Apologies to the Vegetarians, but I am like a chicken running around with her head cut off

I can hear my mothers voice saying... you are running around like a chicken with her head cut off.  To sum it up without being gross, i am unfocussed and kind of going in circles today. We have been home with the long Easter holiday and I did not make a plan or a list. Mistake Number 1.  I need lists and plans or I feel quite unbalanced, like a chicken without a head.
Even the boy has gone out to play and says he is continuing his story line, with his box full of weapons, spy gear and what not, he is teaching Mama.

so...1. finish laundry that I started on Saturday.
       2. price and pack mugs for WEST show
       3. go down and trim pots made on Sunday
        4. Breathe
        5.  pack suitcases for Spring Break Vacation
        6. WEST meeting

typical weekend day, but i am sure I have left out lots...


Happy to report that sales have kind of taken off...both in the Etsy store and with selling opportunities.
Now, the challenge is to keep producing pots I am proud of, and to meet the increasing demand. I am trying out an approach of seasonality priority. So for the month of April, it will be outdoor and garden related pots.

succulents plant pot glazed and raw

Altered Vase

Country Kitchen Vase torn but not broken

Lovin' Local in the Peg

I am a committed Etsy seller for over five years now, and really love my WEST team and learning more from all the creative types in Winnipeg and Manitoba .  While it gives us sellers a global platform, it has become a great access point for being part of a great community and increasing my general visibility with a different demographic in Winnipeg.

This Sunday I did  a little pop up Shop with two other wild and wonderful Maker women, both from St. Vital.  Sarah Neville Studios and Tannis of Covet Design.  Also, thanks to our kind hosts at San Vito Coffee House.  While we didn't have stellar sales, talking and learning from their experiences is always time well spent. Thanks to those who did come by and pay a visit. Great way to catch up!






Sarah Neville Studios

Covet Designs



Country Kitchen and Day at the Beach Pottery at San Vito Coffee House


Starting this week I will have my work at Lagasse Studio  of Fine Art in Souris, Manitoba. I will post some pictures after the work is in place.

WEST Handmade and Vintage VIII just around the corner, still learnin' lots

Helping organize a sale with all volunteers, is an organizationally huge task. I am really lucky that we had so much pre work done by the Team Leadership of the WEST, our local Etsy team who put together all our other events, and the hugely successful Etsy Made in Canada events.

When I threw out my name, our team captain asked if I was going to give up work, my child, or sleep. Well truthfully , it has been sleep. Keeping track of details is pretty challenging, but it does get me off of the pottery wheel. Social media is not my best thing, but thank goodness there are so many others that are savy. I am not whining or whinging really, there has been lots of cool learning that I can apply to other tasks in the future, like making myself at peace with excel spread sheets, who woulda thunk a luddite like me would actually gain some skill in that area.

I started this process off with an old school notebook, but I misplaced it last month and am now in a coexistence with my phone and computer that I never would have dreamed of.  We are really happy that we were able to do the live shoot with CTV and Rachel Lagace last week at Jonnie's Sticky Buns. I love media and television stuff, which I had forgotten. That was certainly the fastest mug handling I have ever done! under 2 Minutes!

So grateful to have people that can jump to the pump and get stuff done, like buttons for Vendors, some more raffle tickets, sure helps as we are in crunch time.  One more glaze firing this week so that I can have plenty of mugs of all my favourites on hand. Hoping to have some rich turquoise for Prairie Vista. Fingers Crossed, here are some sneak peeks.

lots of ornaments that will have ribbon added tonight after they cool. 

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FLASH in the pan.... not by a long shot

the folks of Etsy and West are combining forces for yet another Pop Up shop in Winnipeg, opening October 2, 2014 at 438 Graham Ave in Downtown Winnipeg. Our name is FLASH, like a Pop, get it??? I am going to focus on my black and white Urban looking pottery as well as some flashes of colour in turquoise and red.  My junior photographer took this video, which is pretty repetitive but awfully true. I am wiping the glaze off the bottom of the pots before they go into the kiln.

Two days later and here are some of the results.

Happy Easter

Easter Morning, and the first year that the Easter Bunny is not part of the day at our house. At eight years old, some of the magic is gone. Mama is sad, but know it is all part of his growing up.

It is still a special morning full of imagination as we watch the Life of Walter Mitty together and enjoy all of the magical thinking and the genius of the movie making.  It is sunny an bright and hopefully we will do some outdoor activities later on after church. Spring is here and life is full of possibilities and hope. I have lots of stock for my shows, and can slow down on production, so I can put my energies into my CSA which now has 10 families participating!

