A Not So Quick Up Date........

A quick catch up before I lace my shoes up and head out to wrangle the day into some sort of order...... 

The best phrase to sum up this summer: Drag and Drop (thank you Apple).  

Still hot, still humid, still trying get my underwear on in less than 30 minutes.  Seriously why isn't this an Olympic sport?  Anybody can row a canoe or take a dip in the pool but Michael Phelps until you can get a sports bra on in less than 10 minutes in 100% humidity are you really an athlete?  The judges deduct points for dropping to the floor, crying, screaming, excessive sweating, writhing on the bed, giving up and just telling everyone you're wearing a turtleneck; you just have not been in a competition because the sports bra wins.... every time!  Hey Iowa, cut the corn already, we need the corn sweats to stop!  Honestly if one more person from the midwest posts a picture of cornfields with the caption; The corn is just beautiful this year...... I'm sending them my underwear!  I have lost count of how many times I've run to the bathroom, tried to get my underwear up or down and discovered I put on tear away underpants.  Of course I should not get dressed in the dark either because I had wiggled myself into a leg hole instead of the waistband.  Half way through my morning I wondered why my underwear kept riding up to a thong on one butt cheek one........ because it was your waist hole.  I figured this out by the time the temperatures were over 90, another pair of tear aways.....  

The rain has arrived, thankfully!  The river is up, the steelhead will spawn, and the gardens will grow.... like little shop of horrors! Yikes! 

Tuesday I walked from the studio to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and make the mistake of bending over to see whats going.  4 hours later I'm headed to the kitchen with an arm load of cukes, excited I have more pumpkins than I can count and pockets full of peppers and tomatoes.  I always know it's August when I see this on the counter because I have cukes up the kazoo!  

and how cute are baby pumpkins?

Kirby has these same issues.  I have learned soooooo much in a month of Kirby!  Butch was standing in the kitchen yesterday saying he thinks Kirby can really see and is just faking it.  Kirby will sit there and watch him eat a hot dog, begging with those doggy eyes and Butch just melts.  Butch declares;  He can see me eating this hot dog, look at him!  No he smells you eating a hot dog!  I think he's faking it........ and then Kirby walks away, into his water dish.  Yep, totally faking it and you're such a guy! 

This dog!  We walk everyday, in the morning, evening and right before bed.  Everyday he grows more comfortable in this new house and neighborhood.  Everyday I ask a little more of him.  I walked  everyday before Kirby arrived but it has occurred to me how blind I had become.  This big yellow dog with the polka dot tongue has made me slow down, be patient and quietly observe.  He might not have sight but his nose makes up for his eyes!  I am realizing his world is so much bigger than I ever thought it could be.  My expectations were limited, his are not!  This week he made me look at small tiny mushrooms, caterpillars, a pile of downy goose feathers, many piles of random poop and a pink condom.   Yeah we walk in a cemetery and it made me laugh.  I thought, how interesting this is a place where we honor the end of life and yet I wondered how many lives had started in the back of this old cemetery?  It's been here over 150 years ........  I run in the cemetery I find it to be great incentive to keep going!  All this stuff has been there since before Kirby but now I am seeing it. 

He found the skunk in the middle of the night before I did!  Thanks buddy!  Really! 

He is teaching me no matter how many times you run into a wall, you eventually find the door!  

And when you find the door, wag that tail and be so happy! 

Yesterday I asked a lot of him.  I asked him to run with me.  I asked him to trust me enough to run along side, not timidly picking your way down the sidewalk but on the road.  We started with a walk, then a little faster then we dropped into a nice cadence.  He matched my steps and fell in behind me.  Early morning, the day was still cool and we had a gentle breeze.  It was perfect!  We got to the big open field and took him off the leash to explore.  I could hear and see a huge flock of geese that had spent the night in the field.  They seem unflustered when we arrived.  Kirby didn't seem to care either.  Then the wind shifted and he got a snoot full of goose.  The tail went up, the nose hit the air, the ears perked up, and he was on red alert.  The honking did nothing for him but the scent!  Very methodically he worked the field.  The geese never took off but just kept moving and honking.  He never broke into a run because that would be crazy!  But the tail was on full wag!  It was amazing to watch and I loved it, he loved it!  The heat was building and I decided it was time to head for home.   He will not jog with me in the grass but prefers pavement.  He dropped into a nice rhythm.  The last 200 yards we walked to cool down.  He was spent.  He slept the rest of the day. 

He's still getting used to new things.  Bed: $50, Floor free......

 I am excited to be back in the studio these days.  I'm loving all the carving these warm summer days.  And high fire porcelain has won my heart too. 

"The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."

W.B. Yeats

The Dog Days of Summer.......

