Creative Frenzy

A wild, wide-ranging mania of activity seems to enter my creative life this time of year. And I like it. Making pottery hits a fevered pitch as I balance each stage of the clay-making process with pushing for deadlines of custom orders, supplementing inventory, and shows. Ideas flow for new projects. The kiln is filled, fired, emptied, refilled and fired continually. 

Some of the custom projects where I've been creatively stuck have become clear and reached completion. In particular, I was asked to design a wall sculpture of a school of fish for a local customer. I knew how I would make the fish, but had not totally settled on the hanging element of the piece. A search through my stash of collected driftwood solved the dilemma, and now this one of a kind artwork hangs in its new home. 

I’ve been playing with different underglaze and glaze combinations. This blue/green is now one of my current favorites. When it is applied to a familiar shape I’ve made in the past, it gives the piece a whole new look. 

Packing pottery for shipment is an art unto itself. This group of 10 packages took several hours of attention. I want each package to survive the rigors of long-distance travel. A combination of bubble wrap, packing paper, shipping peanuts, protective cardboard, and the appropriate box help provide the protection that ensures the pottery arrives safe and sound. Still, I hold my breath each time I send my creations off to their new homes.

Would you like to join the frenzy? If you've been considering a special ClayByLaura piece as a gift for yourself or someone else, now is the time to let me know. Click on the photo above to send me a message and begin! I'd love to create a special piece just for you.

Fulfilled

This is the perfect word to summarize this past week. I am grateful that the unique spoon rest I created to help raise money for my local Blessings In a Backpack organization has been a huge hit! I received multiple orders on-line and had a big turnout at my Open Studio Sale. Thank you for helping me support this special group feed hungry children on weekends. I sold out of two separate inventories of spoon rests I created. I'll go back in the studio this coming week to create more spoon rests to fulfill orders. Many people have chosen to purchase multiple spoon rests in a variety of the available colors to give out as gifts. It’s truly a gift that keeps on giving!

These Tray-n-Bowl sets and Message Plates are perfect for serving your family and friends throughout the upcoming holiday season. Click here to see the variety of sizes, colors and patterns currently available for sale. 

Lots of planning, time and effort go into a clay sales event but it’s always hard to predict how many people will actually attend and what the final outcome will be. I’ve learned over the years not to try to anticipate or fixate on a desired tally. Success is not only measured in numbers, but is also attained through interactions and connections that are made. This time, the combination of an Open Studio Sale and Fundraising Event has fulfilled my desire to share my clay art with others and helped increase donations to a local community cause. It doesn't get much better than that!

I’ll keep the Blessings In A Backpack spoon rest available for sale on my website in case you’d like to add one to your own counter or give it as a gift. Click here to place your order today!