The yard still looks pretty wintery but was full of energy for our Easter Egg hunt on Good Friday afternoon. I think everybody had a good time.  Soon the grass will get raked, the bunnies generous offering of manure will be tilled into the ground and planting will begin.  I have most of my shows lined up for the next several months, with lots of my favourites, and our Etsy WEST group is hosting the Spring Sale right here in our neighbourhood at Holy Cross Gym, so I hope we have a good show of support from the neighbourhood.   Mark your calendar, April 27 11-4 pm. at Holy Cross on Dubuc, (you know the hilly part of St. Boniface)

You know you are tired when....

I will try to make this my last post about winters of six months and its effects, however, I cant resist sharing this one.  I thought it would be a good idea to dye my hair this morning and have a brighter, less gray look for the day.  I have been dying my own hair with more or less the same process for over 20 years,,,,

As I got in the shower after leaving the product in for the prescribed amount of time, I looked at what should have been container 3, and it read 2!  Yikes, will my hair fall out, is it going to be the colour an texture of Rod Stewarts. Next thought, even putting on your glasses didnt help this time, need to have a more relaxed day.  Having brunch at Neechi commons, a meeting with the WEST crew and off to Brandon this afternoon. I think it is early to bed with a good book for the next 2 nights.


Oh yes, so far, nothing has fallen out, and I cant see any resemblance to a Rooster yet...stay tuned.  So happy for the sun and predicted temperatures today and this week.  Fingers crossed.

WEST Craft and Vintage Sale coming up in less than 4 weeks.

As God is my witness, Spring willl come to Winnipeg, and a great way to celebrate will be at the WEST sale, this year right in my neighbourhood, at Holy Cross School in the heart of Norwood-St. Boniface!

Here is a sample of some of the goodies to be found there in this cool treasury, full of wedding items.

https://www.etsy.com/pages/west/west-wedding?ref=af_shop_collection

I am just waiting to hear from a couple of shows and will have my year calendar ready!  And of course Etsy orders and custom work.

I continue to fight with S cracks in plates, but with a higher percentage of success than in early March, never the less frustrating.

Holiday Pop Up Shop

One last sale this Saturday at the Frame Warehouse. Every time I go out to check on what stock I have and try to complete Etsy orders, I am finding cool pots.  The fun thing about our pop up shop is that the folks who want to support handmade and local have come to know our group for having things that are different and unique.  Of course the vintage folks have a lot of stuff that makes me sentimental and is really hard to resist.

I am looking forward to transforming the warehouse in Winnipegs exchange district into a shoppers paradise.  I have got the treats ready to keep the vendors fueled and smiling and hoping for a great day.  I still have lots of yarn bowls, plates, platters and cute ornaments.

Last Big SALE!!!

Hoping to find lots of homes for all these pots I have been producing, still have to pick up from the kiln that is firing right now!! OOAK items for sure!

batter bowl

serving bowl in royal blue

yarn bowl

It is a crzy busy time of year.  Delivered stock to new stores in the Brandon area on Friday.   a great sale with the ETsy team, WEST on Saturday!   Throwing, firing, drying, glazing, moving pots from one  studio to another, designing custom pots for a friends business.  And I am still standing!

Still needing wanting to throw a lot before next weeks kiln, but the drying without exploding will be my biggest challenge!  Adrenalin is a highly underrated asset.

A great night of Art in the Yard.

Last night's Sizzler Summer Pottery sale in the backyard was great fun.  Had repeat customers, new customers and Gabriel had his first lemonade stand experience. Thanks to everyone for their kindness and generosity to this young budding entrepeneur.

Well as usual when a group of creative people are together, ideas are flowing.  Cathy and I are percolating  over a late summer garden party/craft event/farmer's market. Stay tuned for details.

Got some more tumblers and mugs glazed in the ever popular turquoise before the sale and will be making yet more yarn bowls. Knitters don't despair more are coming!

Garden is doing great, and thanks to friend Margaret for her donation of parsley and basil, this will "beef" up my herbs at market as well as for pesto for the church fundraisers!

It's a crazy, busy fun time. last day of school tomorrow, and a 3 day weekend, OH CANADA!!!
it's all good at our little Casi Cielo, and we feel richly blessed.

I don't ususally use quotes, but I like this one from Maya Angelou:

The best part of life is not just surviving,
but thriving,
with passion and compassion,
and humour and style,
and generosity and kindness.