Here in Ohio we have entered the 8th month of the year; the month I wish we would just skip.  I love that my Anglo Saxon ancestors called it; Weod Monath or better know as Weed Month.  It's the month when you know summer is over.  The yellow fuzz ball geese bobbing along on the river a few short months ago are eating everything in sight to gain the strength to start the journey south.  Butterflies are very busy; I have not seen one Monarch butterfly this summer.  Many swallowtails and admirals but no Monarchs, pay attention humans and put that bottle of RoundUp down.  The yellow jackets have turned evil and I usually need to duck and cover at least once while walking to the studio.  The cicadas, also known as space invaders, are singing madly this month. Spiders are on the move too.  There are so many spiders in the downstairs bathroom it feels more like an outhouse.  Every morning I scoop them into a cup and return them to the garden.   Too sum it up, stuff is moving. 

In lieu of the early summer drought and now torrential rains. In the heat and humidity the plants are waking up, although things are looking pretty stressed; hell, I look pretty stressed.  I have delayed firing glaze kilns as our night temps are almost 80 with very little breeze and humidity lingers and builds through the night to 90-100% by morning.  Not so great for computerized kilns, even with a fan blowing on the components.   

As for the true dog of August, Kirby. He is doing great!  We are still figuring out these thunderstorms and as they are hitting daily and we are figuring this out as fast as possible!  

Yesterday a storm hit out of nowhere and he decided to hide behind the buckets in the studio.  The pacing and panting started.  

He hates the crate.  It's akin to caging an angry bear. The ace bandage trick worked pretty well except he is a 90 pound guy and even the biggest ace bandage only works for a while before he wiggles out.  I read reviews on the Thundervest and thought that would be a good investment.  I remembered I had the life jacket from our other 90 pound pup, Zeus. Zeus loved his life jacket!  It's practically brand-new, has a handle on the back, and I can tighten it down pretty good to make Kirby feel snug.  Perfect!  I dug it out of the rubbermaid in the shed and let Kirby smell it and see what he thought.  Seemed ok.  

Well I thought he was relaxed...... the next storm hit about three hours later and it was packed with 50 mph winds, power outages, thunder, lightening and full on Ohio summer storm.  

I ran for the life jacket, the way the rain was coming down I thought I should get mine too! 

I strapped him and he stood frozen.  No pacing, lots of panting and stress but not the usual hiding under tiny chairs, knocking over pedestals and vibrating.  

I sat on the floor with him and tried to get him to sit down.  

Holy shit he couldn't sit down because I had velcro-ed his boy junk in the life jacket!  Sorry buddy and ripped the vest off.  He stopped walking on his tip toes and took a breath.  

Made it through that one and got ready for another round of storms coming in.  I gave him 30 milligrams of melatonin (thank you Brenda!!)  It took about 30 minutes to kick in.  The first lightening bolt hit about 20 minutes in.  So I carefully put the life vest on him, avoiding the boy junk and it helped! 

Still hiding but finally found a safe place and laid down, somewhat weathering the storm.

I'm not getting too much done as we figure this out but it's August and it's the dog days and I have spiders to wrangle and glaze calculations to revise...... 

Hurry up September........ 

The Future is Clear and Bright........

Oh how a life can change in 10 days since my last post.  Life has been pretty full, in fact there were days I would call it overflowing.  I am learning, Kirby is learning....... yes, I changed his name; either that or buy a zig zag brown shirt, a red baron hat and a friend called Linus.  He responds to Kirby and eats everything off the floor so it seemed to fit.  Just like he fits in this old house, we three call home, and an occasional interloper called, Rufus. 

I am now jumping out of bed at 5:30 a.m. grabbing a leash and waiting for me is this face.  We have our customary 30 second meet and greet, then hit the backyard, tree lawn and navigate up the driveway to the house for breakfast.  Kirby eats while I make coffee.  

Food and treats have taken a couple days to figure out.  The kibble sent home with him was too big.  He had had three teeth extracted from his run in with the Akita and I think the big stuff was just tough to eat.  Luckily they make the same stuff in small bites and I added 1/3 can of something called tender chunks that make me want to blow chunks but it was the ticket, it stayed down and he was happy!  Tail wags all around.  Phew!  Entering the realm of treats, who knew there would be an aisle, yes and aisle of treats........ I stepped away when I read a bag called; Better Than Pig Ears.  Pass on that "treat" and bought 5 others.  I ran home and opened package after package.  4 brands where taken excitedly, rolled around the discerning pallet and spit on the floor; Nope.  The last package which I thought for sure would be a dud; Hollywood Stars, peanut butter treats for dogs, $1.99 for a package (the cheapest treat on the shelf)  4 paws up and a full drool bar of success!  I went back and bought 3 more bags.   

