tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10922723823847428962024-03-13T09:28:40.334-06:00Ceramic ErinDocumenting my progress and artistic adventures in clay.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-43060357946469102062012-03-22T13:56:00.003-06:002012-03-22T14:36:29.874-06:00Chocolate almond butter cupcakes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjK7llfXxBqf0MYHFIlqN40UeGQqKoP-P741fxRiwH2-9AfXGqIr2Qxv7ctJENACtX-gFvucEz5Jzu0i_qUYrWof17lqrqi-fdsg75e0QlzLmMxfY57L26n-2soA1CAzHFg9xY3c_q9uo/s1600/2012-03-03_18-52-56_542.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjK7llfXxBqf0MYHFIlqN40UeGQqKoP-P741fxRiwH2-9AfXGqIr2Qxv7ctJENACtX-gFvucEz5Jzu0i_qUYrWof17lqrqi-fdsg75e0QlzLmMxfY57L26n-2soA1CAzHFg9xY3c_q9uo/s320/2012-03-03_18-52-56_542.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722814926516611890" border="0" /></a>Have you ever made almond butter buttercream? If not, you're missing out on pure joy. Here's roughly how I made it:<br /><br />1/4 cup butter, softened<br />2 tablespoons Earth Balance natural buttery spread (healthy margarine, basically)<br />1/3 cup <a href="http://www.justinsnutbutter.com/">Justin's</a> Maple Almond Butter... mmm...<br />1 tablespoon molasses<br />1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract<br />1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted<br />1 tablespoon almond milk, if needed<br /><br />With an electric handheld mixer, cream together the butter & margarine. Add nut butter, molasses and vanilla and beat until very smooth, 2-3 minutes. Beat in sugar, then dribble in milk if necessary for the right consistency. Beat continuously until frosting is pale tan and very fluffy.<br /><br />This recipe was modified from the Peanut Buttercream in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Cupcakes-Take-Over-World/dp/1569242739/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332448019&sr=8-1">Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World</a>. Obviously I'm not vegan. Sorry. The cupcake part of this, however, I did not alter one bit from their Basic Chocolate Cupcake recipe, and altogether it was absolutely delicious! Except how it made me feel later...<br /><br />Once I use up the rest of my wheat flour, never again will I bake with it. I've been living mostly gluten-free for two years and it's refreshing to wake up and feel healthy in the mornings, rather than feeling like my intestines are dying. So if you have any gluten-free recipes you absolutely can't live without, please share. Thanks for reading!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-71001348336134523742010-10-24T18:37:00.004-06:002010-10-24T19:41:13.863-06:00A bit of Penland<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Greetings! I was just reading the <a href="http://acd.pnca.edu/">OCAC blog</a> and realized it's about time I share my happenings with anyone still reading my own blog... is anyone out there? A lot has happened since I last wrote - I started a job in picture framing, moved out of the Guild and into a studio with another potter who I'm assisting, and went to <a href="http://penland.org/">Penland School of Crafts</a> for Elisa Helland-Hansen's workshop. If you're an artist and you haven't heard of Penland, where on earth have you been? It's a magical place. Here's just a snippet of photos from my 2-week adventure:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGON0iLQJOJhY9Io9QoKpJHlXvLJPx9zu_tor8UF8illWucaMzcGSuMkvsurBYVEkDukvDeBy0Wb2pihkGLlZlsLATsSlM5k1szJSroR56vlso6Xh7p8ypCPMPzHaYp7fdGkHgcoriBXE/s1600/DSCN0601.