the not so long lost blogger

It's been a while since I've written a blog post. Nearly two years, to be exact. It's funny, because even though it's been that long, I still consider myself a blogger. I finally decided that I should just dive back in and write. I'll fill in some of the blanks now, but some of them later. If I tried to fit 2 years into a single post, it just wouldn't happen. Actually, that has been part of the problem. So I will mostly go ahead as though my last post was just a few days ago. Thanks for still being around to read this.

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My time in my studio has been quite regular lately. I haven't been the most prolific potter (more on that later). I still feel like I'm finding my way in a new world (porcelain...oxidation...electric kiln...new glazes...). But I am also lovingthe feeling like everything I do is a choice. There are no default answers. I'm trying to really let myself be in that moment for a while.

Mostly I have been on the wheel, but I have been venturing off a bit lately to do some handbuilding. I've been trying to keep the timing of things pretty reasonable, not throwing more than I can trim/handle/decorate in a timely manner. Sometimes the pace of handbuilding fits right into that schedule.

I can't seem to make too many mugs. I can make mugs for months and stillmanageto not have any in stock. So I make more.... I am not complaining at all. I absolutely love mugs. Making them and using them.

I seem to be stockpiling bisque right now. When it's time to glaze, I really take over my whole studio (who doesn't?). So I decided that for this round I will have enough for 2-3 glaze kilns full of work. I am also working on some decals for some of my pieces. So when the time comes for that, I can focus my energy there.

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I know that one of the reasons why I still feel like a blogger is because of Facebook. I have been keeping up my Emily Murphy Facebook page pretty regularly with updates, photos and sharing things that I think you might find interesting. And it's been a great way to have a dialog with other potters, bloggers and lovers of clay. I have really appreciated this outlet over the past few years. Facebook has been making changes lately to try to get people with professional pages like this to pay to have our content reach more than a handful of people. I know that I can't see myself being able to pay for that, so I'm hoping that you'll try to work around the system a bit. There are a couple of ways that you can make sure that you're getting updates from pages like mine. One is that when you "like" a page, you have to make sure that it also has the "show in News Feed" setting (see image below)

The other way is to interact with the page. The more you "like" or comment on something, the more likely it is going to show up in your newsfeed. And a bonus is that it makes things more fun for everyone! Part of what prompted me to resume blogging is because this reminded me that blogging is a better way to make sure you're reaching people who want to be reached. And for having content that is archived and searchable. For me... for now... there isn't going to be one outlet or the other. I'm going to keep blogging and keep updating things on Facebook. And I hope that you'll come with!

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And on a personal note...

This is my daughter, Ada. She was born on April 9, 2011 and has been the most amazing distraction from writing, making pots... sleeping. (although now she is a champion sleeper, hence the time back in the studio and on the computer...)

Is it ok if I add one more?