After several days of sleeping, experiencing our first thunderstorm in this summer of drought, hanging out,  just getting to know each other, it hit me I had work to do.  Oh and on that thunderstorm..... he cleared the back room, flipping a table full of potted plants, a couple pedestals with old pots I didn't mind loosing, disconnected the printer when he crawled under the desk; it was nothing short of experiencing a tornado inside your house.  The backfire of a car or a neighborhood kid with firecrackers will send him to the moon.  The back room is now decorated in early American dog.  I went back to the APL and purchased a crate, then off to buy a cushy orthopedic dog bed and more treats.  The ace bandage sits above the crate (works like the thunder vest) and I have a bottle of melatonin at the ready.  Installed the window air conditioner.  Survival gear and if all hope is abandoned, the crate for me!  Noises he likes: motorcycles, vacuums and big trucks....... he obviously has history. 

Ok back to work.  I put the leash on him after three days and walked him out to the studio.  I opened the door, he backed away and dropped to his belly shaking.  OK, not today.  I had asked so much of this dog in three days I was not pushing the studio.  We walked back to the house, I opened the door and for the first time he walked across the threshold without being coaxed and laid on the floor.  It was enough and he knew this was a safe place.  I stroked his head, told him how great he was, he passed out and I went to the studio to work.  We did this for 4 days....... the fourth day, with a lot of coaxing, he put one paw in the studio, then the second paw. I cheered, handed out treats but the back end was just not coming in.  I put a pile of treats of the floor as he gobbled them up I hoisted the back end of this 90 pound tank into the studio.  I took the leash off, he turned around and realized the door had closed.  I waited for the tornado but instead he very carefully paced.  I turned up the radio, thank the heavens above he likes NPR, and set about my studio routine.  He checked out every corner, under every table, he liked the hum of my old Shimpo wheel but never sat down for three hours.  He paced and panted.  I finally thought this was enough and picked up the leash.  When he heard the leash, he danced!  We went for a toot around the yard and back to his safe place and a treat.  Phew...... but he had made it to the studio!  The next day, same routine, however after 30 minutes I looked over my shoulder and saw this: 

WINNING!  

I had a bed and blankets on the floor but he decided on dirty concrete..... and how happy am I that I work in porcelain and white stoneware!  Life's little wonders..... or I would have gotten a brown dog :)

He does well with routine, as do I and there has been a cadence to my day again.  

My morning view also includes this guy....... the romance is going very slow but he is coming around. 

Hey, whadda ya do'in?

This is gross...... who eats this stuff? 

We can visit from the safety of your window ....... for now.

Kirby has had his nose swiped once but not been deterred and Rufus really needs a snuggle along with his ears and butt scratched everyday so eventually they will figure it out.  I anticipate once the days grow short and cold and the wood stove is fired up, we will see détente and the cold war will ease. 

I never thought this blind dog would join me on the long walks and hikes I love so much but to my amazement he will.  In 10 days he has made one entire lap around the cemetery, 1 mile.  Wild cheering on my part!  He seems to want to go, his energy level and smell expectations are grand!  We have walked to the corner of the street.  Other dogs freak him out a bit as does the traffic on the road.... me too so we will find quiet places to hike.  Kirby likes to go to the same destinations and each time it is easier for him.  He is not of fan of walking at night and tends to walk to the street lights, so he can see some light.  He bumps into things ..... a lot.  I have learned when he bumps into me I should not jump out of his way but let him because that is how he is building self confidence and getting his bearings.  A short leash is a great tool too.  We both could use a helmet as we wander through life and boy we both have our bumps and bruises from finding out way...... 

Nice to have a buddy to find it together.  He has fit into this old potters life seamlessly.  

Next week we tackle porcelain teapots and car rides ...... 

Two Eyes Blind and the View is Beautiful

As many know I have been hunting around for a studio buddy for a while now.  Butch swears there is a mark on the curb and random creatures just show up looking for the sucker who lives here.   After leaving Lakeland a few months back I looked up a very full moon and announced; Well if you want to send something, now would be a pretty good time.  I waited, another month passed and nothing showed up.  So I thought I would take a teensy little look at a couple of my favorite adoption sites.  Nope, nothing screamed: Hey, I'm looking at you, come get me!  Until two days ago.  

Not even sure why I went to the site I did as I had never been on the APL site before.

https://www.facebook.com/ClevelandAPL/photos

  I scrolled down the page and there at the bottom I saw this face.

I carefully read his bio and thought hmmmm, can I handle this but then it said partially blind so I called and talked to one of the kennel workers.  Got all the preliminaries and then she came on the line and said; Someone is looking at him check the website in the morning if his picture is still up he is still available.

  

I thought well if it's meant to be he will be there.  

