Taking It Personal.

Writing a blog about being a clay artist often gets personal. One of my goals for making weekly entries is to reveal who I am as an artist and what drives me in the studio. Life and art cannot help but intertwine. Some of my readers know me in life; others have met me through my pottery. I like documenting my art and my life in this way, but I sometimes struggle with how much to reveal. Is it TMI (too much information)? Is it NEI (not enough information)?

Look what came out of the glaze kiln this week! I am really happy with these two new shapes. What do you think? Click on this photo to let me know.

The blog has been a great way to keep up with my friends scattered throughout the world. I love hearing feedback from them. It’s also great to get feedback from people I don’t know as well that have a piece of my pottery they bought at a show or received as a gift. When I do, it reinforces the goal I’ve established to write about my art and my life each week. 

This past week built up to a significant lifetime passage in my universe with a wedding shower for my daughter. She’s getting married in the fall. Her fiancé’s family is from Huntsville, Alabama. I’ve written several posts about my introduction to this welcoming southern city (and family!) throughout the past year. As you’ll see in some of the clay pieces I’ve recently designed, I know that shape of the state of Alabama pretty well by now! I’ve gained new friends, additional sales outlets and customers for my pottery, and tons of fantastic ideas for new creations from the studio. What more could an artist-girl ask for?!?

This special Alabama-themed pottery is being developed to help raise funding for The Huntsville Historic Foundation. 

When you read each week’s blog post, just remember I’m writing these entries each Monday morning, reflecting on the past week. What was significant in my life? What was I thinking about as I worked in the studio each day? What did I make? What did I learn? This is what helps motivate me to continue writing and shaping clay. Sharing these details with you reinforces and documents the artistic journey I travel each day. Thank you for being a part of it with me! I couldn't do it without you.

How Old Are You?

Last week it was my turn to celebrate a birthday during our family marathon of July birth dates (I turned 62). I know some people reach a point in their lives where they don’t like the idea of aging. I get it, but I’m not one of them. 

I started working on my entry for The Muse’s “Lend A Hand” auction item this past week. Each year, participants purchase an 8 x 8 canvas and decorate it based on a theme. The shop hangs all the entries, customers bid on them and all the money is donated to a particular charity. This year’s theme is the Dr. Seuss book “Oh The Places You’ll Go” and the charity is The League for People with Disabilities camp sponsorship. You still have time to participate; it’s a fun project and a worthy cause. 

For me, birthdays are a good time for reflection. Re-acquainting myself with the wise words of Dr. Seuss in this classic book came at an opportune time.  What have I accomplished in the past year? Where did I fall short? How can I continue to grow? These are some of the questions I think about.

I've lived long enough to bear the scars of life's challenges. I recognize it is inevitable and I don't know anyone who has not faced some sort of adversity. Learning to weather these bumps helps me grow stronger in the long run.

I accept the fact that I am aging. What I've lost or left behind with each additional year, I've far out-gained in the pleasures of living. Family, friendships, and my art sustain and strengthen me. I may be older, but I'm still growing!

Listen.

This past week has been a whirlwind, a good whirlwind. I shared time out of the studio with friends and future family which directly impacted the rest of my time with clay. I’ve got lots of ideas and projects in various stages of production for an upcoming group show and a wonderful shop in the South. Special orders were finalized and shipped, new ones were begun.

I received two surprise and considerate gifts this week. My former neighbors were in town visiting and stopped by. They now live in Arizona and brought me a mug from my favorite coffee shop! They know me well! The hat/scarf set was sent to me by a friend from Hilton Head. We have spent yarn time together stitching and talking. Her out-of-the-blue gift and note were so thoughtful! 

When I work, I generally listen to programs on National Public Radio. It’s a habit that started in my first home studio when Diane Rehm (now retired) was on the air daily. I learned something each time I listened to her broadcast. This exposure introduced me to other interesting programs offered by Public Radio stations across the country. 

I revisited this stacking bowl set based on a request for an upcoming group show. I really like it and am glad to have the opportunity to make it again.

Sometimes I listen to music when I work. It’s easy to play what I like on my ITunes playlist. Emotions, memories, sing-alongs and occasional dancing break out when music is my studio background. 

Do you have a listening suggestion for me? What song inspires you? Have you read a good book lately? What other listening opportunities am I missing? Any podcasts you'd recommend? Click on the photo to tell me your suggestion!

Occasionally, I’ll listen to a book. My friend Whitney has offered to help me with a sewing project. We spent an afternoon at an incredible fabric shop in Virginia picking out material and a pattern for me to make.  While we were together, she suggested  I read, The Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (who also wrote Eat, Pray, Love). I downloaded it from the library and listened throughout the week. It’s about the concept of creativity and creative thinking. It resonated. I’m going to listen to it again. I know I can learn more from a second ‘reading’. 

