Admitting it. And "growing."

So, here's the thing:

May was full of mistakes. I shipped out cake stands with the wrong date. I shipped out cake stands with the wrong name. I shipped out cake stands late. I shipped orders to the wrong address. I glazed items in the wrong color.

If it was something I could mess up, chances are pretty good that I did.

I've refunded more money than I care to think about. I've written more apologetic emails than I care to admit.

And if you were on the receiving end of one of the emails, let me say it again. I'm so sorry.

So what went wrong? Several things. Some of which had been gaining steam for a couple of months. Some are personal and some are business. March was my busiest month to-date and getting ready for my two festivals put me behind schedule. I was overwhelmed and tired.

And when things go wrong, I generally like to use band-aids. But I think this calls for something more drastic.

Enter: Kenn.

Kenn is my life partner and best friend. We spend everyday together. He has always been a cheerleader for me and my business. Now, it is time for him to get more involved.

Moving forward, he will be organizing my emails and orders. Helping out with the online mess (which I am streamlining- more on that next time.) And just generally keeping tabs on what is going on with the business.

I've resisted this for so long. I don't really want employees and I have always considered my business MINE. No matter how messy, no matter how confusing. It was MINE. The success was MINE, and this month- the failure was MINE, too. It is time to share that load. Kenn has always been a big part of keeping me moving forward and giving me a push when needed. So now he gets to do it more often!

I expect some bumps in the road while we work out the dynamic and details. But it is already moving forward smoother than before. We bought clipboards! We've organized my orders!

I would love to hear from other people about similar experiences. Any words of advice for bringing spouses/family/friends into your work life?

For the vegans- keychains for (almost) free.

This weekend there is an event in the beautiful city of Portland, OR that I wish I was attending. The Vida Vegan Con. A conference for vegan bloggers. Loads of workshops and fun for vegan bloggers/ non-vegan bloggers/vegan non-bloggers.

The list of speakers is just amazing- http://vidavegancon.com/2013-vvc/2013-speakers/
I suspect that everyone attending will walk away feeling more than a little inspired and ready to take on the world.

If you are attending, I am a proud sponsor of this event. And also, look in the bottom of your grab bag! You will probably find a cute little keychain made by me.

Just a little token of thanks to all the amazing vegan bloggers out there who thrill me with beautiful recipes and inspiring words. The path of veganism is a bit odd for outsiders to think about, but when I meet a fellow vegan- I know that we (probably) share a love for animals and the earth. And that means a great deal to me.

So, while you may not find me commenting. Please know that there are lots of people like me- looking at vegan blogs- feeling connected and grateful for the internet.

Thank you so much!

ps- have a great time in Portland!! It is crazy, awesome there- right?!?!

pps- if you aren't going to Vida Vegan Con this weekend but really would like a vegan keychain in your life, I have a handful to give away for virtually free (sorry, I couldn't get the shopping cart to work for $0.00) HERE

ppps *** also, I'm trying out a new shopping cart- so if you have trouble getting your keychain, let me know! ***

Being the potter that I am.

I will be 40 at the end of this year. I'm finding myself very self-reflective, I don't know it is because I am approaching "that age." Or the fact that I may spend too much time alone. Whatever the case- I am {finally} coming to terms with who I am as a person. And part of who I am, is the fact that I am a self-employed, full-time potter.

I often think about being "successful," and what that means. It varies so greatly from person to person. I used to believe that it meant being published in the pottery magazines. Or getting invited to gallery shows. And that is what it means to some potters. And I love those potters. They provide loads of inspiration and I'm lucky enough to own beautiful pottery from some of the people I admire.

But.
I am not that potter.
And I am okay with that.

I make pottery that is accessible to people outside of the academic/gallery world of pottery. I make pottery that when people see me at a craft show, they stop and say "it's so girly!" or "it's so pretty!" I think I used to be offended by that. But honestly, I would not be a full-time potter if it wasn't for that reaction. It is that reaction that brings them into the booth or browse the etsy shop.

And I appreciate that so much.

Sure, I am not be the most advanced potter. I am not pushing any new, revolutionary techniques. I am not exploring any unknown glaze chemistry.

I'm just making pretty pots.
And I am so lucky to be doing just that.


It is important for aspiring potters to know that you don't need an MFA or a residency* in a well-regarded facility. You can be a potter without those things. To be a potter, you need to make pots. {Make LOTS of pots- practice your craft. Learn to make a good pot. Learn to fire a kiln. Learn how to mix glazes. Thank the internet for youtube videos, how-to articles and potters willing to share.} To make a living as a potter, you need to make pots that people want in their life. And for people to want them in their life, they have to know you exist.