I didn't sleep much, got up the next morning and checked the APL site, he was still there.  I went for a 4 mile jog/walk and cleared my head.  I really wanted a fishing buddy, jogging buddy, studio buddy, walking buddy and wondered just how partially blind he was.  I showered, thought some more, jumped in my truck and made the trek to Cleveland.  Through the Republican National Convention insanity, wondering if there were any cops left anywhere else in the US as they were all in Cleveland.  I wound my way through the streets of Cleveland and found Wiley Ave. and the APL.  The place was hop'n, not a parking space left!  I thought for sure this dog would be gone but he wasn't. 

I asked to see him, filled out a bit of paperwork and then I was escorted to see "Snoopy".  He was calm, in a cacophony of barking dogs.  Big, little, medium mutts, round about town mutts, puppies and more than I could count but it was deafening.  All crying out for attention and little love.   I pressed my hand to the kennel and he pressed back with his nose.  Yup, I want to see him.  A very nice kennel worker said: She wants to see the blind the dog to two other woman working at the desk.  I got a quick once over and a smile.  All three said; He is so sweet and gentle.  The kennel worker got him on the leash and we were going to take him outside but he could not see the pipe running across the kennel floor and he sure did not want to leave the kennel.  I immediately became aware of just how blind Snoopy was, like a bat!  We coaxed him out ever so gently and tried to get him through the front door.  So careful with every step, feeling his way out of the kennel and into sunlight.  On shaky legs and squinty eyes he felt the sun on his face and smelled the petunias growing at the entrance of the APL....... he watered one.  He never got comfortable so we decided to take him back in.  As we approached the front door I said;  I'll take him.  He was going to be a project but everything we had asked him to do he did, to the point of shaking so badly he had a hard time standing.  Yes, this is a dog I can work with and who will give his all.  As we approached his kennel, his neighbor Franky, an older beagle mix who looked to be on the lamb a bit too long, barked incessantly.  But I noticed Snoopy calmed as he heard Frankie and as we got closer to the kennel.  He entered with no problem, collapsed on the floor and fell asleep.  Snoop's big day out! 

We went out to the desk to fill out the appropriate paper work and pay the bill.  I got his medical records stating he had been in a horrible dog fight with an Akita, apparently lost the fight and the owner couldn't pay for his needed surgeries so was turned over to the APL.  They patched him up, neutered him, caught him up on all his vaccinations, heart worm and kennel shots and gave him a safe place.  All this for $95.00 plus the cost of a license; $27.50.  They asked for my drivers license and typed up the information.  She looked down and said; So you're over 60?  Yes, but let's not talk about that and you just had a birthday?  Yes, but let's not talk about that either.  Well we have a sponsor who is going to pay for half your adoption fee.  I felt like I won the lottery and almost said; Great,  

I'll take one more!!  But I stopped myself, knowing I had project in front of me. 

All paperwork complete, an announcement was made over the loud speaker; SNOOPY, OUR BLIND DOG IS GOING TO HIS FOREVER HOME AND IF YOU WANT TO SAY GOODBYE COME TO THE FRONT.  A host workers came up to say goodbye and see who is adopting this great dog.  I hoped I passed muster.  We had our picture taken and we walked out the front door.  While the super nice kennel worker (and I do wish I could remember her name!) Held Snoopy while I dashed for my truck.  I arrived curbside and thought I would just pick him up and put him in the backseat.  First time I bent down and realized Snoopy is a tank!  I couldn't lift him!  Heather, another kennel assistant came out, hoisted him in the truck and we were off to a new home and a new adventure. 

The hour drive home was stressful, on Snoopy and me.  I drove with one hand on the wheel, my other hand behind seat on Snoop's head or chest or back.  He was terrified.  I kept telling him what a great dog he was and we were almost there.  And then we finally got there...... longest ride ever.  I opened the back door of the truck and he heard the waterfall in the pond.   Of course I thought, he's a retriever!  

I very gently eased him out of the truck and onto the driveway.  He made a bee line to the pond and the smells, oh the smells.  There was furious tail wagging, and then grass, so much grass.  He pee'd, he pooped and he wagged some more.  He was so happy!  He found the chicken coop but where were the chickens?  He found the groundhog hole but where was the ground hog?  He found the skunks hidey hole but where was the skunk?  I prayed the skunk would stay in his hidey hole and didn't show up anytime soon.  One by one, Rufus appeared and then Ralphie.  They were shocked!  I assured everyone we would all get along and Snoopy just loved cats but they were not buying it and and retreated behind the big maple tree.  Both peering out from the safety of the maple as we made our way back to the house.  

