Because It's not ALL about packing and sorting

Just to show there HAS been some creative fun going on too in the last several weeks.

I'm really in love with this new design. (This one is in my Etsy shop)

I've decided now that I am moving "to Town" I need to come up with a city design to balance out the farm pots....

And some weaving!  I'm finally working on the 57" loom I picked up in Ohio over a year ago.  It works perfectly!  No tension or brake problems.

Two baby blankets (that are still waiting to be hemmed, which you wouldn't know if I hadn't told you!)

And now I have to brag.  When my folks asked what I wanted for Christmas I told them a handmade loom bench!  (Now that my two bigger looms are in two different cities I needed a second bench.)

Look what they made me!!!  (Carpentry by Dad, painting by Mom)

I'll be back.  PROMISE. :)

AWOL

I've been trying to organize my thoughts for a blog post (and instead tinkered with the lay out....what do ya'll think?  If I could just figure out how to center the top photo...)  and have had as much luck as I have had trying to organize my life!  The last few months have been crazy and disjointed.

Greg has started his new job in Fredericksburg, and is very happy.  He's in a sweet rental in town, on the river and just 10 minutes from work! We had a mover bring him the essentials, bought a new bed and a new recliner.  And now over the last few months I've taken load after load of boxes, (and a loom and fiber...and guitars and amps....) just trying to declutter our house to put it on the market.  How can two people have so much???  It's not Layla.  Her one box of toys is very compact.

While visiting Greg in Fredericksburg I make sure to spend time in my new studio at LibertyTown.

It feels good to be back, surrounded by friends and so much support, ideas always in the air and shoppers too. :) As you can see I've moved my largest loom into the studio. I always plan to sit down to work and never seem to get to it. Setting up at LibertyTown comes with an attendance requirement. So my plan is to get alot more weaving done in the coming year! I'll sell my pottery here too. But still throw pots in a home studio....wherever that might be. Clay just needs so much babysitting.  What I am doing now requires so many steps it's wonderful to have my clay just steps away, to have space for pots in different phases and the ability to fire my own kiln.

While in Charlottesville I am working hard to pack and declutter and update. Our kitchen is so tiny we thought some simple improvements would help a prospective buyer to BECOME a buyer.  So the old countertops were replaced with a newer and more "hip" color (then the wood look alike formica) and now we have a dishwasher!  Of course it was not without it's issues.  The FIRST countertop was delivered in a pouring rain....I did not notice that it was cut a mirror image of what is was meant to be.  And then, of course, there was the VERY dead rat....

I plan to spend this week CLEANING and packing away odds and ends...oh, and shredding the 5 boxes of old credit card bills and cancelled checks that date back to 1989!  (4 large garbage bags and counting...you can't be too careful these days...) I may make my self imposed deadline of February 1 to get this house on the market yet....

Know anyone looking to move to Charlottesville?  Three bedrooms, 3 full baths, big fenced yard and a beautiful studio with AC and heat all located within walking distance of the Charlottesville Music Scene!  And no rats.

Of course I've managed a few trips to Juniper Moon Farm, usually with the excuse of dropping off pots or picking up my own farm product. Some of their beautiful mill spun cormo and FRESH EGGS. They are so beautiful!

Susie bought these calves recently off Craigslist!  Another step towards keeping down the sheep and goat parasites....and they are awfully damn cute. Jefferson, Madison and Monroe.

It's been a struggle to make time to throw pots.  First there were The Holidays. Plus when I'm here it is only for a few days at a time and I'm working on the house. And I've not been able to focus.  But now I have a deadline, Empty Bowls in Frederickburg  this Saturday.  I have been working on bowls, a project for a friend in Vermont (more on that later!) and a couple of commissions picked up through the Fall Fiber Festival show I did last year in October.   Tomorrow morning I will load a bisque, aiming to be unloading and packing a glaze by Thursday night.

I surely miss having my hands in clay!  It's so much calmer then the chaos in the house.  I worry about what the year has to hold for me studio wise.  I've come to the conclusion that once the house is on the market the hardest work will be done.  I will just concentrate on keeping it clean (!) and throwing pots.  The more I can pack away the better.  I am doing one show for sure in October and am debating a second one in September....But once the house sells (please God sooner then later) I can't be sure how long I will be without access to a studio to fire my cone 5 pots.....worry, worry, worry.....

So there you have it!  On paper it does not seem like much.  But mix in a bit of lost motivation and a bit of overwhelmed What should I do first???? and it begins to look like more.

