Adios 2015! Hola 2016!

Day; 237. Sunny and cold, but beautiful. Deep blue sky with crisp air.

Temperature on the outside kiln; 25 degrees
kiln firings; none
music in the studio; none

The last day of the year, December 31st... Relaxed in bed and then had my sister come over and examine throat and ears.. not lookin' that bad so no more antibiotics, so that is good news. She did prescribe some Magic Mouthwash to gargle with that will hopefully help with the sore throat...

After that I had to compose and send a difficult e-mail to my fellow Magpie's...I just don't feel ready to return to singing quite yet and I had to let the girls' band know I would not be back to making music with them in January. It was hard for me, it is actually one of the few really positive things going on in my life outside of work. But I have no voice right now, so singing is out. Since my energy level seems to ebb and flow and it is unpredictable, I just had to tell them that I would be back but I didn't know when... I hope it can be held together until my return,  I so want to sing with them all again...

So, a new year, a new way of working/living/loving. For whatever reason this year feels different, like I finally get that unless I stop working myself to death, I will eventually succeed in that endeavor... More concretely than ever I see that my life is not sustainable in the way I have been living it, and that is very hard to admit to myself. I feel like I have failed as an artist/business woman. But there has to be an easier way; a way of making a living doing what I love that doesn't kill me physically/spiritually in the process. I have had to stop looking at other potters on Instagram as well , something that I love to do, but all it was currently bringing me was frustration instead of inspiration. I loved looking at their work but then I would think, they can do it, why can't I? It just stopped being helpful. Comparing myself to others constitutes resistance, and keeps me focused on what I don't want instead of what I do.

So, now I am committed to looking for and finding abundance in my everyday life, that which surrounds me already, and being thankful for it. I truly believe a life lived in gratitude is the way forward, other than that I haven't got a clue.....

Relaxing Reprieve...

Day; 236. Overcast, very cold, a little blowing snow...

Temperature on outside kiln; 26 degrees
kiln firings; watching the bisque kiln cool...
Music in the studio; Patty Griffin

I have been SAVED! The ART GODS are with me!! Yesterday the gallery I was supposed to deliver work to next week emailed and reported that the work was not due for another 3-4 weeks, at the end of Jan. instead of the beginning!! I can hear  Handels' Hallelujah chorus playing in the background as I write... Apparently they are not quite ready to open so it has been postponed... Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I am so relieved!! I really wanted to make another kiln of large pieces so I would have more to choose from, I was not all that thrilled with what came out of the glaze kiln yesterday. There are 5-6 good pieces but I needed 7-8, soooo, I have plenty of time to make a few more and deliver a body of work that I am more proud of...
I am really digging this go-slow type of pottery business I got goin' now, so much more relaxing and fun! No pressure!, no stress! Just make what you want and assume all will be well!! Takes a bit of practice not to run into the studio and throw a bunch of dog bowls, but hey, like they say in New Mexico, Manana!

I also was so pleased yesterday to deliver the first load of commissioned tiles to the sub-contractor, and pick up a check! Jeez, maybe now I can pay my new health insurance premium that is currently double last year's rate!! (don't get me started!!) Anyway, happy to drop them off at their new home and say goodbye, although as the foreman threw them in to the corner without a care, I was almost sad to leave them in a dingy warehouse, if only he knew of the sweat and tears that went into them...  I wanted to load them back into the truck and tuck them safely back into the studio... I assume they will be taken care of and installed properly..!?

Not feeling potterly today so I am practicing my go-slow mo-jo, and filling up my Etsy shop instead.. It has only been about 9 months since Pepe-the-intern posted something for me, gee I wander if all my followers have jumped ship and assumed Magpie Pottery has sunk somewhere, they will be surprised to see me! But I thought a year-end on-line sale might be just the thing to clear out my studio and start the year anew.. God knows I could use a new beginning after the last month. And considering I missed all the holiday markets, I have quite a few pieces left over from 2015 that need new homes...

Here is the first little whiskey cup that is up for grabs...

 Cute, isn't it? I would drink some single malt out of this...

Go to; https://www.etsy.com/shop/magpiepottery for my on-line sale and to view new items listed daily!

A Snowy Sunday...

Day; 235. Overcast, cold, snowy...
Temperature on outside kiln; 26 degrees
kiln firings; glaze firing to cone 6
music in the studio; Adele's newest album, love it, love her.....

Half a day in the studio which suits me fine these days.... Loaded up the larger pieces for the La Fonda gallery opening next week.. Fingers and toes crossed for a good firing and numerous prayers to the kiln gods, no time to make more, maybe a re-fire if necessary but I don't think need be, I went as slow as I have ever gone and did the best I could do..  I will deliver to the gallery what I've got at the time and it will have to be enough. There is always the second body of work to think about and I know I can do better when I am focused and not feeling so crummy.... I look forward to that in January.

Tomorrow I will load up the first half of the 270 piece tile commission and deliver it to Coronado Tile. I would not know how to describe how relived I am that they all turned out, god knows how that happened as I was in a fog the whole time I worked on that  order and barely able to take a deep breath..  But anyway I will carefully pack them and drive through a foot of snow to get them on their way.. They look so pretty altogether waiting for their new home...

Only 80 more to glaze.... !!

Let It Snow.....Let It Snow.... Let It Snow

Day; 134. Blizzard/white out conditions..
 Temperature on outside kiln; 26 degrees
Kiln Firings; none
Music in the studio; none
 
 Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we’ve no place to go
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
It doesn’t show signs of stopping
And I’ve bought some corn for popping
The lights are turned way down low
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
When we finally kiss goodnight
How I’ll hate going out in the storm
But if you’ll really hold me tight
All the way home I’ll be warm
The fire is slowly dying
And my dear, we’re still goodbying
As long as you love me so
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
When we finally kiss goodnight
How I’ll hate going out in the storm
But if you’ll really hold me tight
All the way home I’ll be warm
The fire is slowly dying
And my dear, we’re still goodbying
As long as you love me so
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

A Snowy Christmas Eve..

Day; 233. Overcast, cold, a bit gloomy...

Temperature on outside kiln; 36 degrees
kiln firings; watching Big Mama kiln cool, another 100 degrees until reveal...
Music in the studio; Adele's new album, jeeesusss can she sing! And a damn fine songwriter to boot, so jealous sometimes...I love how she just stands up and sings with the piano.. no fancy production, no dancers in their underwear.. a remedy to today's over-produced pop stars....

Cold and a bit snowy, apropos of X-mas eve for sure.. Just having a slow day; a little work, a little music, a little nap.. Handsome Husband is bringing dinner home from Jinja tonight, ahhh my favourite Pad Thai for Christmas Eve! Thanks Santa!
Sorta of missing the farolitos on Canyon Road tonight but not the 20,000 people that goes with them...I love to go early before all the crowds and just wander down the street looking at all the lights and bonfires..  a more festive X-mas eve is not to be found... but this year I am home by the fire, and so very glad of it! With an extra dog ( Oso's brother), that makes 5 huskies on a cold night, just the right amount! I love to lay in bed next to the kiva fireplace and listen to David playing  Bach from the other side of the house...so calming, so beautiful.. so grateful.... Merry Christmas!