So much coaxing to get him in the house, we made it.  I got him a big bowl of water and he drank like a camel coming off the Sahara.  I took the leash off and he started the methodical survey of every nook and cranny in the back room.  He never knocked anything over, he was ever so careful and so very slowly put one paw out in front, feeling his way around the perimeter of the room.  Once he got his bearings he started to pace.  Rufus glared through the back door.  I went out the door and picked up Rufus, got a nuzzle and then he scramble to get down.  Rufus stood by my feet and watched the big dog in his back room.  Disgusted he walked away.  Oh I am sure he will be back.

For three hours he paced, never sitting, or laying just constantly on the move.  I made coffee and watched.  Shortly around 5 pm he collapsed on the floor.  His head erect, his eyes closed, simply exhausted.  Finally the head went down.  I sat down..... what a day. 

Last night I walked him around the yard.  He walked in the back room, freely and no coaxing this time.  I turned out the lights, kissed him goodnight and promised to see him in the morning.

This morning, at 5:30 am.  I turned the light on to check on him, walked down the two stairs that are his Berlin Wall and he stirred.  I said good morning so quietly.  He got up, never opening his eyes, laid his head on my knees and snuggled in with the biggest smile of contentment a dog could have.  You're home buddy, you're home.  We are gonna be great together, 

Suck it Buttercup........

Good Monday Morning blogosphere!  If you're reading this, high five as we have survived another week of the "corn sweats"!  Not my words, but the new scientific term for the summer heat and humidity bubble hovering over the Midwest, also known as the corn belt.  I can't wait for the rust sweats or the bible sweats but even better the snow sweats!  Several times last week when it clouded over, I thought it was spritzing in this dryer than dry Ohio summer and I got overly excited as I stared skyward looking for that gray rain cloud; DO IT, I YELLED!  And I felt a sprinkle on my arm and noticed droplets on my tee shirt...... Imagine my horror, realizing it was me doing the sprinkling and not from anything on high.  The clouds are just spit'n cotton this summer and the new color pallet is scorched earth brown. Yup, there are wiener dogs exploding in the parking lot.  

I spent the week hiding in my air-conditioned car driving around several states delivering pots and picking up supplies.  Sold the Trimline Canopy too! 

Bought new running shoes. Pretty flashy but I look down and they make me laugh.  

Cleaned out my desk in front of a fan.  Yeah, there's a party.

 Whipped the gallery into shape for the gazillion-th time.

  Fell down the rabbit hole of website hosting, pay as you go cell phone plans, digital photography and technology hell.  I made it to the studio to shove rubbermaid totes in the attic but when I pulled the stairs down to the studio attic the hot air melted my face, my underpants caught on fire and I had a flashback to stacking hay in the high lofts of 4 barns on 90 degree days.  Nope, those rubbermaid can sit there until Fall arrives!  Last week was a Suck It Up Buttercup every damn day....... well except Friday!  

It was Third Friday already!!  It was a great night with Ikuko Miklowski featured as the visiting artist!  Her work is just stunning and I was so happy she said; Yes!  

 Ikuko's work honors the front window of the gallery this month!    

 The rest of the gallery was on point too!

And through all these dramas in the last 7 months there are times when you get to the end of the day and you're still really happy you're a potter.  You didn't grow up to be president, or save a country..... hell there are days I can't even save myself but I get to the end of the week and slide those clay speckled shoes off and see the dust rise from your old jeans as you slide them off to jump in the shower, washing the dust of the day off your very own self and you know it's been a good day.  There are more of those days than the days I walk away and slam the door.  And we are a tribe, this group of potters I have met over the 30 years of slinging clay.  And sometimes we don't get to see each other very often but when we do it's just great and the years and dust fall away.  So last Friday when this box showed up on my front steps and I had a moment of panic not remembering ordering anything but realizing in the past month I probably could have.  I slowly opened the box and started smiling and got a bit choked up when this beautiful Brandon Phillips jar

stared back at me and knew one of the tribe was somewhere in her studio throwing pots and smiling at her diabolical act of kindness.  

 

Heidi you're just the best!  And by the way, Heidi makes some pretty great pots and you can see her work here:  heidihaugenpottery.com

and in other news of the family stuff:  32 years ago at 5:37 am, as the sun rose above the horizon on Lake Erie, a flower bloomed from my lady garden,  Happy Birthday Rachael!  Figured you just blew your morning coffee out nose! Love you! 

Tomorrows installment on the blog...... more home projects with Mom and why did I get married?

Recap of Shows and catch up

The good, the bad and ugly and sooooo many epiphanies!  

After selling my booth 2 1/2 years ago and swearing I would never ever ever go out on the road again.  I got a real job (and we all know how that turned out), opened a brick and mortar gallery with rent due and Voilà!  I am singing along with Willie Nelson…. On The Road Again.  I have bills to pay;  my ten year old computer is coughing and wheezing, a lot and there is rent and electric and you know the rest!  I juried into the second weekend of Boston Mills Art Show.  

