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Love this picture and this photo, but it is really out of date, so gotta make some new ones, in my Prairie Vista colours.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

Fall is here! New line in production

I am so very happy with the response to my Day at the Beach or Prairie Vista line of products.

People get the landscape idea, and it is so interesting to hear people talk about prairie pride, and it makes sense to them that we celebrate where we live.  Each piece is a bit different in terms of glaze overlap and people can pick the pieces that speak to them. I am making bigger pieces like teapots, utensil holders and serving dishes to go along with the mugs and bowls.

So, now my mind is percolating to something new, something simple and post modern.  I haven't come up with a name yet, as it is still bubbling around and pieces are thrown but not yet glazed. This will be another one I can fire in my kiln at home, as part of my goal towards self sufficiency and less dependence on the gas firing kiln.  It is good to more or less be in charge of when I can fire, it just gets less comfortable as fall sets in and I will only have a few more weeks of glazing outside in my backyard glazing area.

This weekend we have our big Etsy Made in Canada market at the Neeginan center, but on Sunday I will be madly working on firing more buttons and yarn bowls for the Manitoba Fibre Festival on October 2 and 3rd at the Assiniboia Downs.

If anybody has requests for items for either show, send me a message at nancyblokland@msn.com.  always aiming to please my peeps!