from leafing through my collection. 

Now, Pinterest has become my creative muse. I store and explore Pins on a regular basis. It has expanded my creative world tenfold. 

Here is one of the latest pins I've added to my collection. 

I guess my message is simply this: don't stop learning and expanding your creative horizons. Creative inspiration can come from all kinds of resources -- just keep an open mind and you'll discover your own!

Life Lesson

I struggle with the business element of my clay passion. I think many artists do. It’s a journey where I constantly learn, adjust and tweak the mix. Success if often gauged in dollars, but one thing I have learned along the way is that it’s not the only marker. I think giving – of your time, of your talent, of your product – is another important element of ‘work.’ And I’ve found over time, that giving most often leads to receiving. 

I demonstrated the clay quilting technique I use to make Lazy Susans at The Muse in Frederick, Md. this past weekend. I had a great time! I like getting out of the studio and sharing what I do on a daily basis with people. 

I always try to donate a piece of my work for fundraisers when I'm asked. Here's an example of a mixed media piece I make that is going to help raise money for The Heartly House, Inc. in Frederick, Md. which helps survivors of violence and abuse.

Endings and Beginnings

Melting snow and a beautiful sunset in Urbana, Md. 

This is a great time of year. Snow and winter are on the way out. Longer and warmer days are on the way in. My energy level goes up and creativity rebounds.

The makings of a personalized Lazy Susan in process.

I’ve got two great events I’m gearing up for at The Muse in Frederick, Maryland. This coming Saturday ( March 15), I’ll be at the shop demonstrating one of the clay assembly techniques I use called quilting. The lazy susans I make are an example of this clay method.

Newly assembled Toad Houses drying in the studio.

The First Saturday of April, I'll return to The Muse with a slew of new work for the Garden including bird feeders, toad houses, totems and pot stickers!

Be sure and stop by the Muse at 19 N. Market Street in Frederick, Maryland while I'm there to say hello!