Practice Makes Perfect

Day; 232. Sunny and chilly. Snow-covered after 3-4 inches of snowfall last night.

Temperature on outside kiln; 30 degrees
kiln firings; Glaze firing to cone 6 (2,210 degrees with an eight minute hold)
Music in the studio; Acoustic Winter on Spotify

I'm making progress on my 270-tile commission.... This is about as slow as I have ever worked and it is kinda surreal... I work for an hour or two and then that is it, maybe another hour after lunch but no more. I am deeply into pacing myself, and it is taking some practice, but I am doing it.... It has been a bit strange, the slow down in the studio has made me realize how I speed through everything in my life; thrown the dishes in the dish washer, quickly vacuum the house, race to feed the dogs, do some laundry, run the garbage can out to the curb.... it is all at a certain hectic pace... Now I am moving with a certain deliberateness that I have never possess before. I rather like it now that I have gotten use to it, it is so much more calming and at ease. It will be interesting to see if I get just as much work done slowly as I was at Warp Factor 5, I anticipate that this will be so....
Today I loaded the last of the glazed blue tiles into the kiln, now only 120 yellow ones to go! There is some progress goin' on. This afternoon I will switch gears and glaze two of the dozen pieces for the La Fonda Hotel's new gallery. Just last week I might have glazed 6 pieces in an afternoon but not now... I am first going to design the surfaces, mix the glazes, and then execute my idea. That will be enough, I have two weeks to glaze and do the last image-transfer firing on these larger plates and platters, plenty of time.........

Besides it is the 23rd of December and it is time to celebrate our lives and have a little Christmas cheer..!

Every Breath You Take

Day; 231. Sunny, gorgeous blue sky, chilly

Temperature on outside kiln; 27 degrees
kiln firings; watching the bisque kiln cool
music in the studio; the ventilation fan....

After only one working day in the studio last Monday, I was 4 days laying around trying to cope with  inflammed lungs and sore throat. Finally Friday morning I got up and went to the Urgent Care that my sister works at... After looking at pictures of my lungs, the Doc ruled out the big scary stuff; pneumonia, masses of any sort, etc... I brought up silica and how I breathe it all day long but he didnt seem to think that was it, my oxygen levels were good. He seemed to think it was perhaps bronchitis so gave me some antibiotics to take... While they may treat the symtoms, I know it is up to me to see the overall big picture..

So, as usual when I get sick, the mystery continues.  I believe it is an elaborate trick my body keeps playing on me to slowwwww wayyyyy down and get really good at pacing myself... So, that is what I am doing... Yesterday I had Dave help me cut out some of the last tile for the large commission I am working on.. He worked the slab roller while I used the tile cookie cutter.  I worked in the studio for exactly one hour, that is pretty good for me what with two large orders waiting to be completed. After that I went back to bed!

 So, that is my plan right now, work for an hour each day, get the two commissions out of the kiln and on their way, and then take two weeks off in January and do nothing but have fun and eat and sleep. I believe this will do it, but I am mighty mad at missing all the holiday parties/eggnog/festivities. I plan to make up for it in Jan/Feb. however! I am going shopping for new boots, eating at Harry's as much as I want, drinking cosmos at said Roadhouse, soaking in the tubs at 10,000 waves, skiing with the dogs, and anything and everything else that puts a smile on my face, SO THERE UNIVERSE!  That's my plan and I am sticking to it.....

No Pushing, No Resistance...

Day; 230. Sunny and gorgeous after 7-8 inches of snow yesterday..

Temperature on outside kiln; 36 degrees
kiln firings; none
music in the studio; Democracy Now with Amy Goodman at the Paris Climate Change Summit

Jeezzz 3 days in bed just went by... Had a great week working Monday-Thursday and then woke up on Friday feeling like hell again, I could have screamed and thrown shoes at the wall but I didn't.. Same sore throat, same burning lungs... WTF!! I had to cancel participation in the Sunday Railyard Market and miss out on a night out with the Magpie's. Very disappointed but it had to be done. I can no longer push... it creates resistance, and that is keeping all the goodies in  life from reaching me...

I'm beginning to believe it is the best thing that ever happened to me however.... I am being forced to slow down and pace myself, to relax, to trust.... It is the life lesson that I most need to learn/practice.  And let's face it, I would just keep on working if my body would let me, but it won't anymore, and that is a good thing. I anticipate that the rewards of going slow and trusting that all  will be well, will heavily outweigh those that I might have achieved if I had kept working myself to death. So, even though I did work some today in the studio I took numerous breaks and relaxed in between glazing sessions. I can still feel that soreness/burning in my respiratory system but it is not as bad and I feel like once again I have turned a corner, let's hope I keep going in this direction and don't do something stupid...
Here are the tiles I glazed today, most of the blues are almost done.... !!

And a full kiln;

Tomorrow is another day... !!

When Your World is 4" x 4"...

Day; 229. Sunny, fairly warm, lovely December day...
Temperature on outside kiln; 48 degrees
kiln firings; bisque firing of the first 150 tiles of 300 tile commission...
Music in the studio; Patrick Lentz's Acoustic Covers, Vol;. 1-5

Long studio day today... I am not complaining, I am just happy to be able to work for a full day and not feel crummy afterwards... Maybe this lung/throat thing is finally leaving me in peace.....

I put together half dozen large serving pieces for the La Fonda Hotel Gallery and then cleaned up about 150 tiles and got them into Big Mamma Kiln for a first bisque firing. I feels really good to get a large portion  of the 4"x4" commissioned tiles on their way and into the fire. It reduces the deadline stress somewhat but it is really the glaze firing that keeps me tossing and turning at night. There is just so many things that can go wrong.. But the glaze tests look good and all systems are go for "Scheme B", 3 different blues on 4 different patterns for 17 showers... Scheme A is still being worked out; we will use the same embossed patterns but the client has changed their mind on one of the glazes and I am now working on 3 different terracotta glazes instead of just one... hopefully the next go-round of tests will yield acceptable results... It's either that or go to the clay/glaze store and just buy something that will complement the one we already have.. I will know in the next few days...
Meanwhile I still have 80-90 tiles to roll out and make sometime in the next week. Not a problem however, I am ahead of schedule and feeling confident...

As last weekend's Holiday Open Studio was such a bust, I have decided to sell work for the next two Sundays downtown in the Railyard.. Thank goodness for this little art market that helps me get through the winter! I am lucky to have a local market that I can pop into if my shows are somewhat soft like last weekend.. In addition, my good friend/potter Miya Endo will be there, hopefully with her ukelele, and we can at the very least have a lot of fun playing and singing inbetween customers... I look forward to it!..

Close Encounter of the Third Kind... (gotta see that movie again!!)