Since leaving my job on April 26th, attending NCECA, going into clay testing frenzy, followed by glaze testing frenzy, hosting two Third Fridays at the gallery, submitting work to two ceramics invitationals; there wasn't very much time left to rebuild a booth.  The kilns were firing non-stop, the weaving material was flying and 4 days before setup I decided it was time to BUILD THAT BOOTH! 

Swearing I would never go through the insanity of booth set up experienced 2 1/2 years ago I opted for easy cheesy.  Just lugging pots around should be an Olympic event; toss in a booth with weights, lights, tables and pedestals….. and can we talk about the wrapping material; newsprint, bubble wrap, boxes, bags!  There's another 25 pounds you can't even put a price tag on.  And my slave labor, children have moved far far away…… sniff! 

I own and love my Trimline.  I have used it 4 times for outdoor shows and never felt safer.  But I have made a decision; no more outdoor shows for this potter!  Pots do not bounce!  A fellow potter lost two beautiful big pots when the tent curtain blew in with a gust of wind and leveled those beautiful pots right off their pedestals. Theory proven, pottery does not bounce.   The weather has changed in the 30 years of doing shows.  Nothing says fun like standing on an asphalt parking lot on a 90F degree day and smelling your underwear go up in flames.  I consumed a gallon of water before set up.  Mantra:  Be the Grape, Don't be the raisin!  Summer shows can be hot, windy, torrential and just plain miserable or they can be like the weekend we were blessed with; low 70's, slight breeze and low humidity. Perfect!  I am not sure I want my bank account to be based on weather patterns, I'm not farming here, I am selling pots. 

Here are photos of my current booth.  Do you see the changes that need to be made?  This is the first attempt at putting a booth together that I can easily handle; set up and take down.  Dolly to my truck, easily and load without passing out.  This is very close but needs major tweaking. 

No more plastic back drop walls!  Pipe and drape, period.  And I will never go back to pro-panels unless I bring my pet gorilla.  My pedestals pack down flat and weigh next to nothing.  They do need a face lift so that will be on the "to-do" list.  

I took three pedestals and left the rest in the gallery.  Next show; leave the shelves home and pack all the pedestals!  It elevates your work and looks professional.  

Here are images of my booth when I was running the show circuit and killing myself.

The old booth looks great but I would need to arrive a day early to a show for set up; adding to show expenses.  Also the lights pictured in the booth above are now serving me well in the gallery.  They are halogen and hot.  I converted to LED spots and floods, expensive but well worth the money and they will last the rest of my show life.  Counting the LED's as a one time investment.  Buy your LED's on line, not at Home Depot.  You will save a bucket of money!

  

Here is some of the information on lightbulbs I found online

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14-watt Par30 bulb that features a cluster of 60 individual, high efficiency, and low power LED’s. An optical lens is then placed over the LED’s to control the beam angle, shape and smoothness of the light. Other LED technology uses fewer, high power LED’s that can cause uneven light and hot spots. Until recently, wattage has been used to determine the amount of light a bulb would produce. With newer technology, lumens is a better measurement to evaluate a bulb’s brightness. In choosing a bulb for lighting your artwork, more lumens are not always better. In a booth set-up, your light source is fairly close to the artwork. Too many lumens can cause your work to look washed out. Too few and you lose the detail. Our bulb delivers around 900 lumens at a 60-degree beam angle. This high tech design delivers a visually pleasing appearance by projecting a glare free, smooth beam pattern, much like traditional lighting.The fixture that we chose is a simple yet stylish lamp holder. It features flexible bellows that fit snugly to any bulb design.

Use:
The beauty of LED technology is the energy efficiency of the bulb. Our bulb only uses 14 watts of electricity as compared to a halogen that is usually around 50 watts, which also means more heat. If a venue only allows 300 watts per booth that means that you can have 21 LED’s bulbs in your booth versus only 6-50 watt halogen.

I bought one of each and tried them out in the booth.  I ended up with PAR 30 spots and floods (4 each), 5000K (bright white, not warm white) 15 watts, 750 lumens and daylight balanced.  Amazon is great for finding these lightbulbs.  Also cheap heads for your LED's.  I also like www.1000bulbs.com

I came home Sunday night with half the sales made 3 years ago but I won First Place in Mixed Media.   I also came home with great insight into what I need to change in the coming weeks ahead.  Monday, I sat down and made a list;  I would recommend this exercise to anyone interested in making your life a little easier.  Collecting your thoughts and writing them down can be pretty insightful.  I have said these things many times in my head but actually writing them down and seeing your goals is a game changer. 

And keep in mind if it's printed out you can change or amend your goals; be flexible!  Like an EZ up in windstorm! 

