My Latest Rambling!
Thanks to all of you who have been contacting me about getting pieces. As you know, I LOVE making the pieces and am glad to be able to pass them on to good homes. Your support of my clay addiction is greatly appreciated! My goal is to start placing pieces on the website for sale soon....so please keep watching for them. In the meantime, I'm taking them to various shows/sales and as always, you can email me if you're looking for a particular item. Thank you again for your encouragement.
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I can't believe it's 2008! I look forward to making lots of pottery this year ... but I may not have time to cook or clean my house. HaHa. I unloaded the kiln again today and it's still just as exciting as ever to unveil the "magic" that happened in the firing. Some pieces are amazing to see how the glazes melded, but It's disappointing to see pieces that didn't quite make it ... the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat". It's a learning process and I have a long way to go, but It's encouraging to look back at earlier pieces and see progression. To those of you who have been asking, yes, I'm planning to put pieces for sale on the website soon. So please visit again soon.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention.... Pyromania 2008 is almost here and I can't wait to get there. If you like to look at "fired" art, i.e. glass, wrought iron, pottery, etc. then you'd enjoy Pyromania. I've added the link to my favorites (bottom of "About" page) if you want to check it out.
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Ho Ho Ho! Christmas is almost here! A quick hello to all of you, some of whom I met within the last month either at the Women's expo or the One Night in Bethlehem program put on by Calvary Christian Center in Hammond. I enjoyed talking with everyone while sharing litle tidbits of knowledge about pottery. Thanks to all the people who patiently listened to me run my mouth!! I hope all of you have a very safe and happy holiday season.....Merry Christmas!
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Well, the holidays are rapidly approaching and there is just not enough time.
I was so busy I did not get to go to the Texas Clay Festival 2007 in Gruene, Texas, which took place a few weeks ago in October. I went for the first time in 2006 and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Even my husband, Mike, who I dragged along with me enjoyed himself hanging out in the raku pit. (But then, who wouldn't enjoy watching and listening to Randy Brodnax do his magic?!) You know I had a good time last year since I'm still regretting not going this year. Check out their website (it's in my favorite "links") and if you ever get a chance...make the trip. (Lagniappe....outlet malls in San Marcos, Texas are close by!)
'Til next time...
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From November, 2006:
I was blessed enough to be able to attend the 2006 Texas Clay Festival which was held on Saturday and Sunday, October 28 and 29, 2006 in Gruene, Texas (just outside of San Antonio and New Braunfels, Texas).
I came across their website sometime last year and thought it sounded a lot like Pyromania which takes place in Lafayette, Louisiana each year...but with more potters and pottery! So I’ve planned and looked forward with great anticipation all of this year! Mike blessed me with his company and I thank him for allowing me to drag him along. I had hoped he would come so he could make mental notes of display shelving and raku kiln set-up and operation. Those types of details slip my mind very easily!
The weather was beautiful and it turned out to be a GREAT weekend. I was able to sit in on several demonstrations by Texas potters, buy and bring home some treasures (and see lots that will have to wait until next year!) Mike hung out at the raku firing area and was turned onto raku techniques being demonstrated by none other than Randy Brodnax and other Texas potters. (I had seen Randy Brodnax with Don Ellis at several Pyromania’s and also at a throwing/firing workshop a few years ago in Long Beach, MS at Pat Bodine’s). I had hoped Mike would enjoy being around Randy Brodnax while I was scouting out pottery. I was not disappointed...Mike was so entertained that we brought home a burner and firewall insulation for a raku kiln! So it looks like some of my next pieces need to be made out of raku clay so we can test out what we’ve seen demonstrated.
Anyway, I took lots of notes and photos during the demonstrations and hope to save it all to computer very soon so I hopefully won’t forget a thing.
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Wow...I still can't believe I have a pottery website! But my boys have been after me saying that when people start asking for a business card or website address, then you need one. So, here I am.
I still have SO much to learn and still feel weird thinking of myself as a "potter". But when recently talking with a seasoned, veteran potter, he asked how many pounds of clay I have at my home and said if I have over 100#, then I'm a potter. Well, I guess if that is the litmus test, I really am a potter! Wow!
Seriously, I thank God each time I sit to "clay" for allowing me to unwind in such a special way. As my hands work with the clay, my mind wanders to the Bible reference of God being the potter and me being the clay. Knowing how crucial it is to be constantly aware of the condition and needs of the clay, I see how lovingly and carefully He forms His pieces. The forming process is sometimes meticulous and in order to make the piece strong, the pressure and heat are intense. Just as pottery pieces don't just accidentally make it through the process, I choose to believe in an attentive, loving Heavenly Father who is ever working to bring me through my process. So, you see, pottery is a therapeutic spiritual thing for me, and not just an obsession!.
I heard one time that each pottery piece contains a small part of the soul of the person who formed it. Based on my limited experience, I wholeheartedly agree.