Day; 228. Sunny, fairly warm, not so chilly or windy today.

Temperature on outside kiln; 49 degrees
kiln firings; none
Music in the Studio; Songs to Sing To on my Ipod.

Up early glazing in the studio today after taking it easy yesterday, Sunday. A good friend and fellow artist and I went to have a burger and cosmo at Harry's Raodhouse last night, Fun! It had been awhile and I really enjoyed sitting in the bar and catching up. The thing I love about Harry's is yes the cocktails are $9, but they come with a shaker of refills and sometimes it is quite full... Like last night..
 After refills on our refills we drove home together whereupon we witnessed a burning ball of fire streaking across the night sky! I thought maybe it was the cosmopolitans we had chugged, but no, others in Santa Fe had seen the same miraculous night vision as we... This was nothing like a falling star or meteor shower, indeed it was like nothing I had ever seen before. This was HUGE and CLOSE and ON FIRE. We just kept saying "what the fu*k  was that?!!" We kept looking for smoke and some sort of impact site, it was that close, and huge, and on fire!
But I guess I just have never seen a meteor that close to the planet's  atmosphere before, so it was EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE.
Anyway, we survived our close encounter and today it was back to work... I made up 4 terracotta glaze samples for the on-going tile commission and spent the day glazing other flotsom and jetsom in the studio in order to fill the kiln just so I could get the 4 little glaze tests fired and on their way....

Here are some tiles waiting for their turn in the kiln... Only 100 more to go... sigh!

Where Did Everyone Go..?!

Day; 227. Sunny but really chilly...
Temperature on outside kiln 38 degrees
kiln firings; none
music in the studio; Afternoon Acoustic (Spotify)

It is Sunday and I am reading in bed because I believe I have finally binged watch every series on Netflix I could possible find... After feeling crummy for 2+ weeks I worked my way through them pretty quickly due to all the extra time lying around in my PJ's...

Today is a rest day after three days of prepping and then orchestrating the Holiday Open Studio I host every year at this time. I am usually  the only studio open and have quite a loyal following and do very well for myself... except this year.... After a decade of opening my studio every year during the first weekend in December to all my loyal customers I seemed to have worn out my welcome... It was very empty, the lights were up, the luminarias were lit, and the cider was hot, but no one came, or hardly anyone in comparison to past experience. It was strange but also strangely I was ok with it; I read, I ate cookies, I made conversation with the few folks who did show up. I dissected what might have gone wrong.. not enough advertising, a deluge of Magpie Pottery already out in the world, too much competition with a Holiday Pop-Up down the street.. I don't know really but since I have two large commissions to complete I am already thinking of them and moving forward, I will re-evaluate next year and go from there...
 I was sad however that hardly anyone was there  to see how cute my studio looked all dressed up and no where to go... x-mas lights and farolitos included....

Hard Day on the Planet

Day; 226. Sunny and beautiful again, but cold...
 Temperature on outside kiln; 38 degrees
kiln firings; none
music in the studio; Amy Winehouse

The world has gone crazy... another mass shooting today in So. Cal after the shooting in Colorado two days ago at Planned Parenthood.. That's two shootings in 3 days!? WTF!!?? to say the least..
I am reminded of the old Louden Wainwright III song...

 Hard Day on the Planet...

The dollar went down and the President said
Whos in charge, now? I don't know, take your pick.
A new disease every day and the old ones are coming back
Things are looking kind of gray, like they're going to black

Don't turn on the tv, don't show me the paper
(I) don't want to know he got kidnapped or why they all raped her
I want to go on vacation till the pressure lets up
But they keep hijacking airplanes and blowing them up

(Refrain)
Its been a hard day on the planet
How much is it all worth?
Its getting harder to understand it
Things are tough all over on earth.

Its hot in December and cold in July
When it rains it pours out of a poisonous sky
In California the body counts keep getting higher
Its evil out there, man that state is always on fire.

Everyone has a system, but they can't seem to win
Even Bob Geldorf looks alarmingly thin
I got to get on that shuttle get me out of this place
But there's gonna be warfare up there in outer space
(Refrain)
I've got clothes on my back and shoes on my feet
A roof over my head and something to eat
My kids are all healthy and my folks are alive
You know, it's amazing but sometimes I think I'll survive

I've got all of my fingers and all of my toes
I'm pretty well off I guess, I suppose
So how come I feel bad so much of the time?
A man ain't an island John Dunn wasn't lying
(Refrain)
Its business as usual; some things never change
Its unfair, it's tough, unkind and it's strange
We don't seem to learn; we can't seem to stop
Maybe some explosions would close up the shop

You know, maybe that would be fine: we would be off the hook
We resolved all our problems, never mind what it took
And it all would be over, finito, the end
Until the survivors started up all over again
(Refrain)

Magpie Gets Her Groove Back....

Day; 225. Sunny and crisp but really cold
Temperature on outside kiln; 29 degrees
kiln firings; image transfer firing cooling
Music in the Studio; India.Arie

Trying to get my groove back after a cold and sore throat that has lasted for 3 weeks off and on... Sometimes little nasties take up residence in my lungs and I cannot evict them!!?? I give up and am only thinking about what I do want;  flat tiles, beautiful glazes, happy clients... 
I went to Home Depot early this morning and got some fancy dry wall to sandwich all 300 tiles between so that they will dry evenly and not warp... I have about half of the order done, at least rolled and cut, but not fired or glazed. But at least they are stacked and drying in the studio and that makes me feel less panicky..

Now to make 12 large gorgeous masterpieces for the La Fonda Hotel.... but no pressure..?~! Ha!

Thanksgiving Weekend...

Day; 224. Sunny but crisp. Beautiful early winter day...
Temperature on outside kiln; 42 degrees
kiln firings; none
music in the studio; none

Taking the day off from studio chores... Still going back and forth from feeling good after a day in bed to feeling crummy after getting up and working. Whatever has settled in my chest loves it there and does not want to leave...
Yesterday I finally got it together with Pepe the-shy-but-hardworking-intern and we rolled out another 40 tiles for the hotel commission due in Jan. This assuaged my panic quite a bit as we are a good team and with the pug mill and the slab roller going at the same time, we had a good productive rhythm going... I also put aside a few pieces for the La Fonda Gallery, another large commission due in Jan., and that felt like aleast some progress was  being made on that front as well.
 It takes every bit of will power and trust in the Universe that I possess  to lay in bed reading/healing while I have tons of work due in the next 5-6 weeks... but I am determined to pace myself and listen to what my body wants... I also know that abundance has absolutely nothing to do with how hard one works.. a very hard lesson for me as it goes against every bit of childhood training I received from two Depression-era parents... Abundance like every other thing in life relates to vibration and attraction.. I am grateful to experience contrast of what I do not want as it brings such incredible clarity, and what I do want comes into perfect focus... Thank You, Thank You, Thank You....

