Musing

It's been 2 weeks since I returned to the mountains from the Bay Area after the ACGA show. The muse did not return with me. I have been avoiding the studio. I get down there , ditz around for an hour or two and find some excuse to leave. This is not like me, usually I can't wait to goof around in the mud. For now I am figuring the lightening bolt of inspiration is going to come down and strike me some time soon....I hope.


I think, actually, help for my potter's block is on it's way up the mountain this very minute. Next week my friend and fellow clay maker Sharon Virtue and I are taking a workshop at Sierra Nevada College from my studio mate, Christa Assad . I know that if anybody can kick my clay inertia in the butt it's going to be Christa.

Though I haven't been inspired to produce much work these past weeks I have been inspired by my surroundings. John, Harry (the dog) and I have been off exploring the Tahoe Rim Trail. Yesterday we took a 3 hour hike to Paige Meadows.....FLOWERS...oh, my god. The beautiful book pictured, along with being shoulder high in the flowers it illustrates, is shaping my thoughts, if not my fingers.

Drink Don't Whine

The ACGA Show - Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival - is over...phew. It was a great, fun gathering and I loved hanging with my clay mates, family and the happy supportive shoppers but... What a BUTT LOAD of work! Forgive me for a small whine. I sold some good pieces (not as many as I had hoped but "in this economy"....) and a lot of little green peas. I will be there again next year but for the next couple of days my fingers will not long to squish in soft wet clay. Tomorrow ...I'm back to the quiet of the mountains and maybe I'll venture into the studio after a long hike in the woods and a chilly swim in the lake.

Absolutely Fabulous

I'm ready. My boxes are packed, the kilns have cooled. I have to sew some little curtains for my booth this morning, put the dogs in the swanky dog hotel then John and I are off to set up for the Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival.

What a week...It reminded me of finals week in college - late nights, drinking, smoking, eating, working. On Wednesday night Christa, rae and I had all 3 of our kilns cranked up and it was blistering hot at fourth & clay. I was afraid the paint on the wall was going to melt off. This was the first real test of our expensive electrical system. It was designed so that 4 kilns could be turned on at the same moment and fired successfully. We did stagger our start times, just to be safe. YAHOO,it worked...when does that ever happen?

I have tons of new work including these new "Pattern Bowls". These are the result of the decal workshop with Richard Shaw I took 2 weeks ago. I think I've finally succeeded in combining the past with the present and I'm pretty happy with the results. The joke with my potter friends is that I change direction with my work every week but.... to misquote Ab Fab..."this is the one, Darling"..... at least until next week.

Down by the Bay

I'm out of the mountains and back to civilization for a week. I'm getting ready for the ACGA Show this weekend. My kiln is cooking up a storm. I have tons of new work so if you're in the area please drop by for a look.