Change

 This is where the old chairs will go

 I am busy with making changes in my life. I am sad and joyous, expectant and anxious.

We will be leaving our dream home in almost heaven to go south where the grand babies are and the winters are warm.
The yard is much smaller and the house is easier. But no more personal pottery since they have a wonderful community pottery studio right in there. Besides the pools and gym and and and...
Now comes the hard part trying to separate what I need form what I want and what I desperately want to keep. trying to fit it all in half the space, and trying to accept a change in life style that was coming on ever so slowly.
There is a comfortable resignation about my Clayville Pottery but also a regret that now that I figured the business part so well I am leaving business behind and moving to making pots for pleasure , exhibitions and as gifts.
I think it will be good for me as an artist to have new challenges as I was getting pretty comfortable here with my modest local fame and collectors that keep coming back for more.

 Entrance into the dream house

Furniture inherited from a past generation with hope for next generation

So it is moving with us

Goodbye WV Hello SC

The Mound Show

I did the mound Festival in South Charleston in September and it seems either the economy has affected it or it went down on its own.

But I had fun; The weather was great, even a bit cool, my daughter in law joined me with her hand made bags that matched my work with its colorfulness and she was joined by her daughter Kate 4 who helped actually and emotionally. I also won first place for craft, for lack of sculpture category.

Alaska

North to Alaska:

We just got back from a cruise to Alaska. I actually think Alaska can be experienced better by traveling to it, not from a cruise, But being the (like to be pampered People that we are), we did chose wisely.

The weather cooperated famously by being crisp, cool and sunny.

Seattle; where we started was not even gray, just a few clouds in a blue sky.

The ship was modern, well designed and easy to navigate, the food was great as all cruise food should be. But the highlight, of course, was ALASKA.

What a beautiful state, what wonderful bays and inlets, and what magnificent islands and glaciers.

Vandalia gathering

I was at Vandalia Gathering my first show of the season this Saturday and Sunday.
This is one of my favorites, because it is not a craft show exclusively, for it has music, liar contests, fiddle playing competitions, and dulcimers playing and for sale, also native plants for sale and Irish dancing, among many more activities.

The place is the beautiful WV Capitol grounds with big trees, flowering shrubs, and well-kept lawns.

Like last year I was set up right by the Capitol steps but this time I didn’t see any kids climbing them, a puzzle to ponder.

My sales were very good this year and some credit has to go to that wonderful article in WV Living Magazine featuring me working in my studio. And some to the beautiful weather and maybe the economy is not as bad as we thought.

The curious thing though is that except for 2 very small items All I sold were Claybeings they seemed to talk to people and give them a lift in spirits enough to want to own one or two or three. I sold Nothing Functional although I normally do and my functional ware is also decorative so there is another puzzle to ponder.

So unlike my one and only out of town show, this time I came home with full pockets and half empty boxes and a solid conviction than one should grow where one is planted.

Sticking close to home seems to suit me perfectly as I am getting to be known around here and people seem to appreciate my work while I am making new friends and loyal customers all the time. One note though, my biggest 2 sales where to out of towners, yet another puzzle to ponder.

What I did for me

Today is mother’s day and since I am a mother I was able to do whatever I wanted, which meant going to my studio and making some mother sculptures with variation/improvements on what I normally do. Then went back in the house and made some Taboule since I love cooking and love it. So all in all it has been a great mothers day especially since my children are far away and there is no way for me to be with them today. hearing their voices was nice.

An argument for Seagulls

Seagulls, the gliders

A friend of mine is making works of art with birds hang gliding, a redundancy and that is her point, but today I was watching a bunch of Seagulls ah yes they are the original gliders, no hanging necessary.

The wind blowing in my face blinding me to tears, the wind blowing in their faces only to provide invisible means of support that make them float like they are standing still in midair, mid-motion, mid-flight.

A piece of Pizza is floating with them, acquired by one and lost while they all claim it, retrieve it, lose it, float it and then disappear in a gaggle behind the building still doing their aerial dance for food and dominance.

Ups and Downs

I went to Charlotte last Weekend I thought a home show would fit perfectly with my fountains misters and my Claybeings will sell by the way.

My friend Dave does the show in March and he always tells me he slayed‘em. Well Dave slayed Goliath but for sure Goliath slayed me.

I came home with full boxes and empty pockets, but I also came wiser and more convinced than ever that Mayor Mel’s 50-mile radius from your home is still the best advice for selling.

I have a show this weekend 5 miles from home, the weather is supposed to be miserable but two days ago I got a call from the local paper to interview me about it, And it has been the best article yet (See previous post with the link), absolutely capturing my essence.

Although Charlotte was not a complete loss for it has my four grand babies with whom I am buddies and head over heels in love, Where I made a new friend in Kathryn Hughs, but Charleston is still home where I belong and fit and am appreciated.

Vandalia Gathering

Saturday, I will be setting up for 2 days of music, liars’ contests, food and of course us artists and crafters.

I am trying a new booth configuration and am showing a lot of my new work; size, content, and method.

Come down if you are near, the Capitol grounds in Charleston, WV are beautiful and the weather is supposed to be gorgeous. And the music is bluegrass and fiddle contests plus all the craft demonstrators, from wheel throwing to flower pressing to weaving.