#FUCKBLACKFRIDAY

Day; 223. Very windy and cold...
Temperature on outside kiln; 38 degrees
kiln firings; bisque firing to cone 04 ( 1,942 degrees)
Music in the studio; Democracy Now  with Amy Goodman

At least a week has gone by since I last surfaced... A tough one...
Today is Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and the kick-off for all the crazy consumerism that blots the holidays... I saw  the hashtag above somewhere on the Internet and I like it so I use it for my own means today...

Still have a congested chest and sore muscles... after about two weeks I give up laying in bed and trying to heal... that clearly isn't working so I am in the studio very briefly today, where I am happiest,  loading a bisque firing and punching out a few commissioned tiles... 50 down, 250 to go...??!!

 I haven't worked since the beginning of last week when I was prepping for  the Clay Fair that occurred this past weekend. As I run/produce the show, and have a table selling  my own ceramics, being sick at the same time was very hard. I hid for two days behind various doors, couches, and in the kitchen, so that I didn't have to talk to any customers,  I just didn't have the energy. It was the only way to get through it... I saved my energy for putting out fires, helping the cashiers, assisting the other potters. Some how I managed to sell quite a bit of my work but I can't figure out how as I was never at my table. Thank god the show runs itself and has a central cashier station. If I had to stand in my own booth and ring up sales I would have been in trouble...
As it was, the show was record breaking in both attendance and sales. We had over 1,400 people show up!? The average would be around 1,100. The same number of folks showed up on Sunday as they did on Saturday which never has happened in the history of the show, 12 years now... We also sold thousands of more dollars in pots, go figure... and the Recycled Santa Fe Show was the same weekend, major competition, but it obviously had absolutely no ill effects. I don't know why this weekend was so huge, but I do know that as treasurer I am having all kinds of fun writing out hefty checks for all my potter friends.

One more big show to do next weekend, and I am done for the year... Thanks God! Just going to make it in inventory and energy. I do have two Sundays at the Railyard lined up before X-mas but if all I bring are buttons and earrings, that is enough. I might cancel the first one and only do the one right before X-mas, it depends on next weekend's Holiday Open House...
The rest of December I have two large orders to complete and look forward to just focusing myself on that... and singing of course.... ! I miss the Magpies!!...

Nothing left to Binge Watch.....

Day; 222. sunny and beautiful..
Temperature on outside kiln; 48 degrees
kiln firings; none
music in studio; none

Respiratory infection? severe sore throat? not sure... after two weeks of off and on again raw throat, I am crazy frustrated.... no studio work... just reading/sleeping/netflix trying to heal.... argggggggg

Fire and Ice

Day; 121. snowy, cold, but beautiful...

Temperature on outside kiln; 38 degrees
kiln firings; glaze firing to cone 6 ( 2210 degrees)
Music in the studio; Ben Rector

Still trying to completely shake this cold/sore throat.... I spent the weekend going from the studio and bed every other hour.. rest for one hour, glaze for one hour, rest for one hour... repeat. I did this for 3 days.. The kiln is finally full and firing... I am so sick of being in the studio glazing that I am now going back to bed to read and lay by the fire that is roaring in the bedroom. I truly think that a  fire place in your bedroom right next  to your actual bed is the height of luxury, what could be more cozy on a snowy day than that!?? I am such a lucky dog...

I am wore out and just want to rest for more than one hour straight.... see ya' manana.....

I Don't Understand This Planet....

Day; 220. Sunny, crisp

Temperature on outside kiln; 48 degrees
kiln firings; none
music in the studio; only the sound of Handsome Husband practicing Bach in the background..

Argggg, still fighting a cold and sore throat.... Also a  sort of troubled sleep last night.. strange dreams of being in Paris for a singing gig and forgetting my passport so that I could not get home....

Must have been the news from live French television I was watching before going to bed.; multiple terrorist attacks throughout Paris on Friday the 13th. As my brother's two daughters live and work in Paris, I was checking Facebook and emails trying to find out if  my nieces Lia and Brigitte were home safe and sound... Turns out, Lia was, but not Brigitte...  The younger one was holed up in a building around the corner from the restaurant that got heavily hit, close enough to hear the gunshots....!  In the middle of the night she sent out a Facebook post saying she was ok, but afraid to leave and try to make it home, they stayed where they were for several hours... After tossing and turning a bit last night, wondering how she was going to make it home across the city without public transportation, I got up early to check Facebook again. As of 6am she had posted another notice saying she was home with her sister and all was well..

I really  feel for the families that are not getting such good news this morning... I really don't understand why this happens..? How do people get so far from love and into violence? Makes me really wonder about this place.... It just isn't something I can fathom...  I do know that hate breeds hate, and violence breeds violence, and the only way to overcome something like this is through the power of LOVE, the strongest vibration/force in the Universe...
So very thankful these two beautiful girls are alive and well...

Slowwwww Downnnnnnn

Day; 219. Stunningly beautiful day, cold, clear,  deep azure sky....
Temperature on outside kiln; 50 degrees
kiln firings; last bisque kiln for clay fair
music in the studio; none

Sick in bed with sore throat and achy limbs, shit! We were just talking about flue shots last night!! And how I hadn't gotten mine yet... I will feel better tomorrow, staying in  bed all night... stay tuned...

Just Keep Singing...

Day; 218. Sunny with brilliant azure blue sky. Breath-taking gorgeous day....

Temperature on outside kiln; 48 degrees
kiln firings; none
Music in the Studio; Andrew Ripp (piano/vocals; beautiful!)

Whoa, 3 days just went by again..! But as I usually write this at night at the end of my day, if I happen to have plans in the evening it just doesn't get done. I need to start writing throughout the day or starting earlier. Between birthday parties, Maggie and the Magpie's gig, and dinner party last night for 4 friends, I just couldn't find the energy to sit down and write...
I was also a bit stressed about work/commissions and trying to figure out how I felt about all of it... After having a tossing and turning kind of night on Friday, I woke up on Saturday firm in my decision to bow out of the tile special order... As the total number went from 272 to 732,  I knew it was just too big for me and I needed to step away. Of course the interior designer I have been working with didnt much like that idea but I needed to hold firm to my decision. However, after another pow wow between the two of us  yesterday, Monday afternoon, we came to a compromise; I would make 300 tiles, not a tile more, and they would give me an extra month to do it in, a total of 8 weeks. So, now I have the time to slowly do this commission over x-mas holiday and I think that will be just fine! It all worked out!!