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGON0iLQJOJhY9Io9QoKpJHlXvLJPx9zu_tor8UF8illWucaMzcGSuMkvsurBYVEkDukvDeBy0Wb2pihkGLlZlsLATsSlM5k1szJSroR56vlso6Xh7p8ypCPMPzHaYp7fdGkHgcoriBXE/s320/DSCN0601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531781062062362002" border="0" /></a><br />All I knew about Elisa when I started the workshop was what I read in Penland's catalogue, and I was delighted to have fallen in to her class. Elisa is an excellent instructor and skilled potter. When it was her turn to show slides, she first stood in front of the audience and sang a Norwegian folk song, then showed slides of her pots and photos of Norway, encouraging us to visit. I do hope to visit someday and trek the moutains of Norway with her.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17840B82vC1cKYPXL7_k2qp62BKoUr4VvJsssR9Sbf_tCYWF8dY7-UdmthCBxVmgbYNFgKFZTu3huWjoK1BQy4Toe2NbxY3AYeSBzJvsmfAo4WWHBpzGNdak2OcDkVKiKOSh8X1Kz8Wg/s1600/DSCN0648.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17840B82vC1cKYPXL7_k2qp62BKoUr4VvJsssR9Sbf_tCYWF8dY7-UdmthCBxVmgbYNFgKFZTu3huWjoK1BQy4Toe2NbxY3AYeSBzJvsmfAo4WWHBpzGNdak2OcDkVKiKOSh8X1Kz8Wg/s320/DSCN0648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531781072363038626" border="0" /> </a><br />North Carolina is a potter's haven - there were so many studios to visit! <a href="http://www.klinepottery.com/">Michael Kline</a>'s studio was one of the first stops. We missed him that day, but this ferocious beast was there to greet us instead. Thankfully these lovely ladies managed to tame it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUL50cpWctnJf2oVgpZwlHTtlSWslUyRz1hfzvQRoMPf6AUurmdCbprIdzgr9I6q1wlyZUlM5AVj_CFgiUjTMGhNw_f22KGQ53mLH-6wahJOyvho5KMr6iGUnY8QzmWl-N1DgfIVq6J1k/s1600/DSCN0754.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUL50cpWctnJf2oVgpZwlHTtlSWslUyRz1hfzvQRoMPf6AUurmdCbprIdzgr9I6q1wlyZUlM5AVj_CFgiUjTMGhNw_f22KGQ53mLH-6wahJOyvho5KMr6iGUnY8QzmWl-N1DgfIVq6J1k/s320/DSCN0754.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531781086506844754" border="0" /></a>Elisa & I modeling each other's pitchers in front of the salt kiln. We did 4 different salt & soda firings in 2 weeks!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1l6P1LaaBdN8dUCTjTlLTCLzJf-eS6UPE9cAEw0bJNQd4BMt9oPKKsujKJDz7hgzOtv3PplkU6Q_hSZRrT0yZ4cyoh3sC-Alpo44-XE8pb6WO_hrkMQSS19mVGv3ouCe5WVZkpccp4w/s1600/DSCN0758.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1l6P1LaaBdN8dUCTjTlLTCLzJf-eS6UPE9cAEw0bJNQd4BMt9oPKKsujKJDz7hgzOtv3PplkU6Q_hSZRrT0yZ4cyoh3sC-Alpo44-XE8pb6WO_hrkMQSS19mVGv3ouCe5WVZkpccp4w/s320/DSCN0758.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531781078856159906" border="0" /></a>Pitcher from a soda firing, sold at the workstudy benefit auction to classmate Bobby.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZz99GmWO5yq67vKPOf_roBU1_yyG5t4RWCE0FFPCA5SnHoOYMZOap83EyjbPE18RwMEDtIgifMrrPI-NzLmrD-ZNp4nsKJfYYm7gwmHaXL0UjI4JNfOFkgB1F4MgLmCe6WgATmzxqXBg/s1600/DSCN0791.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZz99GmWO5yq67vKPOf_roBU1_yyG5t4RWCE0FFPCA5SnHoOYMZOap83EyjbPE18RwMEDtIgifMrrPI-NzLmrD-ZNp4nsKJfYYm7gwmHaXL0UjI4JNfOFkgB1F4MgLmCe6WgATmzxqXBg/s320/DSCN0791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531781098162866642" border="0" /></a>The night I returned from Penland I couldn't resist a decadent treat in one of my cupcake cups. I made a dozen of these to bake cupcakes in - not sure how they would actually fare in the oven & I haven't tested it yet, but they are sweet little dessert cups in any case.<br /><br />*<br />If you'd like to keep up on my pottery happenings more regularly, check out my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/erincaseyceramics">Facebook ceramics page</a>.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-47379071720258753922010-05-03T12:58:00.003-06:002010-05-03T13:16:45.829-06:00ChangesI'm looking into moving and I'm not sure where to start. A road trip would be fabulous, but not in my budget right now, so perhaps some of my lovely readers could give me some advice.<br /><br />Portland and San Francisco are at the top of my list, although I've never been to Portland and only briefly visited San Fran. North Carolina is another one. So what's the ceramics scene like in those areas? I'd like to attend grad school in fall 2011, but where to start looking? An awesome social dance scene, especially with swing dancing, is required as well...Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-5521569566329338462010-04-26T11:24:00.004-06:002010-04-26T11:34:00.204-06:00Blooms of MayThe new <a href="http://arvadaceramicarts.org">Arvada Ceramic Arts Guild</a> website is live! Thank you <a href="http://justinmccammon.com/">Justin McCammon</a> for helping us out.<br /><br />If you're in the Denver area this weekend, stop by the Guild to see our Spring Show & Sale, "Blooms of May for Mothers Day," featuring cut flowers from Arvada's Fiori di Flavio in one-of-a-kind vases along with other pottery, ceramic art, paintings & jewelry. The Gallery is open April 30 - May 2: Friday noon-9PM, reception at 5; Saturday-Sunday 10AM-5PM. This vase is by the Guild's Kit Martinez.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgP8aH53VwHE-m5u2jwneXMQOpreBSUyDK1JCK3e83Oj2yY29zZzFodQNtvL5HXJ8V6-mluiMUuTzXQ6s9Ad0oElNr7QxmlbmJL8ZpaVNkyFBncSKEllPAXDvUUJVWSHcYJs-fk2k21E/s1600/IMG_0555-copy_edited-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgP8aH53VwHE-m5u2jwneXMQOpreBSUyDK1JCK3e83Oj2yY29zZzFodQNtvL5HXJ8V6-mluiMUuTzXQ6s9Ad0oElNr7QxmlbmJL8ZpaVNkyFBncSKEllPAXDvUUJVWSHcYJs-fk2k21E/s400/IMG_0555-copy_edited-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464498510425561682" border="0" /></a><br />One of these days you'll see some pots made by me! Teapots, mugs and dinner sets are in the works. Become a fan on Facebook to get more regular updates: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/erincaseyceramics">Erin Casey Ceramics</a>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-37669061482168464192010-04-20T11:22:00.005-06:002010-04-20T12:31:48.776-06:00Springtime at the Guild<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFF6WIV8M6mCGuLw3xoySmR3YHR1XSMHE2Upcvp38IzfyNbxBPoEjxEEyeKr1L95Av7UVB0OwxXciHsw08AFLvd6Z46ao-k3bo7S0gLI2bCNSHUdoojmuojvtiPeqj7pQRC40zBce7E0/s1600/Spring-2010-E.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 334px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462272050198991842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFF6WIV8M6mCGuLw3xoySmR3YHR1XSMHE2Upcvp38IzfyNbxBPoEjxEEyeKr1L95Av7UVB0OwxXciHsw08AFLvd6Z46ao-k3bo7S0gLI2bCNSHUdoojmuojvtiPeqj7pQRC40zBce7E0/s400/Spring-2010-E.jpg" /></a><br /><div>The Arvada Ceramic Arts Guild is hosting their annual spring show & sale in a couple weeks. Join us for the reception on April 30th from 5 - 9 PM for refreshments, pottery and good company. The gallery will also be open Saturday & Sunday from 10 AM - 5 PM, May 1-2.</div><div></div><div> </div><div>The Guild is on Facebook - tune in for regular updates @ <a href="http://facebook.com/arvadaceramicarts">facebook.com/arvadaceramicarts</a></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-22222071482193759162010-02-25T10:48:00.003-07:002010-02-25T11:29:01.897-07:00The perfect cup for your teaIn December a young man came to the gallery looking for a mug for his tea-loving girlfriend. She preferred her tea on the cooler side and he thought a tall mug would be suitable for her. As a potter and tea aficionado, I have enjoyed tea in many different vessels and I can say that a tall mug actually keeps the beverage hotter longer than in a short, stout cup. I have tea on the mind more than ever now that I'm organizing a tea show at the Guild, so here's a guide to find the right cup for you.<br /><br /><br />At the <strong>office</strong>: A mug with a wide base, possibly thick for more stability. Consider getting one personalized with your name if you're worried someone else will take it.<br /><br />For those <strong>on-the-go</strong>: A tall handle-less cup to fit in a cup holder. A lid and silicone sleeve will help. Bonus: if you frequent a certain chain coffee shop, bring your mug and say you want your second cup refill of the day... you might get a discount.