Sending off

This month I ended up taking more time away from my studio than I expected. It’s not just that my space is so chilly that I have to warm up any clay I want to use the night before by our wood stove. There were many things that were neglected in our home for months which needed tending to. And for the past two weeks, I’ve been spending as much time as I can with my fiancé who is about to leave for Germany for about a month for medical reasons. So needless to say, my etsy shop and overall business are put on a hold a bit until I help him get on his way. Maybe I’ll get into more detail in future posts, but for now, here’s a picture of the area he’s going to… right in the Black Forest.
And a nearby town....love the red roofs.
Starting next week, I’ll be back in the swing of things both by posting on etsy and finally back in my studio making new work.

Regrouping

We're still in a major cold spell in the Northeast. Today my studio was a chilly 48 degrees, making me happy that I have a part time job in a warm comfy building as my day job. I usually slow down production in the winter since my studio is cold and it's hard to want to roll out icy clay. I look forward to this time of year as much needed time to regroup.
And that starts with a major cleaning. This year I went especially crazy and things from years ago. This is a box of pots I am letting go of representing college years to the present. I used to just purge them by smashing them, but my fiance is much more practical and doesn't see the point in creating more waste in this world. So he's going to find homes for them, just not ours.
I had planned on firing a bunch of heart trays and tags in time for Valentine's Day.....
But instead of pushing through another kiln's worth of work, I'm deciding to wait and use this time to experiment with new forms and to search for some glaze colors I've been wanting. In the meantime, I have lots of work to post from the last firing I did the end of last month. Here's a preview.

I'm back.

What a busy few weeks it's been. I had hoped to post before the holidays, but never had the time. Can't wait to get back to my studio and start to experiment with some new ideas. But, here's a quick recap since the last post. I took a complete vacation from the studio, the first in a long time.
First came over a foot of snow.
Then there was a frenzy of wrapping gifts and packing. All leading up to a lovely Xmas with my fiance's family. I love the little elf figurines that were uncovered from John's grandmother.
A few days later we were off to spend time with my parents. Another wonderful trip. Lots of food, some beer, family, and cookies. Did I mention cookies? Ever since I can remember, my mom and grandma have made tons of them. And not to break the tradition, my grandma made trays and trays this year along with her special Hungarian poppy and walnut rolls. Here's a look at some of the goodies I'm trying to resist gobbling down.Last night settling back after a long and filled few weeks, we lit a fire and had a bowl of hearty soup loaded with chard, zucchini, chickpeas, and rice pasta and a nice chunk of bread with brie. It feels good to be eating healthier and back to my normal diet again. That is after all the cookies are gone. Hope everyone had a joyful holiday season!!

The madness comes to an end

For whatever reason, Christmas this year has not felt nearly as hectic as in the past. Maybe it's the fact that everyone I know is cutting back on the whole gift giving frenzy. Or because I either made or purchased handmade gifts from etsy supporting individuals instead of companies that makes me feel at peace amongst all of the crazy energy of this time of year. Whatever it is, I hope all of you have some calmness in the upcoming weeks too.

For those of you still shopping, I still have loads of practical gifts for anyone on your list, such as this autumn tree mug. Ideal for the coffee or tea drinker in your life.
On another note, one of my scallop edged trays made it to the front page. It is my favorite treasury that I've been featured in by far. The earthy colors, rich textures, and sharp photography makes for a stunning collection. Thank you to thumble.

Peace and primate

I've just returned from a weekend meditation retreat and am feeling relaxed to say the least. Which is good, because prior to leaving I was having a busy time firing another kiln in between work while the holiday season crept up. Lots of new items will be posted in the last few days of gift shopping. My favorite this year are the doves, reminding us to find peace during the next few weeks and beyond.And I was in this excellent treasury on etsy, I think it's great since the mug has my monkey stamp on it. It is by far my fiance's favorite stamp and has inspired him to start making his own mugs and trays with it. Thanks to seababejewelry for the treasury! Not only is it a lovely shop filled with beautiful jewelry, the photos help me forget a snow storm is on the way.

Gratitude and Bounty

Another Thanksgiving has passed, and I still stand firm in thinking it is by far my favorite of all the holidays. No pressure for exchanging presents, just getting together with loved ones and eating a wonderful feast celebrating the bounty of autumn. This year was especially nice to have four generations of our family all together; from my adorable year old niece to my 95 year old Grandmother who still keeps us on our toes.

Of course a big part of the celebration was the enormous spread of food that could have fed a small army. Days later, still feeling stuffed, I'm resorting to eating fruit and light foods. Here's a platter that makes me think of harvest and this time of year...soon to be posted in my shop.