catching up...

It feels like a long time since I've made any actual musings on the blog, but never feel like there's time for musing. Glazing is done for contribution to kiln 1, bisque is cooling, meetings are done, studio has been neatened and clay is prepped for a nice session with mugs in a bit. Lissa the Wonder Dog is snoozing, blissfully hopped up on pain killers (her own catch up will accompany a picture below for those not on Facebook and following her drama) ... on that note I'd just like to say that I am filled with gratitude to be surrounded by such love and friendship, whether it's from those immediately around me or those so deeply in my life that distance makes no difference. The support, on so many levels, from so many people, has meant so much to me and I love and thank each one of you!

So I've caught up enough to pause. But now the volume of blog muse possibilities could well overwhelm me into deleting this and going back to the wedging table. But instead I think I'll just empty out the 'blog' image folder and let that be today's muse (in no particular order):

I'll start with the most recent event, which may become an ongoing blog subject. You may remember my joy at finally getting the standing kick wheel into the studio, and how much fun it was to throw bowls all afternoon on it at the Empty Bowls event. Well now it's in my studio, catching the eye of all visiting potterly types. Any curious souls are most welcome to come try the wheel, and today I've had two visitors who gamely jumped on:

Kyle Carpenter, who may well feel it tomorrow:

Lindsay Rogers, having so much fun she almost threw herself off the wheel!

This isn't everyone, but on this particular day, every studio member, including both Senior Project members, were in the studio at one time or another. The studio was filled with great creative energy!

Our newest studio member, Rebekah, making me look like a dang fine teacher, showing off the results of her first two weeks on the wheel (first two weeks ever!):

'tis the season for mugs - some new ones in the works for the Chocolate Lounge and Roots Cafe:


Senior project member Caris has been building up her wheel vocabulary. She's making aromatherapy diffusers, and has been working on the wax dish and candle holders - here she's getting ready to start on larger cylinders:

Senior project member Alex is finishing the colored porcelain/hand building portion of her project, and then will move on to the wheel:

Some recent results from the cone 7 ox kiln - studio member Matt's fun sets, some new vase forms and a few test mugs from me:

Some may not know, but Lissa the Wonder Dog has had recent health issues that resulted in a spleen-ectomy. Yesterday she had to go back in and have her stitches re-done, adding buttons to keep them closed tighter - detail shot for all those who hadn't yet heard and are no doubt thinking 'buttons?':

this shot was sent in recently for an Art House Coop project of the week - the view out one of my favorite windows, in this case not because of the view, but for the window itself:

Pause is over - back to work!

studio happenings...

First - if any studio members are wondering if we're open today...too soon to tell! I'm on my way out with the dog to investigate the roads, and I'll be there at some point for sure, but it may take me longer to get my usual morning errands done so there may indeed be adjusted hours. If in doubt, call my cell before you come!

well, I was going to post a lovely good-bye to friends Brooke & Greg, who have been in Asheville for the past month or two, and hanging at the studio during parts of that...but the universe and the elements are conspiring to keep them here!

Greg did come in to finish glazing some pieces, and he sat down to get in one more throwing session. And the clay is definitely now in him (if not on him!) - I'm glad to hear he'll continue if and when he ever makes it back to Wisconsin!

And our studio roll call continues with one of our newest members:

Alex came in looking for a place to do some hand building, and he has wasted no time!

In other news, I've been giving my eyes a good exercise in rebuilding the website. It's coming along and perhaps if this turns into a snow day I'll get it finished - but I find myself in that strange place of actually hoping to get some business and work done in spite of the beautiful snow that's slowing everyone down. Gotta find that balance - maybe a romp in the snow with the dog will give me needed perspective...

... I did take a picture of the bushes outside the studio when I left yesterday, but I see out my window that it's so much more picture perfect this morning, so I'm headed out with the dog and camera to get more appropriate documentation of the snow that finally fell! I'll post here if studio hours will be affected today, and if you don't have my cell, call the studio (333-5078) and I'll get that message fairly fast too.

Now go play in the snow!

new friends and studio members...

...well, they're temporary members, but still new friends! The camera is turned now on Brooke and Greg - they're the daring duo who came to the studio to include me (and Lissa!) in their "Our Next Thing" documentary project. It seems they've become quite fond of Asheville, and are basing themselves here through the end of the month, and even better, they've decided they like the vibe at Crazy Green Studios enough to come hang out while they're still here!

