As New Years Eve approaches signaling the end of one year and the beginning of twelve new months ahead, I like to spend time thinking about my life and my life’s work and set some goals for the coming year. Some people call these desires resolutions. I like to think of these promises to myself as building blocks – ways to improve what I’ve been developing over a lifetime. My classmate friends and I are turning 60 throughout 2016. It’s one of those ‘halt in your tracks’ age numbers. I think this significant milestone adds another layer of reflection to this annual ritual. I look back to see what I’ve accomplished in six decades and forge ahead to prove I’ve still got a long way to go!
As always, my time in the studio mirrors what is happening in my daily life. My creative plans for 2016 are specific and fluid. I have a few new shapes I’d like to attempt. I’d like to play with the finished surface of my creations. I’d like to pursue more fundraising items I’ve created for worthy organizations. The unique gift/marketing items I've made for businesses are a big hit -- I'd like to create more of these too. I’ll continue to tweak my website to reflect the art from my studio and develop the way I sell on-line, in galleries and pop-up shopping opportunities. Overall, I’d like to attract the positive and decrease the negative in my life and my studio.
I've been catching up on some of my knitting projects these last few winter weeks. It's another passion I enjoy. I find it meditative and engaging at the same time. The unique design of my yarn bowls are based on my experience as a knitter. Most of the clay yarn bowls I've seen have a slit cut into them for guiding the yarn -- a design flaw in my opinion. My bowl shape cups the yarn, has two heart-shaped 'feeders' for multiple yarn colors and can be used for snacks or knitting accessories when not in use for stitching. In 2016, I'll work on a slightly larger version to fully accommodate two large hanks of yarn.
I was fortunate to help fundraise for several worthy causes in 2015. These clay items from my studio not only attracted donations, but continue to be useful reminders of their cause!
I was fortunate to create a variety of totem stacks for people throughout the country in 2015. Each was a labor of love and a lot of fun to make! Do you have an idea for a custom totem?
I'll continue to make tray and bowl sets in 2016. It's a popular and useful form. The fish-shaped tray was a new item in 2015. I'd like to play around with this design a bit more in 2016 to make it even better!
Garden art continues to be a source of creative exploration for me in the studio. I'm sure there are some new shapes to discover in 2016!
Bowls have always been one of my go-to shapes in the studio. This coming year I'd like to play with these shapes to create some dishes that can be used right side up and upside down. Stay tuned to see what I come up with!
Happy New Year! I hope you've had some time to reflect on 2015 and set your own goals and building blocks for the coming year.