On Sunday Maggie and Magpies went up to Dixon, NM, to play and sing two sets for our ukelele player, Miya Endo's, Open Studio Tour. Our  performance was set for 3-5pm, outside,  right when it starts to get cold and the sun dips below the hills... a bit of a challenge, but not too bad... I have to say honestly it was not a shining moment for us; I made a  lot of little mistakes and I could feel us struggling to play together and on a constant tempo.. The lead guitar player/singer had played for several hours the night before and I think she was a bit worn out with two gigs in 24 hours, I would have been definitely, that is a lot of mental focusing and can be very tiring..  And I was just so happy that I would be playing for strangers, as singing for friends/family adds an extra does of stage fright for me... but when I got there and was just about to start singing our first number, about a dozen  other people/potters I knew suddenly showed up! Yikes!!! But I did get through the 13 songs I was scheduled to sing, a little shaky, but I managed... Here is what one of the studio visitors wrote in the guest book about us; 

"We also enjoyed the music, the group singing: you are all a delight to
listen to -- do you have a cd, even a simple recording? ...I like the
harmonic sound of the women's voices and the combination of instruments.
Your lead singer has a very nice voice, too."

I guess we did better than I thought....!!

When It Rains It Pours...

Day; 217. Sunny and beautiful, but chilly!! BRRRRRR 

Temperature on outside kiln; 45 degrees
Kiln firings; none, unloaded glaze firing this morning.
Music in the studio; Daniela Andrade

Whewwwww, busy, busy day. Just trying to juggle all the projects I have going and make sure everything is out of the kiln when it is suppose to be. I feel like I should make a studio  flow chart... hmm , maybe not a bad idea... So much is suddenly coming down the pike... The Contemporary Clay Fair of course in two weeks, the Holiday Open Studio two weeks after that, and now as of today an order for 272 tiles due in about 5-6 weeks, of course right before the holidays!!?? Some potters up in Los Alamos want me to come up and do a workshop and today someone booked a private lesson for next week... Of course there are other special orders I am working on as well, but you get the idea..
 However, I AM NOT COMPLAINING!!  Just trying to get all my ducks in a row and plan ahead so that my life is not crazy or chaotic... slow and carefully wins the race....

Yesterday winter arrived in a big way as well....

Here is the back garden during the storm...















I spent yesterday and today waiting around for more decal paper to come in the mail and so decided to just pump out the 25 special order x-mas tiles for one of my clients. These needed to be glazed and fired which I did last night. I will deliver on Monday and those will be out of my studio and off my mind.. yeah!  Also working on two shows for Santa Fe Clay, cup show next month and dinnerware show after the first of the year. Here are a few cups going back into the kiln for this exhibit during the holidays..

 After I get this load of transfer ware completed and fired, I will also start on a large special order/wholesale order for big fancy downtown hotel... They will order this month for delivery in mid-Jan. Holy cow, as I write all this down I am getting a little nervous!! I am very blessed to make a living as a potter but sometimes it can be a little nerve-wracking, so much can go wrong..... !!

December Could be Dicey...

Day; 216. Cloudy, cool, storm on the way....

Temperature on outside kiln; 48 degrees
Kiln firings; none
Music in the studio; More of the Potters Podcast with potter  Maria Dondero

It's Wednesday so that means I spent the morning singing with the Magpies and was only in the studio for a few hours this  afternoon... I did get  the thrown  feet attached to  the pieces from yesterday however and I am now working on the rims...

 It feels good to make some larger pieces that will help fill the kiln.. Filling the kiln with cups and bowls takes forever!!!!! I've had a lot of warpage lately so I hope with the cooler weather and drying slowly this will be reduced. Stay tuned on the bigger pieces...

Just heard from the interior designer in town that I have been working with on the hotel addition... At first it looked like maybe not (the Magpie tiles put the project over budget) but now it looks like it might be a go. I will hear at the end of the week... I can't decide whether to be happy or to panic! 300+ tiles right before X-mas!? Holy Shit!! Take a deep breath and repeat after me 100 times; Remain calm, remain calm, remain calm... all will be well..... all will be well....

The Clay Fair, and Winter, is on the Way....

Day; 215. Sunny and gorgeous. Can't believe that it's November..!

Temperature on outside kiln; 55 degrees
kiln firings; none, just waiting for glaze kiln to cool
Music in the studio; The Potters Podcast, Marketing Strategies with Ben Carter

As we heat our home and studios with wood, we are always looking for cheap sources of fuel. One of our friends is a home builder and so Handsome Husband often goes to the building site and picks up a trailer-full of scraps... Today was one of those days... I am so grateful for all this recycled lumber that would otherwise go to the landfill... However, after unloading, stacking and splitting about two cords of wood, my body is sore and tired and I am only mildly interested in wrestling clay now..

This represents only about one third of what we sorted and stacked... We are thrilled, several less trips to the wilderness with the truck/trailer/chainsaw.... Of course it burns quite quickly so that it is important to mix in some large pine and hardwood logs to simmer during the night. Nonetheless, we have almost an endless supply of kindling if we need it...











And as the last meeting for the upcoming Clay Fair was last night (sending postcards, putting stickers on bags, space assignments, etc...), I forced myself to roll out some clay and get a few pieces made after being a lumber Jack/Jane...

I love these oval shapes, somehow they are very satisfying to make and use. I still need to throw some feet and attach them, but they are on their way..  After band practice with the Magpies tomorrow I hope to finish them.... 2.5 weeks and counting until the biggest holiday show of the year..... yikes!!!

Another White Toyota in the Family

Day; 214. Sunny, chilly but beautiful.

Temperature on outside kiln;
kiln firings; glaze firing to cone 6. ( 2210 degrees)
Music in studio;

Wow 3 days just went by..!? Fri.-Sun. I didn't get any blogs done.. Nothing to say, not  in the studio, and a bit stressed and tired, so I just went with the flow... Back at it and in the studio on a Monday morning, however quick trip into Santa Fe Clay to return the glaze ingredients I purchased on Saturday which were the entirely wrong things.... ! Must have been really tired  and cold from the market that morning... Back in an hour or so...

Ok, I'm baaaack! Had to exchange some zircopax for some zinc oxide and frit  #3134 for #3124 at Santa Fe Clay. Jeez, I must have been asleep when I went shopping on Saturday...!?

Friday, after working all day in the studio and waiting for Handsome Husband to bring back the truck, we did get it loaded up for the Saturday market before it got dark that night. Went to bed tired and stressed about car situation and how we would share the Toyota as we figured out our next move. Proceeded to get up at 5am in a  very dark and chilly dawn and got myself downtown in the railyard before sunrise...

It was a bit of a challenge getting my tent up in the dark but I did manage, and if nothing else all that moving and lifting kept me warm in 38 degree weather. However, as the morning wore on I realized it might not be worth all the effort, and in the end that became evident. I sold exactly $69. worth of ceramics, so that with a $50. booth fee, my profit for the morning was  meager at best. After standing and trying to keep warm all morning, by 1pm I no longer cared and  I just wanted a hot bath and a nap in my cozy bed....

....Which I did get later that afternoon and upon waking found an almost new large white Toyota SUV sitting in my driveway...While I and the dogs rested my Handy Handsome Husband went out and bought a car! I should have known that my particular Virgo would not allow a problem to stand unresolved for an entire day..!! Noooooo....!!! We now have a car payment but we also have a very reliable vehicle that he can actually get into without twisting himself into a knot and more importantly 4 large Siberian Huskies do fit into the back compartment... the ultimate selling point apparently!
As November is the thankful-and-grateful  month, I am just that; happy that we are back on track, everyone is happy and healthy and life is good! We will figure out how to pay for the new Sequoia as we go along, just like we do every month... all's well that ends well....!