Look who else was attracted to this coneflower in my garden. The beauty and colors of nature often stop me in my tracks. 

I think I’m a good listener, but I know I can improve my skills. When I listen, my mind sometimes jumps around and I lose concentration on what is being shared with me (especially if I'm multi-tasking). I could blame some of that on my creative mind getting sparked as information is fed to it, and fear I’ll forget those inspirations if I let go, but strong focus while listening is important too. 

Out Of The Norm

The weather in Frederick started out this past week in typical Washington DC fashion: hazy, hot and humid. By the weekend, everything changed. Even though the temperatures were still hot, the humidity dropped significantly and the skies were deep, deep Carolina blue. It’s early July and we turned off the air-conditioning and opened up the windows. 

Barry and I took a spur of the moment drive to nearby Gettysburg to visit the battlefield and witness a reenactment of the anniversary of our nation’s bloodiest battle here in the US on Sunday. The history is gruesome and so sad, but this national park’s treasure felt like a sanctuary. All history, good and bad, needs to be learned and studied and reexamined and remembered. 

In the studio recently, I’ve felt in a bit of a rut. Luckily, customer suggestions spurred some imaginative ideas, so I was able to break out of my own norm. I’ve acquired several new texture tools and had a chance to experiment with them too.

Sometimes it's necessary to work out a design flaw in a familiar shape. This napkin holder is a good example of that. The house-shaped walls often warp as the piece dries. I added some supportive sides to help prevent that from happening. So far, so good!

My friends Lori and Lisa suggested I make a crab-themed paper towel holder. Brilliant! If you've ever feasted on freshly steamed crabs, you understand the importance of a handy roll of paper towels nearby. 

"Can you make..." was the opening request from a customer of The Little Green Store in Huntsville. I quickly 'sketched' this oyster tray in clay to show them my idea. I'm waiting to hear if they like it. 

Since my almost son-in-law and co-inlaws hail from Alabama, I am now well-versed in the outline of the state. I have been playing with all sorts of ways to use this versatile shape in clay in the studio. The textured stamps (top right photo) will be used on a variety of ClayByLaura creations. I like the serving plate pictured in the lower right. I'm not sure about the shape of the little bowl to go with it. Click on the photo to give me your input!

Small flat trays can be used in a variety of ways. Corral cooking spices and a bottle of olive oil next to your stove. Organize your beauty routine essentials next to your bathroom sink. Serve a quick snack to enjoy while watching your favorite television show. What else? Click on the photo to tell me your suggestion.

I'm thinking of these as 'fancy plates.' Use the divided oval dish to serve two sides at the dinner table. I like the scalloped edging on each version. That's what makes them 'fancy'!

It feels good to break out of the norm and shake up the routine. What have you done lately to break from your day-to-day?

Who Wants A Present?

Starting July 1, it’s birthday month in our household. We celebrate lots (and lots) of our family members this time of year. As time has passed, gift-giving for this annual occasion has become trickier. There seem to be so many choices when picking out a present for a child; gifts for adults can be a harder task. 

For me, the pairing of a gift and a certain occasion do not always coincide. I find when a specific celebratory date is looming, it’s hard for me to think of just the right gift for the honoree. I often will find ‘something for a special someone’ at a random time. That’s the good news. I’m not so good at holding on to the present for a specific date; if I buy it, I excitedly want to share it with the recipient right away. And that’s what I tend to do. 

I gifted myself another clay-class experience recently. In this workshop, we used a material called PMC (precious metal clay) to create silver (yes real silver) jewelry. Boy was it fun! Sometimes the best gifts are the ones we give ourselves!

On the receiving end of gifts, I can’t think of one more ‘thing’ I need or even want at this point in my life. I’m so fortunate to be in this position. What I have begun to ask for is shared experiences with the people I love. The gift of time together is priceless and creates meaningful memories that last.

If your name wasn't drawn as the winner of this berry bowl set (as a member of the ClayByLaura Club), don't fret. I've still got a gift for you! Click on the photo above to see all the other color choices I have available in my inventory and receive a 25% discount all this week at checkout by entering the code GIFT! 

So how do you handle gift-giving in your life? Do you feel the pressure to pick out just the right gift for someone? Maybe we can come up with a unique custom order together that will provide lasting memories for your recipient. Click the above photo so we can get started!

Urning Trust

The email I received on June 10 started, “I am looking for a covered urn…one that can be secured,” and ended, “I have a terminal illness and was looking for something to hold my remains.” I have never met this person, but she had purchased one of my tray and bowl sets from The Muse in Frederick and loved the pattern and color. Thus began our conversation and collaboration. 