Make pots.
Make LOTS of pots. 
Show your pots to people.
Show your pots to LOTS of people.

*I am in no way disregarding MFA programs or residency. I believe that they are useful for development as an artist. It never was a real option in my life. And maybe it never will be. Or maybe it will. Who knows? My point is simply that you don't need it. You can make good pots without it. If your goal is to sell pots so that you can pay your bills, you can do it. It is not as romantic as it sounds. But, I've got to say, it is a pretty life.

New designs and a rare one-of-a-kind cake stand.

First, let's discuss this cake stand. If you came out to our open house over the holiday, you may have seen me throw this cake stand on the potter's wheel. Yes, that's right. 3 months ago.
I was demonstrating how to throw a cake stand in one piece. I usually make my cake stands in two pieces, throwing the plate and the base separately and attaching them later in the process.
But, by special request, I made a cake stand.

And then I decided to decorate it using mishima. (Molly Hatch's mishima tutorial.) Mishima is a technique that I am madly in love with. I'm hoping to incorporate it more heavily into my work this year- but for now it is just odds bits and pieces that get this treatment.

So this is an one-of-a-kind cake stand. It sat around the studio in various half-finished stages for the last 3 months. Finally- FINALLY glazed and finished. I rather adore it. And am thrilled that it came out as lovely as it did!

This year, I been playing around with place settings. I really enjoy making plates and the process of a full place setting. I added two different styles to my etsy shop.

"unmatchy" floral dinnerware

"stitch" dinnerware

New 2-tiered fruit bowl! A riff off of my popular hanging basket set. I often get requests for a counter top version. Easy to assemble and lovely for your counter or tabletop.

2-tiered fruit bowl

I'm finishing up my large lace cake stand order and getting ready to go into crazy berry bowl production mode. Spring is almost here, but I will admit to be a pinch excited at seeing the slightest sprinkle of snow on the ground this morning. All gone now though! 

52 Teapots: 7-10

Spouts. And the first one that I really like!

7

#7. So completely not what I had been looking for when I started this project. But oh! I really really like you. Quirky. Bold. Simple but intriguing. Yes. I think I love you.

After finishing and glaze firing my previous lug teapot (#4), I gave it a try. I found it comfortable. I also looked online at some other lug-handled teapots. And found that ergonomically, the handle should angle upward a bit. I hadn't been planning on making anymore lug handles for this round of teapots, but I was curious. So I will be firing and glazing this one soon, too. And giving it a test run. I think my next batch will focus on this type of handle.

The spout is short and sweet. I think it may need to be longer, like #8-10. But I really enjoyed the overall look of the short spout contrasting with the dramatic lug handle. So there you go, aesthetics over function. 

#8-10

8

9

10

So these definitely took a turn toward the classical. I knew part of my struggle would be "stumpy" spouts. And with these, I was attempting to have a longer, more elegant spout. 

I'm certainly gaining a better understanding of teapots. I am trying to work through them without relying too heavily on looking at images of teapots online. (Mainly because, I will get sucked down into an endless vortex of pottery/artists/forms/links, links, links and never return.)

Winners this week are #7 and #8. I will admit to rushing the handles on 8-10. I was intending to do "overhead" handles (#6) but was trying to get everything finished up before heading out of town for a few days. Because I hate having half-finished work hanging over my head while I'm away from the studio. So there. I just rushed 'em. 

Lace Cake Stand commission- decadent!

Just a quick look at what I am working on right now. A lovely commission from a bakery in California for lace cake stands. Still have more to go! I will be finishing the last half in the next couple of weeks. 

Ceramic spoons. An obsession.

 

Spoons. I wrote a tutorial on making spoons in 2011. You can find it here.  Admittedly, since then, I've mainly made plain spoons for my salt cellars:

Always in the back of my mind though, are those illustrated little spoons. So I made some more. And I made some bigger spoons, too.
The small scale is perfect for my drawing style. And I like that the spoons can be functional or just used for decoration. A hole was made in the handle of the larger spoons so that it can be easily displayed on a wall.

These spoons are a total labor of love. Time-consuming. Plus, I am still in the "practice" phase. Learning how to draw better and which spoon shapes I like the most.

Simple matras are added to some of the handles: "celebrate," "add some love," or just "be love." One of my goals for this year is to recognize the love that is all around and to enjoy what it is that I already have. Making these spoons and inscribing them with these little messages somehow re-affirms them with me.

If interested, you can find some spoons available for purchase here.