One Step Forward and Two Back

Day; 213. Rain, Rain, Rain! Lovely wet morning...

Temperature on outside kiln; 45 degrees
Kiln firings; none
Music in the studio; The Voice Perfomances on Spotify

Missed a few days.... dealing with unexpected life  happenings and old friends in town.... On my way to town two nights ago to catch up with my mentor/old professor from college, my Saab just stopped... There I was rounding the corner at Old Pecos Trail and nothing.... I coasted to the side of the road and called AAA. After standing on the side of the road for 45 minutes, I and my car got towed back to Eldorado and to our mechanic...  Yesterday morning we got the discouraging news that the car would take as much to fix the timing belt/value job as it was worth ... Looks like it is terminal... Hard news for us as we were just about to finally paint our house and get a few new windows put in, and it needs it so badly... Arggggggggg!!!!!

We are down to one car now and really need to sell our Dolphin/Toyota RV, anyone out there want to buy a very cute 80's refurbished Dolphin?! We have had several bites but as winter is coming on no one is seriously thinking of summer road trips in a new RV right now.... The feeling of one step forward and two back is rather strong this morning...
The fun part of the last two days was meeting up with Mr. Paul Wack (aka Wacko). Paul was my planning teacher at UCSB and also gave me a job grading papers for his large lecture classes. Funny, charming, smart, and very helpful, he guided me through my last two years of college, which I finally finished at the age of 29. I had not seen Paul in perhaps 20 years so it was great fun to sit and share a small meal last night and catch up on each other's lives. It took my mind off my car woe's and made me appreciate my life more as I showed him pictures and explained what I had been doing for the last two decades.

Today handsome husband and I are looking at used cars, considering a car payment on a used Nissan, and thinking about how to share a car between two artists and 4 huskies....
Later I will load up the Toyota Truck (good girl!, has never let me down) for the last Saturday at the Railyard Artists' Market tomorrow. It is pouring rain right now so I will wait until this afternoon and hopefully not have to do it wet..... sigh...

Be Careful What You Think About....

Day; 212. Sunny and brillant. Fairly warm after a chilly morning walking the dogs at the Galisteo Basin Preserve

Temperature on outside kiln;
Kiln Firings; bisque kiln to Cone 04  (1,940 degrees)
Music in the studio; Vocal exercises with Anne Peckham again, trying to get my voice in shape for a gig at the Dixon Studio Tour next weekend....

Studio assistants for the day...

Truchas, Oso's brother,  is back for a day of doggie day-care.... They are very entertaining but not much good at rolling out clay.....

Nonetheless, I did get three vases put together today and that felt good.

One of them is for a special order in Crested Butte, crazy how once you leave the door open for special orders they come rushing in.... !!?? I swear I only had it slightly ajar but no one told my customers that... I am not complaining just marveling at the Law of Attraction and how it seems to operate in my life (That which is like, unto itself is drawn...)
As soon as I put my attention on something I seem to get more of it, whether it is wanted or not... !





Trying to decide if I should continue working or start up the pug mill.. I must have at least 300 pounds of  B-mix clay that needs to be reclaimed/remixed.... It is either now at 4pm in the afternoon with a dark beer or tomorrow morning with a strong cup of joe... Hm....  am with coffee seems safer...... !

A Quiet Day...

Day; 211. Sunny and beautiful, ahhhhh New Mexcio!!

Temperature on outside kiln; 60 degrees
kiln firings; none
music in the studio; Steven Acho ( acoustic covers with great piano and nice vocals)

Handsome husband has gone up north past Taos towards Colorado for a day of fishing...this means there are no guitar students, power tools, or other machines running in the background... Ah... absolute quiet except for whatever music is on the Ipad through Spotify.. A rare treat. If  my ship ever comes in, it's been circling for years!, I will build him a workshop of his own. He so deserves it! And that would also  mean I would be less distracted by all the other projects on Joya Court he has going... someday.....

Mostly handbuilding today; more plates and some oval vases that I wanted to get done for the upcoming Clay Fair, as well as a special order that came through the internet... Loaded the bisque kiln 3/4 full and will have it loaded and firing tomorrow.
Also picked up the postcard for the Clay Fair next month, it looks so good, what an improvement over the past 10 years' design! Much fewer pictures which means they are much larger, which means much more impact, I like it!

Also starting to plan the holiday open house here at the pottery that is coordinated with several other open studios that same weekend... We will do a Friday opening and then be open all day on Saturday...  The usual flyers, press releases and on-line listings to be done for the entire group.. We have about 5 weeks to prepare and will need every minute of it!
In the meantime I am doing one more Saturday at the Railyard this weekend, which is Halloween. Better work on my costume!!?....

It's Hip to be Square...

Day; 210.  Cloudy most of the day and definitely chilly this morning.

Temperature on outside kiln 50 degrees
kiln firings; none
Music in the studio; Eric Halter on Spotify and the Potters Cast downloaded from Itunes

Wow, a Saturday in the studio! How strange it was to sleep in and not be selling ceramics somewhere,  I almost didn't know what to do with myself! But after a breakfast in town with my sister, I came home and had a very happy afternoon making lunch plates and square mugs/tumblers. I love to throw a very thick cylinder and then facet it into a sharp square. I love the crisp lines this creates instead of just paddling a round form into a soft square with a paddle. I think it works with my pieces  a lot better. I can then use my vintage fabric prints to embellish the surface without having to go around curves or corners, which is impossible without tearing or wrinkling the image. In any case,  I am stoked about these cups and mugs and can't wait to see what they look like finished....

Where's Pepe?!

Day; 209. Sunny and beautiful, a bit damp still.

Temperature on outside kiln; 59 degrees.
kiln firings; none
Music in the studio; Trijntje Oosterhuis (Dutch pop and jazz singer who likes to cover Burt Bacharach and Stevie Wonder tunes, my fave...!)

Finally getting some work done this week, and it's Friday! Oh well, took me all week to get rolling!? I finished the pieces I started yesterday and I think they came out good... cute little pouring thingies.. 

I guess these are creamers, although I am not sure anyone uses creamers anymore... But potters love to make pourings vessels of any sort ( so fun to put all the pieces together..!) so I guess I am just having fun... After posting on Instagram someone wants one without them even being glazed yet so I guess that is a good sign..

Also heard from two project managers today about commissions that I have been wondering about...
 Wholesaling to the fancy downtown historic hotel is a go! Orders will be placed in Nov. for a mid-Jan. delivery, perfect! The slow time of year, maybe I will get through this winter ok...!
Also got an email from the tile commission people ( 300+ tile for hotel renovation), final meeting to discuss budget and tile design for 14 new showers is set for next week. God I hope I dont have to have them done before X-mas...!? I will have to hire someone to help me... HELP  Pepe, I need you! The shy-but-hardworking-intern rides again.... ! You cant move to Seattle yet until you help me roll out 300 tiles... !!
Here comes the Holiday crush.... !!