Here is my list of Goals and Insights: 7/5/16

1.  Make the booth lighter in weight and appearance.

a.  No Shelves.

b.  New pedestals, better tops and black bases (coroplast)

c.  Better light system

d.  Fabric walls or mesh screen (make sure these fold flat) 

e.  Keep tables and paint the tops white, trim with moulding.

f.  Signage for booth, explore canvas picture, here a good start:  easy canvas prints

g.  Light Dome for ease of set up and take down.  Also frame work for lights.

2.  What to sell and where:

a.  Small pots sell:  $48 - $85.  Display at shows, online gallery and gallery.

b.  Elephants sell: Mugs, Teapots & Pitchers: Display a few at shows, online gallery and gallery.

c.  Bees sell:  but not at shows.  These belong online and in gallery.

d.  Show glazes: celadon, blue celadons, black, cognac, woo yellow, crystal whites.  

e.  Gallery and Online glazes: functional whites, greens and blues. 

f.  Make trademark pieces the focal point of booth, gallery and online. 

     (woven, horsehair, elephants, teapots, potters lunchbox, carved dinner for 2 etc.) 

g.  Use large art pieces to anchor display.  You need these!  At least 3 and maybe 5 if there is room.

3.  3-4 High End shows per year.

a.  Keep functional work online and in the gallery, it pays the overhead. 

b.  Do not take functional work to high end shows, everybody does functional. 

c.  Nobody is weaving on pots so weave away.

d.  High end shows will support potters lunch boxes, teapots and carved dinner for two but they need to         be balanced with art pieces.  Too many and the booth looks like a garage sale, pay attention. 

4.  Needs:

a. Online website for purchase of work;  decided to go with the Square format.

b.  Computer (ordered yesterday)

c.  New phone, I am currently on a 2G phone that is being phased out in August.

d.  the Square chip reader

e.  Weed Burner for studio (bigger pots are needed, little propane tanks are a waste)

f.  Light Dome Canopy 10 x 10

5.  Goals:

a.  Keep the Gallery open

b. Keep looking for a place to teach.

c. Continue to explore new work and techniques.

d. Get that online gallery up and current, immediately!  

e.  Update resume'.

f.  Write a new and current artists statement. (done!) 

So the bottom-line;  I don't mind doing shows.  I don't want to do 15 shows a year, ever!  It's so wonderful seeing people I have not seen in years!  It keeps me mindful to keep my work fresh and not get stuck in rut.  People need to see progress in your work.  I don't want to someone to walk in my booth, pick up a piece and say…… Oh, I bought one of these 20 years ago.  As artists we should be changing and growing.  Don't be afraid to re-invent yourself a bit.  

In the last 2 1/2 years I lost my very strong voice.  I blame social media :)  I love instagram, pinterest, Facebook and now periscope.  People are doing some incredible and cool stuff in the pottery world.  I saw things that blew my mind and thought: Ooooo wonder if I can do that in the my studio?  My booth looked very disjointed.  My booth 3 years ago had a strong voice and was pretty focused.  Don't loose your voice! 

I am so happy to back in the studio these past few weeks I can't express my joy.  It was pedal to the metal for sure.  Now it's time to do the taxes, update the books, tend the garden, pick up clay, pay a few bills, clean the studio to get ready for new round of pots, drop off pots to a few galleries and go for a good kayak paddle…….. I have time.  Well for a day and then canning season begins!! Woo Hoo!! 

PIB…...Really!

Wow, June 1st, how did that happen?  This has been a year of, can't catch up!  

With all energy plugged back into the studio and seemingly running at top speed since January we thought Memorial Day would be …… THE WEEKEND.  You know, fire up the grill, attend our Mayberry RFD parade and see how the neighbors fared through winter, slam a few tomato plants in the ground and play hard, nap hard and languish in the warm rays of Northern Ohio. 

Reality ….. our giddy anticipation waned Saturday morning when Butch came up from the basement, announcing in flowery overtones; well the sewer is backed up.  Well great let's just call somebody to come blast out the pipe. He cleaned and mopped, I turned off every faucet, washer, dishwasher, etc.  And we started going through the plumber list.  We don't have a big list because we fix most things ourself or ignore it until we just can't stand it anymore.  Holy crap, (literally) it's a holiday weekend!  Instead we called Jed's Rental and got the turbo jet pipe cleaner.  He wrestled it down the 180 year old steps, and blasted away for four hours.  Is there a worse job in the world on a hot holiday Saturday afternoon?  Four hours of blasting and not much happened.  We are on hold until somebody calls back.  At this point PIB takes on a whole new meaning!  No, not Put In Bay. Or back in the 90's when the ultra chic wore nothing but black, were Kate Moss cracked out thin and wearing block out the sun RayBans. PIB's People in Black and they were everywhere!   Well fast forward to happy acres holiday weekend and PIB means Poop In a Bucket filled with cat litter.  I think I will get one of those great little stickers for my car…. 