Thanks to all of you for sticking around....I hope to fill you in on things a little more often then just 1 time a month!


Now.  BED.

Artist (?) at Work

(Because every post needs at least one picture.....)

I'm finally paying attention to my blog.....am working through some changes....it might take a bit....I am computer challenged....keep your fingers crossed...and check back in a bit!

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Project!!

Not mine.

It belongs to my niece Merete. 

My first visit with Merete (has it really been 26 years???) when my brother and his family moved to New Hampshire from Berlin Germany.

It is AWESOME.

I am so proud of her.

I have been building a beautiful blog post in my head all week.  I just can't seem to put into words what I want to express.

After graduating from Naropa University in Colorado my niece has been working as a journalist, working on various projects, writing and editing for other people.  THIS project is her very own.

This is no time for my writer's block, so I will let her work speak for itself.

After watching the video there is more info here and here.

Take a look!

Artist's Studio Tour

So, every November select artists in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties open their studios to the public.  When we moved here last year it was the first thing on my "want to do" list.  I wasn't disappointed.  Of course we were sure to go again this year.

I love seeing the workspaces of other artists.  We didn't go to EVERY place like we did last year, our time was a bit shorter.  But I was not disappointed by our visits.  And I was shopping this time since we are moving away and the tour will not be as convenient once we are both settled back in Fredericksburg. 


I made a point to start at Kevin Crow's studio in Nelson Co. Kevin is every bit as warm and friendly as I had heard. He gave us a fantastic description of the wood firing procedure, they were at the end, working on stoking and salting the last chamber. Loved seeing how the planks of wood were used as long platters for the salt, then slipped in to burn away.....(never knew that!)

Kevin's kiln shed.  Not nearly as impressive as if I had taken a picture from below of the three chambered kiln.  Didn't even think of taking pictures till we had made some purchases and were leaving!

Kevin's throwing shed turned shop for the tour.

Couldn't decide so we bought all three!  Greg specifically chose the tumbler for his nightly beer(s).

Gotta love those salt affects!

We also were sure to stop at Judd Jarvis's place.  He fires with gas behind his house with a gas kiln he built himself.  Every year he and his wife clean out the main living area of their house and turn it into a gallery of his latest work.  Judd's another one of those potters so willing to give advice to newer potters like me!

Another tumbler for Greg, (looks woodfired maybe?) and a plate for me.

We also stopped to see Tavia of Tavia Metal just a mile or two from our house (I had a pair of her silver earrings on my shopping list.)  Another fantastic artist and all around great person.  We always feel so warmly welcomed when we see her.  She even gave us some free tickets for a show in Chicago that I will pass on to my niece at the Art Institute.

And I have to mention  Tanya Tyree.  I would love to have one of her female form jars or wall forms but had to be satisfied with a pair of her raku earrings.  I just love how she represents women in her work, the grace of the shape, and the interpretation of woman as a vessel.....

We ended our day with a yummy pizza at Mellow Mushroom, with a couple G'night Red Imperial Ales.  Time spent with Greg, art, beer and pizza.  A perfect day.

YUM.

Fall Shearing at JMF

What a BEAUTIFUL Fall day!  Fall Shearing at Juniper Moon Farm is always more low key then Spring Shearing.  For one thing only the goats (and this year the colored sheep) are sheared, as they are clipped twice a year.  Also, this year, Susie has been travelling all over the USA promoting her new yarn line with the Juniper Moon Label.  (It is FANTASTIC stuff!  Ask for it at your local yarn shop.)   Attendance by JMF "aunties" (as the Farm Groupies are called....you can meet us on Ravalry) is lower and it just feels like a family get together. Family that you sometimes have never had the opportunity to meet In Real Life!!   Instead of tents Susie set up her Farm store in the garage, with a space for my table of JMF pottery. (Available also on her website here.) She had honey from her own bees this year too!

There was FRESH pressed cider from the Farm's new cider press and popcorn.  Lunch was potluck as usual. An amazingly relaxed and uneventful day!   Here are a few pictures....

Charlie.  Or maybe it's Churchill???

Before shearing.....

The amazing Emily.....(she's actually been judged as one of the best shearers in the country.)

After the haircut.  It's amazing how dark the colored sheep fleeces are.  The tips bleach out in the sun, so it's easy to forget how chocolatey brown they really are!

Greg with my JMF pottery....wouldn't be a show without him.

Jerry the llama makes a friend.

LOT'S of chickens.  They were all just little peepees at Spring Shearing!