lunch break

It's a quiet day in Crazy Green-land. My students haven't yet gotten into the habit of coming in outside of class, and while I always welcome the fellowship of others in the studio, I am enjoying some quiet time as well, although I am also ready to get some more classes going. That will happen, and this weekend my mantra is to be in the moment and be grateful, and not dwell too much in what's ahead. Yesterday morning I made a quick trip up to Weaverville and walked through the Art in Autumn show. I had to be back at the studio by noon just in case students came, so I didn't have time to linger. I also forgot my camera, which was sitting here still charging, so no pictures of friends who had set up booth there. Several potters there, and a few I didn't get a chance to go see up close after spending a little time chatting up friends. It was a bigger show than I had imagined, and I didn't give myself much time to make the rounds. Back at the ranch, it was time to clean and unload a bisque. Later in the afternoon, Helen came by to help me pug another batch of clay, and I started on a few bowls for Empty Bowls with a short evening beverage break when friend Holly stopped by.

So today, after a nice leisurely Sunday hike with Lissa and a trip to stock up vittles to make for the week, I hit the bowls again.

These are for the Empty Bowls event in October. Since I'm only at Odyssey on Mondays for the class itself, I'm making all my bowls here. These bowls will be bisqued in time for the opening party next weekend for decorating, with hopeful help from folks who come to the party, then either shuttled back to Odyssey for firing or fired here. Or maybe I'll get my next cone 10 kiln scheduled so I can fire before the event as well.

One visitor bowl in the mix - the finished bowl on the right side of the second shelf down is actually lunch. Today's rice cooker melange of quinoa, greens, winter squash, garlic and seasonings is in a Shawn Ireland bowl that is one of my favorite stew bowls. Even though I have no lack of pots here to use for meals, I still bring in my favorites from others hands. I have a small handful of those pots that I kept out of storage, and since my 'temporary' moving status has stretched into its 5th month, I am very happy to have these friendly faces around to make me feel at home. As the seasons change, though, I am more motivated to find a spot to unpack a bit more...maybe have a yard sale or two to scale down...but definitely to get the rest of my friends out of boxes and back into the mix for my own meals and those with friends.

Lunch is over, back to the bowls!

week-ending rambles

I'm reminded that it's the week-end only because someone asked me what my weekend plans were. I did have plans for a 'girls night out' with some friends, one of whom is carrying crazy toxic germs and needs to rest for an upcoming firing, but hopefully the other will still come by for a cool beverage and to sit and enjoy the waning garden with me.

Week 2 of classes-in-action was good. Students didn't get into the studio between classes, but in spite of that they all had good progress. Emily joined the Thursday class, and even though it's been a good break since she was last on the wheel, she got right into it and had good results. Just two weeks in, and they're just about at the point where they can work without my hovering about. I still hover, but now at least they know when they need help, and if they can't get in much between classes, I want to make sure they spend as much time working when they're here as possible. Perhaps we'll have pictures of first works to share after the trimming lesson next week!

Emily getting reacquainted with the wheel

This week I really learned how valuable my little rice cooker is. With just a few dry goods stocked and a weekly visit to the City Market for veggies, I can put together a lovely pot of soup or stew in the morning and have a hot lunch (or warm if I want it later) in no time. Today's pot of brown rice, kale, garlic, leeks, veggie broth and other things from the fridge (a wee bit of leftover lentil stew was tossed in for texture) smelled up the studio good and tasted even better.

All hail the rice cooker, giver of good things to eat that don't HAVE to include peanut butter (unless it's for the thai noodle dish...)

I missed it yesterday - even with the convenience of having it here, it doesn't quite yet fill itself and cook for me, and when I don't do that part, oddly, I don't eat! Luckily, last night after class I cleaned up a bit and dashed down to the Orange Peel for the Mountain Biz Works benefit 'ShowBiz' and was able to get some tasty morsels from Sugo, and Jael from French Broad Chocolates had a box of dairy-free truffles stashed just for people like me! It was quite a crowd, and while I didn't stay till the end, it seemed the many, many auction items were getting good play. I didn't see how my lessons package faired, but I did see a small plate I donated that was paired with a gift certificate for a cake, and I got a nice thank you from the high bidder today. Hopefully it raised a good amount for all the good works they do, and it sure seemed like everyone was having a great time when I was there!

Finally, I'm just about caught up on back orders, with a few more throwing sessions for stragglers, but now I'm starting to work ahead a bit, and today saw the first signs of that with cleaning up a small batch of diffusers. I'm getting good interest from some galleries, and while I'm keeping just one Asheville outlet, I am entertaining the thought of entering the Etsy marketplace with this item...

sun-dried diffusers, playing with some new patterns

Looking ahead to the weekend, there's another batch of clay to pug, another batch to lay out for future pugging, more pots to make, bisque that'll be ready to unload in the morning...and between that hopefully I'll squeeze out a quick trip up to Weaverville for the Art in Autumn festivities - several friends will have booths there and it's going to be a beautiful weekend to be outside a little. Not sure I'll have the time and/or gas to make it up to Bakersville, but the Creek Walk is also this weekend, and several other friends will be there and it would be a gorgeous weekend to get up further into the mountains...

Final random thought before my lunch break is over...I've had some good chats with my studio neighbor/landlord Mimi about classes and workshops here, and she's given me some good ideas and motivation to get back to work on the "Art Bus". The state of arts and arts funding is looking like schools are going to have less and less, and while my little studio can only handle so many bodies at once, the art bus can go TO groups and I can easily organize other artists to participate. More active ruminating on that one to come, and if you're reading this and thinking 'hey, I'd like to know more....' well let me know! Ok - back to work! Happy Friday...