Snow in October...!

Day; 208. Cloudy and cold, thick sheet of ice on my windshield as I prepared to go get coffee at 7am... Jemez Mountains across the valley dusted with snow on October 22nd...!? yikes...

Temperature on outside kiln; 48 degrees
kiln firings; none
Music in the studio; Vocal exercises with Anne Peckham on the Ipod, (and the dog Leona in the background on the higher tones)

Cold morning in the studio.., luckily we have about 3-4 cords of wood squirreled away for the winter... Nice and toasty in there by the time I built a fire and then ran down to the local coffee shop and back for some strong morning espresso. And of course Whoo's donuts to go with it since it is Thursday and they actually have them....(still stuck on Blue Corn/lavendar, probably never going to stray from them...)

As I drove back to the studio from the coffee shop, I got a grand view of the Jemez mountains clearly dusted with a good amount of snow. Mid-October seems a tad early for the white stuff but it was so beautiful nonetheless. And as I gazed out the studio window into the backyard upon returning home, I thought for a split section that it had hailed in the backyard... But then I realized they were awfully large hailstones and that I should investigate... Sure enough there was white stuff  spread all over the backyard but it was not the kind that falls from the sky but rather the kind that blows in the wind after two puppies have their way with a new cushion... Here is the culprit looking guilty and remorseful...as she should be...

After cleaning up as best I could, with  no help from Oso or Kai by the way, I made pieces for little creamers and vases. Can't wait to put them all together tomorrow; bodies + bottoms+ handles+ spouts= something wonderful to use everyday.....

Maggie and one lonely Magpie

Day; 207. Dramatic change in the weather... Huge thundershowers, lightening, pouring rain...
Temperature on outside kiln; 50 degrees
kiln firings; none
Music in the studio; Maggie and the Magpie's.... !

The weeks fly by.... It is Wednesday again, which means, you guessed it, band practice. Since our lead guitarist is out of town, I decided to have practice at my house this week. Due to inclement weather I had only one Magpie show up today but that was just fine.... Miya plays a mean rhythm Uke and can sing back up as well... It was kinda like old times when it was just Miya on the uke and me singing while we idled away the time in our booths at art fairs. We went over all the new songs as best we could without a lead guitar and bass with the exception of "Bring it On Home", just doesn't translate well on the ukelele! ( I am sure Sam Cook would agree!).
Mid-afternoon now and it is still pouring rain, I so want to go back to bed with a good book  rather than make pots... I have built fires in the studio and the house to drive the chill away as we have no other source of heat for our house. Love the feeling of a cosy house/studio with fires burning...  maybe I will climb into bed!......

Makin' Stuff....

Day; 206. Overcast, rainy. A real fall day,  bright yellow aspen leaves scattered in the driveway...
temperature on ouside kiln; 55 degrees
kiln firings; none
Music in the studio; Spotify: Afternoon Acoustic

Little scoops, breakfast plates, square tumblers... all just to restock from last weekend. I did sell a large vase on Saturday for a very good price so I think after restocking all the little stuff I will go back to working on some large handbuilt vases and pitchers. Same paper pattern for both just need to add a handle and spout for the pitcher. A bit tricky to hand-build from slabs but since I am just a so-so wheel-thrower it is easier than centering and pulling thin walls on the potters wheel for me....

I love days like today.. rainy, chilly, fire in the wood stove.. I don't pine to be anywhere else, just snug and warm in the studio makin' stuff..When is it gorgeous outside it is a little harder to focus but when the season turns I am so happy to be indoors with dogs and music. Now if it was snowing that would be even better makin' weather... !

Back to... Something....

Day; 205. Warm and sunny. A lovely October day...
Temperature on outside kiln; 64 degrees
Kiln Firings; none
Music in the studio; The Potters Cast; Interview with Tom Budzak

Beautiful fall day after a last dinner out in the back garden yesterday  and then a down pour later in the night! No studio work to speak of today, just had to rest my body, go to the bank, drop a sample off, that kind of thing. Trying to re-group and re-focus in order to have the mojo to make another body of work. At this point, right before the holiday rush, it is really all about inventory, inventory, inventory... So, looking at what is left and what sold at the Eldo Fall Show this past weekend and planning my week to fill the kiln with lots of basic inventory; small plates, mugs, cups. The usual. I want to make a few wall pieces however that have been running around my brain, gotta keep it interesting for myself as well.

Still waiting to hear about 300+ special order of tiles and hotel wholesale.. That is fine with me, if I can get through the next month of making then I will be much more inclined to welcome these projects into my studio... stay tuned...
In the meantime, here are a few pics from the weekend, I haven't been posting any images lately, so here are a few....

Watching Water Boil...

Day; 204. sunny, warm, beautiful fall day again....!

Temperature on outside kiln; 75 degrees
kiln firings; decal firing to  cone 02 ( about 2000 degrees)
Music in the studio; mellow piano sonata stuff...

In the studio at 7am finishing work for the opening tomorrow!!?? A day late and a dollar short?! Finally finished all the image transfer at noon that I couldnt bear to get done last night after 3 hours of Maggie and Magpie's practice... Kiln is firing until about 8pm tonight and then just watching it cool all morning tomorrow which is kinda like watching water boil, really boring and not much to do...
 I will load the truck and get my "show outfit" together however... As I normally look like a female mud wrestler I like to take the occasion of a show opening to spruce up a bit, it is the only time I get to wear nice clothes...
 So, grab the change, the  paypal card reader, the wrapping paper and the bags... it'sssss SHOW TIME!!!!

Errands, Errands, and more Errands

Day; 203. Sunny with record highs throughout the area. Beautiful!
Temperature on outside kiln;
kiln firings; glaze kiln cooling..... 16 hours and counting...
Music in the studio; Democracy Now with Amy Goodman (pretty much every day at 4pm)

Just one of those days where I ran around Santa Fe and did errands. That and computer work, endless details to attend to for next months Contemporary Clay Fair. Waiting for glazeware to come out of kiln so that I can move on to the fun part; image transfer!!

Listening to Bonnie Raitt, Ed Sheeran and Lauren Hill, trying to ready myself for tomorrow's band practice. The Voice season 9 has started so that Mondays and Tuesdays I am glued to my TV feeling really ridiculous about my own singing.. These kids are sooo good that I dont know why I even attempt to sing at all.. Oh well, I can only work with the voice I have....

Crusty Butt Just Keeps on Giving...

Day; 202. Back to Summer! Warm, beautiful, gorgeous day!! Out in the garden with 5, yes 5, huskies... Our four and Oso's  brother Truchas whom we are pet sitting. Is there a difference between 4 huskies and 5? Well, yes, we no longer all fit in the kitchen...  However, I do believe we would have a shot at the Iditerod...

