2 steps forward and 2 steps back

Feeling pretty happy about the two new stores I am in, one in the heart of Winnipeg at 296 McDermot with Tannis Ross of A Pinch of Creativity and then one in Minnedosa at Inspire Studios.
Both run by creative talented ladies who have the courage to take on bricks and mortar and support Manitoba artists. Love it!

We made a road trip yesterday, and took a few pictures

 These are from Inspire in Minnedosa. She has made a beautiful gallery setting and mixes different artists work together in groupings, very beautiful. cute little bakery next door too, we stopped in for lunch and picked up brownies and bread to bring home.

So that is the good news, the bad news is what is happening with my base glaze on the Day at the beach pottery. In this last firing, it seemed to crawl and fall off of the pots, leaving a very messy look and almost bare clay. Only thing I can think of is that the last addition of chemicals had something wrong, so I guess that will have to be disposed of, and to find homes at half price for the pots, which are many which are not of an acceptable quality.

So if any of you potters have hints, I am up for suggestions and help

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Grasping for the Unreachable, Control!

I still at my advanced age struggle to realize that I am in charge of very little;  no matter how hard I try to get the rest of the world going at my pace??? 
Jumpin up all over the place are opportunities for shows, sales and wholesale, but the clay will not be rushed. When will I ever learn that trying to move the clay along before it is ready doesn't pay off??

  This handle on the teapot that I really liked, not too heavy, had a lid that fit, a spout that wasn't too gross, and the dang handle jumps off. Onto the scrap heap it goes to be repurposed later as a handbuilt button or spoon rest.  

January used to be a slow time where us handmade types could recuperate from the fall madness of sales and making. Not this year!  We took a one week break in the first week of January and I have been going flat out since then. 

Punta Mita , Nayarit, Mexico

This is a big week with two sales applications due for Spring, and the hope that I have new fresh stock to hopefully make the grade.  Being a potter is no longer enough to assure you will get into a sale.  Display seems to become more and more important and it is a very competitive business. 

Love this picture and this photo, but it is really out of date, so gotta make some new ones, in my Prairie Vista colours. 

 New clean modern display and two lines of pottery that are a drastic departure from what I have been doing.   Stepping up my game! Birdhouses and macramé plant hangers with handmade plant pots for succulents and air plants.

Good news! I received my cheque for December from Forks Trading Company! Broke a record for all time high sales at a store! so grateful.

Looking Ahead at the plans for 2016.

New Years eve resolutions have never really been my thing, but I am approaching 2016 as an open slate and do have many goals for this year. We started off the year with a recharge week in Mexico, and it was wonderful.  A little hard to repress my entrepreneurial spirit as we saw wonderful farmers markets in both the communities of Bucerias and Sayulitas in the state of Nayarit.


Lots of news in new shops that I am participating in.

hunting for seaglass in Sayulitas

Lots of news in new shops that I am participating in. Opening this week in the Exchange District at 296 McDermot Ave is A Pinch of Creativity.  Workshops, yoga, and a great group of creative types many from the WEST team are participating in this venture.

Also, a new gallery for rural Manitoba, in Minnedosa is Inspire Studio. I will be one of three potters included there and their grand opening is January 23 from 12-6 at 71 Main St. in Minnedosa. I hope to get there soon. It is next to a bakery so added bonus.


Also, I am participating in the members show of the Manitoba Craft Council, called for the Love of Craft opening January 22nd with the show going for 2 weeks, and then prepping for a show with In Plain View also at Cre8ery.


Busy times, and I need to get making.

This Saturday is devoted to getting some new work thrown, with a focus on mugs since December saw my stock depleted to nothing!