A break in the action

The last couple of days have been very productive. I've made and finished a lot of pieces and I have a bunch in the bisque kiln now. Today I threw my first round of garlic bakers.They'll be big enough for one or 2 heads of garlic. You can see the plate part on the right and the dome lid on the left..except for that one darn cereal bowl that is blocking the view..oops. The other picture looks like my regular round mugs, but they really hold about 1 qt..maybe a little more. Pennsic is coming, people will want them.

Now I have to decide what I must do... I need some plates, I need some chip n dips. I need garlic jars and I need butter keepers and wee bowls. Always wee bowls. When I can't think to decide what is next is when I wonder if maybe I am simply done for the night. Somehow I feel like I have a little more potting left in me.

Looks like one of the two shows running this week was essentially rained out. Bummer..we have 2 next week too. Pray for sun and a light breeze.

Morning Coffee and Isolation

I'm having some morning coffee is my favorite local place, Webster's Cafe. Using their Wi-Fi to read my morning news. My news isn't like other peoples. I check the Yahoo Headlines and Featured links, but then I quickly head to my favorite Google Application "Reader" which monitors all my favorite peoples blogs from all the different blog sites on the internet. I have everyone from multiply, a bunch from Live Journal, a bunch from Blogger, and by far the most I have belong to other potters, probably about 60 at this point and from all over the world. So every morning I get my coffee and see what's happening in my world. This morning there are quite a few entries, a potters rant about how badly we need healthcare reform, a nice posting about a new restaurant that came to town, a summarization of someones week at a clay oriented workshop. All kinds of fun stuff! These blogs are keeping me professionally connected. It's like a daily dose of Ceramics Monthly (pottery trade journal that potters crave like crack)

I realized last week why I was having so much trouble staying focused on the work. First..it's not desperate...I have a lot of stock out there, but my goal is to stay ahead. So what gives?

I'm lonely! Isolated.

I used to work in The Creative Oasis all day between customers, but then I moved my studio home and I had Ro in and out all day. Now Ro is spending a lot of time at The Oasis and I am alone most of the day..

I also used to go to a lot of events to sell and I would see my fellow vendor friends and meet customers who often become friends. I don't go out nearly as often. *sigh*

People on Facebook have been asking how I get any work done because I post stuff all day...I do it in between things, often with one finger that I have wiped clean.. it's been my link to people. I like people. I rarely see people now..unless I come to Webster's, or on Wednesdays to teach my class. Now for some people that would be fine...but not for me..wow. I want, I crave that contact.

The internet has me connected to the outside world, fortunately to people I know...this isn't some sordid anonymous chat room pick up :) This is real people..who are also trapped in an office, or at home.

Is that sad? or is it a fantastic solution for a little social contact while working alone?

The End

It's the End of Days. School Days. I forgot. My kid pulled into the driveway at noon today with a girl and I thought he was trying to pull a fast one on me...but no..school let out at 10:30, it was the final day. Hopefully when the grades come in we'll find he is a senior :)

It was a busy day, Wednesdays usually are. Somehow I really get it together to throw on Wednesdays..and then I have to ditch throwing to go teach at The Creative Oasis, then I come home determined to finish my work and sometimes I do..but sometimes I just slack off till morning. I at least have to check on pieces tonight and probably trim some of them. There's supposed to be a salt firing this weekend and I am not sure I'll really have anything for it, which kind of makes me sad but that's the way it goes.

Tomorrow should be a very busy day for me, I have a lot of pieces to finish and more to start. It never ends..luckily :)