Temperature on outside kiln; 78 degrees
Kiln firings; glaze firing to cone 6 (2,210  degrees with a 10-minute hold), about 8.5 hours.
Music in the studio; Vocal exercises with Ann Peckham; ma, meh, me, mo, moo!!!

A long day of continuous glazing... rather boring to talk about at this point, you've heard it all before. I'm getting ready for the Fall EACA show this Friday night and Saturday;

Usually a really fun show to do, quick, easy, inexpensive, indoors ( no wind to worry about) And a parking lot full of pumpkins to choose from, what more could a girl ask for?

After getting the kiln going around 4:30, my very best customer from Crested Butte dropped by and bought 3 pieces... What a nice surprise to see her and make unexpected without-leaving-home income. Some days I love being a potter! That Crested Butte show just keeps on giving... Did I mention how much I love Texans... ?

Hello Wholesale!

Day; 201. Sunny and beautiful. A little breezy. Gorgeous Fall day....

Temperature on outside kiln; 59 degrees
Kiln firings; bisque kiln to cone 04 ( 1,945 degrees)
Music in the studio; Bonnie Raitt (practicing  "Something to Talk About" ...  for our next gig)

Long and interesting meeting this morning with the buyer for the fancy downtown hotel interested in my work.. Felt guardedly optimistic going into it and now really feeling excited about it. NEVER thought I would say that about wholesale/consignment...!!  However,  she really knows what she is doing and answered all my endless questions with grace and enthusiasm. And I did grill her for about 1.5 hours...

*what is your price point?
* what percent of the retail price are you taking?
*how many other functional potters will be in the store?
* when are you launching the re-opening?
*how much space do you expect me to stock?
*how old is your store manager? (in other words, can they do social media without freaking out?)
* do you have a separate website from the hotel? a separate Instagram presence, logo. signage? etc...
* do you expect exclusivity from me in the downtown area or can I sell my work in other venues near by?
* do you expect that I will sell my work myself at the same hotel-prices?
* do you have a minimum amount of work you want each month?
* mid-century designs or birds/bees?
* consignment for 6 months and then wholesale? or?
* functional or decorative..

I think you get the picture.. After answering these questions and more, I felt really satisfied. With 22 years experience in the retail world, this person knew what she was talking about. And I also came away with a different idea about wholesale vs. consignment; if I set the price I need to get for the piece that I think is fair for MYSELF then it is up to the hotel to sell it for whatever they feel they can get for it. I was always under the assumption that with consignment I still owned the piece and I set the retail price.. But this was not what she was saying; I ask for what I need and then they want the freedom to sell it retail for whatever they want, either way, wholesale or consigment, I have no say in the final retail price. Hmmm, interesting, I have never done business like this before. A first I didn't like it, but if I am getting what I need out of it, what does it matter? As long as I am not expected to meet those prices myself in town, then I am cool with that.

And they are launching at the slow/soft time of the year for me, Jan-Feb. This could work! I imaging selling a lot of work to tourists and having someone else shipping it, I like it!

My 200th Day....

Day; 200!!!! I finally made it!
Temperature on outside kiln; 55 degrees
kilns firings; none
music in the studio; Tales of a Redclay Rambler; various interviews with ceramic artists around the country..

 I finally got to my 200th blog day. I didn't think it would ever come stranded in the 100 numbers as I was for so very, very long. But here it is and I feel like maybe some day I will get to my 365th....

Today as I was finishing up the pieces I really should have finished yesterday for Saturday's bisque firing, I continued to binge-watch (listen..) to both the Potters Cast and Tales of a RedClay Rambler. I am so thankful to Potter  Miya Endo for reminding me that these two ceramic-oriented Pod Casts exists; I am now fascinated by what other potters are doing/making/thinking/marketing and I cannot stop listening. It has really made me think about my own business in both deeper and different ways then I had previously...

 I ask myself questions like;
 Do I have the stomach for production? In other words if the large retailer Anthropologie orders 2,000 breakfast plates, can I make it through that ordeal without shooting myself in the head? Not so sure.... And how would I have to change my studio practices to make this work for myself?
As I am about to meet with one of the largest, most popular hotels in Santa Fe to talk about selling my work in their gift store, I am really trying to do the sane thing and not over-commit and under-price myself. What can I make that would still make sense at 60% of the retail price for myself?

Will my customers flee my booth in droves if my mugs are suddenly over the $40. mark? Listening to a potter from Canada who was asked on average how much should a mug be, answering $125.00, I gasped. She went on to lament how under-priced American ceramics were. She thought hobbyist should sell their mugs for the price I am currently thinking about but too afraid to implement, but that ceramicist with a 20-year career span should ask well over a hundred dollars.  Hmmm.... makes a girl think....

Could I do retail again? Could I sell my work and other potters in a brick and mortar storefront? Would I again, want to run off a cliff from boredom, repetition, having to deal with the public?

How can I use social media to up my presence and get my work and "brand" more recognizable? (Do I really have to re-open my Facebook account or can I just limp along with Instagram which I vastly prefer?)

How can I get on the workshop circuit more regularly so that I can, in effect, sell my experience instead of all that inventory? (How long until my knees and wrists give way?!)

These are just a few of things that ran through my head today as I listened to other potters relate their histories, experiences, studio practices, marketing strategies.. I'm not sure I came up with any solid  solutions for myself but I do feel like starting to ask these and similar  questions is movement in the right direction....

The Definition of "Retail"

Day; 199. Cloudy and cool, an early Fall day....

Temperature on outside kiln; 58 degrees
Kiln Firings; none
Music in the studio;  The Potters Cast Podcast; How to Price Pots

After a very good band practice with Maggie and the Magpie's (17 songs rehearsed!?), I came home to finish the work I started yesterday and to consider my business practices around wholesaling and consignment, YET AGAIN!?
I am reconsidering this issue once more due to being approached by one of Santa Fe's premiere downtown hotels. Apparently they are relaunching their gift shop in  2016 and plan on carry a variety of local artists' work. The bottom line is they are interested in carrying my work but do not want to buy it outright but rather consign it in their new improved space.
But why is it that retailers are willing to buy at wholesale all their inventory EXCEPT ART? I've never understood that... How many times have shop owners extolled the virtues of my work and adamantly assured me  that they could sell it, but were not willing to take a chance and buy it outright for resell. If they are so sure they can sell it then why are they reluctant to purchase it? I DON'T GET IT!!!!
This is THE PREMIER hotel downtown and they can't buy  my pots? Don't they have to purchase all the other items that they sell?! Do they consign the soda pop, the newspapers, the magazine, the books, the maps? NOOOOO, they buy them and then resell them. That is the definition of a retailer.... Argggg, don't get me started... but I guess I'm  already on a rant... .
 Well, we will cuss and discuss and see what can be negotiated..... It might be a very good way to fund the slower winter months so I am willing to put "wholesaling" on the table. We will see if they bite....