Bye to Summer

A cool wind is blowing  in the mountains, the roads are no longer chocked with tourists, the lake is getting too chilly to put your toes in, school buses are headed down the road stuffed with kids....time to put away the clay and head for home.

This wonderful summer has been  filled with a birth and time spent walking on the flower filled trails with  friends, family and puppy dogs .  I feel rich beyond belief. In the studio  I  managed to finish some custom orders including a 10 piece dish set for a favorite collector in Virginia.  A picture of the bowls and plates ready to pack and ship is above 

So bye bye summer...you went by way too quickly....on to new adventures in the fall - including getting to visit my favorite city in the whole world...Paris.

Play

                                                     "cold shoulder bunny" (greenware)  

 I keep hearing on the radio that summer is almost over.  The ads on TV are showing Back To School in a big way but I feel like the warm, long, quiet studio days of summer are, for me, are just starting.


We have been having a big family summer up here in Tahoe.  Our NY daughter, her husband   and our brand new grand-baby came for a visit.   They were joined by our CA family... our son,  2 grand-daughters,  daughter and her husband, and 2 uncles. At one point we also had 5 dogs in the mix. We had a ball - hiking, swimming, mini-golfing, para-sailing, ball throwing, BB-Q ing...but mostly enjoying  holding and getting to know our sweet, toothless smiley, Guadalupe.

                                                      me and Loops - I'm in total grammy bliss

Now everybody has gone home and it is my time to return to the studio.  I was able to take 2 days of a wonderful sculpture class with Michele Gregor and Susannah Israel at Sierra Nevada College before the family arrived. I had never attempted sculpture before and was looking for adventure. I was a little scared as I entered the class and realized that we would be making figures.
I was soon  blown away by how much FUN it was. It was so liberating not to have to even think about how the piece will feel in the hand, pour or finish so that it is practical.  Building with coils or solid hunks of clay...pressing in details...hallowing out heads and eyes and ears...rolling out fingers and arms and feet....making rabbits in evening wear ....what fun. I can combine my love of fashion and furry animals.  Huge THANKS to Michele and Susannah.  If you  have a chance to take a workshop from either of them do it, you won't be sorry.

                               Michele captivates her audience - Sierra Nevada College workshop with Susannah Israel

I think I will always be a functional potter.  I do love making work that is practical and that fits in the everyday world. It's just how my mind works...BUT I now know  I can  pick up a big hunk of clay and  PLAY  and find such joy. This is why I LOVE clay so much....so many ways to amuse myself!