Thanksgiving food, Pumpkins and Pots

First and foremost I am thankful for this beautiful boy.  I weep at the thought of not having this little monkey being the focal point of each and every day.  It is picture day today, and he has on his wonderful navy blue Lord and Taylor blazer. Let me be clear, my sometimes socialist, compassionate champion of the poor and oppressed is downright republican when it comes to his clothing choices. He likes to be a sharp dressed man, and sometimes goes for hipster, but today he could have passed for a right winger in an election!

I am so looking forward to the next four days, like all makers and artists who lived a duel life like I do, long weekends can offer chunks of time to get stuff done, like finally finish that big plate order, yes it is coming Carla Dayholos! Yes, I am thankful for big orders too, that will allow to get the credit card down so I can buy more clay.

It seems funny to still have passion flowers blooming in the garden and I am making Christmas ornaments, but that is the life of a maker. Got to get to them now, as my last big kiln of the year is coming up in 2 weeks. Can't believe I said that!! Mug orders are coming in, and I really need to write them down, or get me a seccatary, like Jethro used to say on the Beverly Hillbillies.

so over the next few weeks, I will be bringing in Holiday goodies like snowflakes, polar bears and buffalo to the various stores. I have to start tomorrow on the big bowls, and teapots so wish me luck and flexibility.

Need to make more mugs

This is one of my large black mugs at Chez Sophie sur le pont

 

 

As you see there is only one on the shelf.  It seems the more mugs I make, the more I need to make.  They are the small things that keep the business going, even though it might be more inspiring from an artistic point of view to make funky large plates, bowls or vases, I probably sell one of those for every ten mugs.

 

So,,,, more mugs, hoping to get some out of the gas kiln this week.

 

 

Making Salad from the Garden

Been pretty smoking hot, so I better get those greens out of the garden before they go bitter. Going to harvest a great lot of spinach, mesclun mix, and more.

Here is a great summer supper salad recipe, courtesy of all places Super Valu!

8 cups mesclun salad mix
1 cup sliced chopped sweet peppers
1/2 cups toasted walnut or pecan pieces
1/2 cup dired cranberries
1/2 cup soft goat cheese
Balsamic or red wine vinaigrette dressing.  Nasturtium blossoms if you have them.  And we do!!!

Place salad mix in large bowl.  Add peppes, walnuts and ried cranberries and toss. Crumble goat cheese on top and drizzle with vinaigrette, to taste. Tope with nasturtium blossom for garnish.

Harvesting rhubarb, sunflower and coleus leaves for lots of little plates, hopefully get them into the next kiln along with about 1 bazillion buttons.

Throwing.....

I still have three days maximum in which I can throw pieces for this kiln.  I realize this doesnt mean much to non pottery people, or even to people who have their own kilns.  I still fire a few times a year in the Stoneware Studio gas kiln with my wonderful partners, Ray and Ted.

However, as it is a cooperative studio, cooperative is the operative word.  I need to stop throwing to let pieces dry, so they can be bisqued here at home, then transported to the studio, where they are glazed when there is time and space, so that I am not stepping on anybody elses toes (literally or figuratively).  then we load, hopefully at a time of day that is relatively tranquil.  That means we start before 8 am usually.

I best get on the wheel as I just got a big order for a hopefully repeat customer. Onward with plates , mugs, and soap dishes!!!!

Thanks again to Carla of Mulberry Tree Gift Baskets for helping me with this one!!!

No rest for the wicked, and in this case weary

sometimes I wish the life of a potter were not so seasonal. It seems like we have to go completely full tilt, making, promoting , selling from August to december.  I havent made it to the end of October and am ready for a break.

doing the big show last weekend, and then the kiln glazing and loading all this week.  Now I need to get stuff into stores , make more and get ready for a big sale in November. Trying to pace myself a little with both Etsy and sales, realizing that if I go to crazy I am going to hit the wall before the end of November.

I am hoping for sun tomorrow,so I can do a delivery out to Red River General Store on Henderson and also still do some pictures if it isnt sleeting to bump up the Etsy stock.  It seems I need to have 100 + items to get views in my shop . that is one of my objectives this weekend.  Anyone interested in being a necklace model for me, I pay in pottery of course.

 

New Perspective

Well, it's Wednesday and time to get focussed.  Having felt swamped by undone tasks and unending guilt about what doesn't get done was pretty immobilizing.

Before coming to work I managed to get four more large pieces thrown.  That's the way to start the day, I have some sense of accomplishment before attending to a series of meetings( not so much accomlishment).My goal after work today is a bike ride with the boy, some nutritious food to be ingested, and into the garden to sow my 5 kinds of squash.  Patty Pan, Zucchinis, green and yellow, Flying Saucer and pumpkins.  Long weekend is supposed to be rain, so I want to get them for the heat tomorrow and the rain on the weekend.  Here's hoping!!