Thinking surely some kind plumber will call back on a holiday weekend, we started day drinking… it is a holiday. 

As the afternoon dragged on, we had one guy call back, AJ.  Bless him and have another drink, he is on the way.  An hour later the phone rang, AJ and his van were sitting on the side of the road somewhere waiting for a tow truck.  We went into PIB! (Panic Induced Breathing from the fumes coming from the basement) and poured another drink.   We sipped and walked around the buried pipe in the front lawn, cursed the city for planting giant Norway maple trees on our tree lawn over the sewer pipe.  Not a cute little ornamental tree.  Oh no, full out giant maple trees with roots going to China.  But then we do live in Painesville and we do not have a PIB (Public Investment Board because who names a city Painesville anyway? Our senior center was once featured in an Advil commercial)  We dragged out our survey plot blueprint to figure out where our house tied into the main sewer, again PIB (Parts Illustrated Breakdown) and discussed digging up the lawn but alas we had one too many mojitos to find the shovels. (PIB, Partially Induced Blackout due to mojitos) In the sweltering heat of Saturday we hooked up the outdoor shower.

We showered at dark thirty in ice cold Lake Erie water, again PIB (Panic Induced Breathing with a side of screaming) Sunday morning and still no plumber.  AJ called and he wasn't faring much better, the van was kaput and I was having a PIB (Pain In the Butt), get the bucket warmed up and I will spare the blogosphere from PIB (a Photo Intelligence Briefing) In reality I drove over to the library, took out a book and used the restroom.  Good news the jet blast from yesterday had moved the water down the sewer and the pipe was clean but not really working.  Sunday, still no return calls.  Ok, I take that back.  One guy called back, Plumber 911.  I was almost giddy with delight.  Yes, he would be there Monday morning at 8 am.  Then Plumber 911 called back Sunday night at 9:00 pm,  actually it was his wife and wanted to make sure we agreed on the cost.  Nope, nobody had said anything about cost when he called the first time.  Hold onto to your PIB's  $597.00 to clear a line.  Butch was so mad he told them; NEVERMIND!  It was probably good Butch took the call as I would have paid dearly to flush at toilet at this point!  I just glared at him when he hung up the phone and ran to MacDonald's for a cup of coffee and the bathroom.  I told him to drive himself and he could not get in the car with me. No PIB'S for you! (Partner in the Bathroom!)    Monday, no return calls…… camping?  By Monday night I was just pissed and ready to call in the PIB's (Parachute Infantry Battalion) to get us the hell out of happy acres.  Tuesday morning Butch called from work at 9:30 am yelling into the phone….. They are on their way, clear a path.  Who the PIB's?  No, Roto Rooter!

In one hour they wrestled the turbo snake down the basement stairs, cleaned out the lines and we were back in business!  I wrote a check for $185 and gave them each a mug filled with ice water!  We were all happy!  I flushed both toilets, ran the dishwasher and did a load of laundry.  It was wonderment! 

This morning, basking in the glory of the flushing toilet, neighbor Karen called to alert me the city had blown a massive water main break and we could without water for 24 hours…… 

Could someone please send the WAAAAAA-BULANCE for me.  And alert the library…. nobody reads this much! 

Oh and while this was going on Butch had taken his car to the corner Conrad's to get new brakes and an oil change.  They called, it's never good when they call….. could he please come down and fill out a police report.  What?  The poor mechanic had taken the car out for a test spin and some woman in a red malibu hit the clown car and sped away.  The poor mechanic was sent home for a drug test, because it's a state law, the woman is still on the loose and Butch is probably going to get a spanking new bumper on his car that has 285,000 miles……  This incident is so low on our radar we almost forgot about it! 

So Happy Memorial Day everybody! 

 

And to leave you with a bit of good news……. 

both kilns are hooked up, working, vented and filled!  

Woo Hoo!!! 

Getting ready for Boston Mills…….

And sold a bunch of pots to the new Hilton in Cleveland!! 

more blogging on this later :) 

and there is a fantastic Ceramics Invitational at  Artist Archives of the Western Reserve ! 

If you are in the area stop in, it's a beautiful show! 

Ceramics Invitational Exhibition

May 26 @ 5:00 pm - July 9 @ 4:00 pm

The Artists Archive of the Western Reserve is proud to present its Ceramics Invitational Exhibition, a showing of the vibrant work of local ceramic artists. Curated by Mary Urbas, this exhibition highlights the exceptional clay community of Northeast Ohio, bringing to the forefront their unique and diverse vision of this primordial medium. The show’s ample

 and Rufus is holding down the fort……..