We spoke on the phone just once. Over the next several weeks, we carried on our conversation through email. We explored a variety of possible shapes, textures, and colors for the finished piece. I sent Elise sketches and photos of ideas. She sent me commentary and a photo of a vase she had that she liked. Through our back and forth messages, we built a common trust to design a satisfactory final resting place.

This past week I developed the agreed upon shape in the studio. It took two attempts before I was satisfied the urn reflected the image I had drawn and Elise desired. It would take some time to dry before it could be bisque fired, glazed and fired a final time. I offered to deliver it in person and donate half of the proceeds to one of her favorite charities. 

At the same time, the owner of The Little Green Store in Huntsville, Alabama asked if I could make a special kitty urn for one of her customers who had seen my clay art there. Again, I drew a rough sketch outlining what I could create in the studio. The customer visited my website numerous times to add creative detail to our collaboration. I like this sort of challenge.  

Previously, I have created urns and memorial boxes for family members and friends. I had created some prototypes of standard pet urns I showcased at a few local veterinary practices too; now I think these items need to be personalized and reflect a more unique vision for each customer. 

These owl-themed memorial boxes will hold some of the ashes of my mother-in-law, Helene.

I heard from Elise on Tuesday, June 19 around 1 in the afternoon. She knew I’d made the urn; we were ‘discussing’ how I would deliver it to her home after it was complete in the next few weeks. Around 6:30 that same evening, I picked up an email message. Elise had died. Even though we had never met, this news made me very sad. I’m glad Elise and I had the opportunity to collaborate on her special urn and I’m sorry she did not get to see the final result. The urn has been bisque fired and is going in the glaze kiln later today. It will be ready for the memorial service this coming Saturday.

Kindness Counts!

It was my kind of week, filled with a variety of considerate moments. These positive reminders of kindness (when conflicting messages of negativity in the world seem rampant) are reassuring. Don’t you always feel good when you are kind? I do.

A neighbor of mine asked me to create a special heart honoring a friend battling a life-threatening disease. The design is based on the smaller heartfelt pieces I make in the studio. This larger version holds written messages of friendship and support that can easily be removed and re-read. This kind gesture was thoughtful and well-received. I am happy to be a small part of that compassion.

I picked up a piece of jewelry created especially for me by Stacey Krantz of InBloom Jewelry. This wonderful collaboration (mostly me saying “Yes” to all of Stacey’s creative ideas) fits beautifully in every way. Stacey is a kindred artist and model of kindness. A visit to her studio is always a boost to my spirit!

True confession: I’ve been working on some ideas for the Christmas holidays in the studio. It’s a necessary part of the process. By starting to flesh out some ideas now, I’ll be ready for the 2018 holiday season this winter. No matter what religion you practice (or don’t), kindness is a stalwart principle of all that I can think of. 

Be kind. It counts and reverberates.

Material Gains

I was a student in a workshop this weekend in a whole new subject matter: Polymer Clay. It was exciting, informative and absolutely addictive. This new artistic material satisfies my creative desire to mix materials, achieve bright color results and explore new (to me) techniques. 

The workshop was held at a fantastic 3-Dimensional cooperative art gallery in Fredericksburg, Va. called Artful Dimensions, a manageable drive from where I live. I lucked into the class through one of those ‘rabbit hole’ internet searches early this spring. Unbeknownst to me when I signed up, the teacher -- Laurie Mika -- has pioneered some of this medium's techniques, written a popular book on the subject, and has a strong following of polymer clay enthusiasts. She is a seasoned, remarkable teacher. 

Although some of the tools used with this type of material are similar to ones used in my ceramic studio, there are lots of new gadgets to explore for creating in this medium. Yay! Various sharp cutting implements, different types of rubber stamps, permanent ink blotters, weldbond glue and colorful laser printed images were used to create the final piece. 

In this particular workshop, we learned how to decorate the clay using acrylic paints and laser printed images. The ‘clay’ material itself has different properties and a different feel than ceramic. It feels more plastic and requires kneading and softening by squishing it in your fingers before it is used. I described it to my husband that it reminded me of silly putty from my youth.

Similar to how I manipulate ceramic clay, the polymer can be rolled in a small slab, stamped with a decorative design, and cut out to a shape. Here’s where it’s a bit different. A mixed media embellishment can be glued and pressed into place. Then the piece is baked in a small toaster oven for 20 minutes. Once it is cooled and continues to harden, it is ready for more decoration with layers of paint. Now, I’m on the hunt for a used toaster oven. If you have one you’d like to part with, let me know!

Of course, you can’t learn everything in one single day-long workshop. I did learn enough to know I’d like to pursue this new (to me) material and see how to incorporate it into what I create with my ceramic pieces. My stash of mixed media jewelry bits and doodads are just waiting to be folded in to future projects. 

Workshops are a great way to learn new skills, meet great people and explore creativity. I’ve gained all of this and more through the class I took this past weekend.