rejuvenated

I've been out of the blogging loop for a few weeks now. We were on vacation visiting lots of family out east (photo at the bottom of this post). Even though I haven't been blogging, I have a long list of posts in my head waiting to come out: review of the RZ respirator mask; my homemade spray booth; my photography set-up; follow-up on my sink trap, using Pinterest, venturing into decals... just to name a few.

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My mind feels a bit scattered with all the different things I've been working on- but in a good way ;). I'm almost done with the revamping of my studio display. My shelves have been refinished to better go with my new body of work. Originally I had stained the Ikea Ivar shelves a warm reddish-brown. It was a nice and warm stain that went with my soda-fired stoneware. It just didn't really work with the porcelain. I wanted to really make the work pop. Plus, it had been 10 years since I had originally stained them so it was time for a change. And I love how they turned out!

I don't have a ton of space for "permanent" display, but I've taken advantage of an extra wide hall leading into my studio. I still have some more work do do to finish it up and add some more display space, but I'm off to a good start. I am hoping to have people stop by to shop and visit more often than I have previously in this space. At my studio in Chicago at Lillstreet, there was a constant stream of people so it's a been an adjustment to having a home studio! I'm glad that I stopped neglecting my studio display. It makes me extra happy when I go down to my studio now.

 

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I finally started glazing yesterday. I'd let the bisque build up for a while. Now my studio is transitioned into glazing mode. I'm already giddy to see the results. It's been so long since I have fired a glaze kiln- I'm really excited to have some fresh work! I have a couple of shows coming up, as well as some orders. And I am starting to work with some decals (more on that in a future post!). I was reminded yesterday how much I love my homemade spray booth - and I realized that I haven't actually shared it on my blog yet. Again, that'll be another post. (I told you I was scattered... didn't I?)

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This next part will *also* eventually be its own post. But I just wanted to mention another project that I am working on. I am hoping to start a parent group/ play group for moms and dads who are potters (or other makers) and have young kids. It'll be in the Minneapolis area, of course. I'm lucky enough to live in a clay/pottery/ceramics rich area that we can form a group like this! I'll get more into it later and share the MeetUp group when I actually create it. But I just wanted to start putting out the word and see if anyone else is interested. I have a couple of moms who have expressed interest with kids ranging from 3 months - 4 years old. I'd love to have some dads join in too. I'm envisioning meeting up during the day and doing the usual playgroup stuff like meeting up at a park. But I hope that the group with grow and evolve. Also- I need a name for the group! Pots and tots? Wheels and squeals? Other ideas? It needs to be descriptive and catchy since it'll be listed with all of the other "mom group" type listings on meet-up. And if you have any other thoughts, ideas or experiences you'd like to share, I'd love to hear them!

(Note: my daughter Ada is not a pottery prodigy.... yet. Just playing around on the wheel with a piece I threw for her amusement.)

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I will end this post with this family photo taken earlier this month in the Shawangunk Mountains in New York. We had a great time visiting both sides of our family. Spent time at the ocean, hiking in the mountains, going to a island wedding in Maine and lots of time relaxing, reading and exploring. It definitely left me feeling rejuvenated and excited to jump back in!

I hope you got some time out of the studio, office or house this summer too! Now it's back to the studio for me!

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