Greg's making great strides on the wheel...

Brooke, exploring textures on the clay

studio doings and another member hello

It's Inauguration eve, and being MLK day it's also a proposed 'day of service'. Since the studio is open today, our service here is making bowls for the Empty Bowl project and Imagine Render. Well at least I'm making bowls, and everyone who comes in today is welcome to join in! We're also having a little Inauguration celebration, since we're closed tomorrow, so there is festive pugging, throwing and toasting abounding!

In other studio news, I may have posted a picture of Helen before, but since we're doing the introductions I thought I'd get her again.

If you got the last member newsletter, it was Helen's pots that were featured in the 'member spotlight'.

More members are starting to get back into the routine of coming to the studio, and I'm seeing all kinds of cool forms coming out of their brains and onto the wheel.

These are some of my demos - we were talking about altering on the wheel, adding texture and generally playing around with forms, and what you can do with and after a trim. I'll start taking some pictures of the member work soon - it's great to do a demo, and then see it go through someone else's filter and come out as a piece of their own.

Back to the bowls, and then I'll also do some 'regular' work as well today. peace.

more welcomes and other studio news

The welcomes continue, although Teva got in and out without me getting her picture (and she even cleaned the sink trap, which would have been such a great glam shot!). I'll get her next time she's here to do her own work.

But I did manage to get one new face logged!

Katie S (we have two Katies, if you're keeping count) joined the
studio last month and is getting her own 'art therapy' after
a day of counseling others

And in other studio news, yours truly was filmed for a web-based 'documentary' that's being produced at the website Our Next Thing, which chronicles the adventures of people who have made career changes and subsequently great life changes. Greg and Brooke were wonderful to work with, and made chatting incessantly about myself actually seem relevant! It never occurred to me to take out my camera and document my own documenting, so you'll just have to wait for me to get a copy of the trailer. But here's a shot from our first interview...

...soon to be featured on a website near you!

And a special shout out of thanks to Dan & Jael from the Chocolate Lounge for coming over during the shoot to take part, and to Heather Tinnaro for also hanging out and being extremely gracious to throw beautiful bowls for the camera (that are now designated for Empty Bowls). My friends rock!

In other exciting studio news, I've finally taken the Etsy plunge! I've only got a few things listed, and while I should be putting the studio back in order from the film shoot, and getting back on the wheel to start on mugs for the Chocolate Lounge, I'll be on the Etsy site soon to add more items. You can check out the page at a link somewhere over on the right side of the blog.

OK - cleaning up the studio and throwing some mug bases before I have to go home and start sorting things for the yard sale (right - if you're in Asheville, check out the yard sale listing for details and come on by!). peace.

Welcoming new members...

It's been a bit more slow moving, getting back into gear at the studio after 'stay-cation'. After a whirlwind of movings, various show and commission deadlines, firings and general running about, it was nice to take it easy (relatively speaking, that is) over the last two weeks. I'm still unpacking, but getting settled, and now it's time to get back to the details of Crazy Green Studios!

One thing I've been fairly lax at is giving new members a proper welcome here in the blog. That changes today, and those of you who follow the blog will see repeat introductions as I am now taking pictures of the membership, for the membership (you'll have to come by the studio to see what that means).

So here are some of the newest members to Crazy Green Studios, and then a long overdue welcoming intro to one of the studio assistants who help keep the place running.

Matt was the high-bidder on a gift certificate at last year's
Mountain Biz Work's benefit. Hopefully this will be the
beginning of a long clay relationship!


Katie H. is an old friend and former student from other
classes I've taught, and she gave herself a studio membership
for Christmas. I'm so psyched that I've got another kick wheel soul sister!


Heather is one of my valued studio assistants, and a recent
grad of Haywood College in ceramics. I'll share pictures of her
glamorous work cleaning the sink trap, but as she is also
a fine potter, here she is getting her reward!

I'll be stalking the rest of the members with my camera, so stay tuned for more happy clay faces! Now it's back to planning spring and summer workshops, and scouting out more commission work to float the studio through the winter! Where are those June brides looking for dinnerware registries!?