at the show!

Hi,
I'm just popping in, the show is going ok, I hope that if you are in the Baltimore area you will come out to say hi and support all of us handmakers. The convention center is huge, I over heard one woman say she had 500 more artist's to look at! We are struggling a bit in the AltCraft section to explain exactly what AltCraft is and why we are sectioned off from the rest of the show! We'll figure it out! For now I wanted to share some nice press from the thursday Baltimore Sun - I was quoted and my work was featured in this article : http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-li.craft26feb26,0,7223048,full.story
and if you would like to come to the show:
http://www.craftcouncil.org/baltimore/
Sunday form 10-5
Hope you are all having a great weekend!
xoxo,
Linda

i'm off!

• the car is packed (mostly)
• everything is organized
• directions are printing
• i'm heading down to Baltimore for AltCraft / ACC!!!

Yesterday was a crazy day of pricing and tagging pots. Packing them neatly and as tightly as possible into the bins. I didn't think we (my mister) could do it but we used our super tetris skills and jam packed my Cherokee. I was nervous I would need to take his truck - which I've only driven once or twice with him in it. Anyhow, I'm Ms Independent this weekend, well, I will have the great company of Ms. EcoLeeko with me (yay!) but, my super sweet mister is sitting this one out to hang with Miss Marley (our beagle). And do guy stuff?! I will try to post some pictures of the past few days when we get to the hotel. Wish me luck! It's going to be one heck of a day!

tick, tick, tick

Just a few more days 'til ACC! I've had a stomach ache for a week and I'm not sure if it's related, I never get this before a show unless I have to get up too early to get there. For that matter, I wonder if I am the only person that gets sick from getting up too early?! I've been working like mad to get everything glazed, I have a 3 part process and right now I just have one more kiln load to dip (the 3rd part) clean, and fire. I did run into a little glitch, I have 2 new and cracked kiln shelves. So, I am waiting on one kiln to cool then, I can use a few of the shelves and jam pack the other with platters and dinner plates. The good news is that my new kiln has an auto firing called "fast glaze" and it works perfectly with my pots (thank god!!!) I ran a jam packed high fire (^6) in 8:35 hours. My old, yet still lovely manual kiln can take about 12 hours to reach temperature. Ah, new kiln bliss. It was racing so fast to temperature that I was a bit nervous but the results were beautiful. I will post a picture or 2 before I head down to baltimore. I have a one new design that I am in love with and I still need to share the new tree top vases with you.

Today while I wait alllll day long for the kiln to cool, I will finally have time to work on my display and hopefully print bags. I use a gocco to print my logo and a little bird on the recycled kraft paper bags I pack the pots into for customers. And I can sew up a new table cloth and hopefully a new sign.

I will also be shipping out all pending orders today (unless you just ordered in the past few days) So look out for your mugs, tea cups, bowls, platters and vases : ) They are all flying out today!

1 week

Just one more week 'til I head down to Baltimore for the ACC show. I had a little set back this week and needed to take a sick day. What bad timing, I slept for an entire day and I admit I didn't feel the least bit guilty as I was indeed sick. Now I am back on track, well, sort of, my firing schedule is off and I am not sure if everything will make it to the show. I will need to prioritize the pots this weekend. Just a small note on tea cups and mugs, once again I am a bit low however, I do have about 10 mugs, yes with handles, all pretty and ready for you! And I have tea cups in nearly every pattern. I will bring all that I have. What might not make it are some of the platters. It's a firing issue, each one needs it's own shelf, so if I can somehow get them all fired even if they are cooling when I leave. I will try to have someone bring them to me. I am now throwing the large round platters and they are coming out so nicely, with a neatly trimmed foot and a slightly deeper dishy-ness to it. I was pressing them on a hump mold and carving the backs but secretly wished they were thrown and now they are!!! Sometimes I am my own obstacle.

In non-studio news, we did get out to see Slumdog Millionaire, it was so good and the soundtrack is equally as awesome. There are certain movies that come around that I need to see in the theater and this was one of them, definitely a must see. I hope to get out to see more as each time I do go see a movie I remember how much I love the big screen! and, date night! Oh yes, dinner out was had!

now back to the studio : )

amore today

what i'm working on

my assistant
looking a little tired
taking a break to celebrate

Happy Valentines Day!

real & quick

Good day to you dear interneters!
Above is a screen shot of my listing for the ACC/AltCraft show. Can you tell I'm excited? I am also in a panic right now but it will all be fine. I was so worried about not having enough made in time that now I think I made too much and might not be able to get everything etched, glazed and fired in time. I cut myself off from throwing last night, I caught myself saying just a few more cups, I can do just a few more. So today while I should be bisquing, I will be trimming and etching, and maybe glazing late into the night. Just 6 serving bowls, 7 large platters, 12 or so vases, and maybe 30 cups (some will be mugs) are covered up and waiting to be trimmed this morning. Then the marathon begins! I've been tucking pots away on every shelf and really do not know the scope of what I have done just yet. Hopefully by this afternoon I can organize everything into firing groups and plan it out. On the good side of this, I have been trying to see signs of growth in my little biz and I really do think I am growing. I have orders lined up to work on after AltCraft, show season is taking shape and my new production schedule is helping me to keep it all in perspective. Next will be to hire an assistant of some sort. I am working out the details on this - my studio and home do not lend themselves to this so it would need to be someone that I can welcome into my whole life and not just into the studio for a few hours. We are also looking for a new home with a better studio set-up for me and a huge garage or warehouse/barn for my mister. We are quite the unique couple : ) Hopefully this will be the year of good changes and growth. Into the studio now for me! Have a happy day.

my week

I've been in the studio nearly all of my awake hours this week. I put together a little collage above to share what is going on in there! Clockwise from top left:

• i filled my bakers rack from top to bottom on every shelf for the first time ever (this picture didn't quite capture that!)
• you asked, I answered, mugs WITH handles
• Marley in the snow showing off her big ears
• brushes for glazing
• my beautiful new kiln is now up and running

I now have 19 work days until AltCraft so the making is in overdrive. I am so honored to have been selected for this show and for this section that I want to make an amazingly strong showing. I even bought fabric to make a new table cloth and hopefully a new sign. I know we are at the weekend but I think I'll just keep working. And for those who think I work too much, please keep in mind that some people take pottery classes to relax, just imagine how blissed out I am in a sea of pots that I created myself. And to look around and see my little business growing from an idea I had 12ish years ago. But here are a few things I do to keep myself centered:

• yoga in the morning
• lots of water drinking
• listening to music while I work
• play breaks & walks with Marley
• 7-8 hours of sleep each nite
• im-ing with friends
• enjoying what I do

Have a terrific weekend, work or play!
xoxo, Linda