happy new year

Happy 2009!
Today is my first day back in the studio for an official 1st work day of the year. It's been a long holiday season but one that I enjoyed very much. I did 7 holiday shows, pictured is my table from the Greatest Trunk Show on Earth on black friday. That seems like forever ago now! I'm still finishing up a few 2008 orders which sets my 2009 work schedule a little askew, but in quite a welcomed way. This year is starting off with a busy January and February, a time when most makers are quietly designing and organizing for the year ahead. I am excited to prepare for AltCraft at the end of February, this will be my first show at a convention center and my first step into the world of doing the "bigger" craft shows. My focus right now is dinnerware, and if everything goes as planned I will be bringing a few full sets along, as well as new vases and platters.

In the studio my big news is that I have a NEW kiln of the automatic variety!!! I bought it back in November and haven't had a chance to set it up - we're working on it this week. Pictured is my old kiln packed full and cooling. And you can see the top of my new kiln to the left. Life is going to be so much easier with 2 kilns, if you're a fellow potter I'm sure you know. Also in the making life easier realm, I've reorganized and rearranged my packing area, all I can say is ahhh!

Over the holidays I've been pretty low key. Just spending time with my mister and our famlies. We spent time shopping for new clothes!!! and watching dvd's. My parents have a huge dvd collection that we've been making our way through, fun! Oh and we finally tried out a mexican restaurant that is new to us - Tequilla Joe's, they have the best margarita's, it's definitely going to be a new favorite for us! Then we made a trip to Longwood Gardens to see the holiday display, it was insanely crowded but full of holiday cheer, we had a great time and will definilty go back.

I hope you all had a great holiday and wish you a fantastic 2009.