<br /><br />For hot tea that <strong>stays hot longer</strong>: A tall cup with a narrow opening, and thick walls to help insulate.<br /><br />For hot tea <strong>on the cooler side</strong>: A shorter cup with a wider opening. Lightweight cups with thin walls help because they won't hold heat as long.<br /><br />For <strong>relaxing on a cold day</strong>: A handle-less tea bowl to embrace in both hands, with thick insulating walls.<br /><br />For a <strong>tea party</strong>: A handmade teapot in which you can steep tea for several people and pour into smaller teacups, preferably cups with character that would strike up a conversation.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-84119894161899092412010-02-01T09:42:00.003-07:002010-02-01T09:46:35.580-07:00Electric kiln for sale<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqrKvXhiyYRZW7UswAnFuR3gchLfKWYwhrkWMOf08sUFyy0ZMfIVXm3QDn-BkE0ecJ0tHQgOaOyzfl1ujbJOdGi_tGJlXjqIA2Y9Dlxx5EkGzMN8LHth23ZQrarOe1uLFfl0QrvpdVUk/s1600-h/100_5910.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqrKvXhiyYRZW7UswAnFuR3gchLfKWYwhrkWMOf08sUFyy0ZMfIVXm3QDn-BkE0ecJ0tHQgOaOyzfl1ujbJOdGi_tGJlXjqIA2Y9Dlxx5EkGzMN8LHth23ZQrarOe1uLFfl0QrvpdVUk/s400/100_5910.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433316992780988290" border="0" /></a><br />I bought this electric kiln last summer and never got around to hooking it up. Now that I've joined the Guild I really don't have a use for my own kiln and when I do, I'd like to buy a larger one. Do you know any Colorado artists who need a kiln? <a href="http://boulder.craigslist.org/art/1580665225.html">Craigslist posting here</a>. Paragon model A-66 B, $300.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-66046653722778065342010-01-29T10:45:00.003-07:002010-01-29T10:50:39.229-07:00Etsy shop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_R16UfR_zNaMqN5GP-z8iYnZHhLif04JkW4RC5hjsqfM6fYHvMskdodey1kff6hqoAp3w3vDZtD6tRIppNT6TfS72ByuyhZeLON-9P3PmsrWWum6HpUEOoqEh43Y0re5qZ6URzuQrEE/s1600-h/DSCN0234.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_R16UfR_zNaMqN5GP-z8iYnZHhLif04JkW4RC5hjsqfM6fYHvMskdodey1kff6hqoAp3w3vDZtD6tRIppNT6TfS72ByuyhZeLON-9P3PmsrWWum6HpUEOoqEh43Y0re5qZ6URzuQrEE/s400/DSCN0234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432220621807619522" border="0" /></a><br />My Etsy shop is once again full... well, full as it ever was. Someday in the next few months it will be even more full with not only cups, but teapots and other tea accessories. The Arvada Ceramic Arts Guild is having a tea-themed show in March, so I'm getting ready for that. In the meantime, take a look at my shop <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CeramicErin">here</a>. 5% of proceeds from my bicycle cups will be donated to Wish for Wheels, a Colorado charity who donates new bicycles to underprivileged Denver kindergarten kids.<br /><br />Which design is your favorite?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CeramicErin">Shop Etsy.</a>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-79835850350754613942010-01-21T22:33:00.003-07:002010-01-21T22:41:50.174-07:00New bike cups<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>My cups enjoyed a little photo shoot in the kitchen today... not the best lighting, but it'll do for now. I hope to have these and more pots up for sale on Etsy by Monday. Here are "Lost," "Curiosities" and "To the Moon!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoKadzVjtEYwtxl90TLYu0Tq5bn4K7NrRfdgP3BsaqMOJtWvbBtyQvJsMWSGUf87dbqVCC4Jyb7eqq22uHccZCJtfSeTkRQywMzm1avvj3nPh9KyS-uZJ8WaO2RCwaCXySyfAAce6aLk/s1600-h/LostJan10.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoKadzVjtEYwtxl90TLYu0Tq5bn4K7NrRfdgP3BsaqMOJtWvbBtyQvJsMWSGUf87dbqVCC4Jyb7eqq22uHccZCJtfSeTkRQywMzm1avvj3nPh9KyS-uZJ8WaO2RCwaCXySyfAAce6aLk/s400/LostJan10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429433359321839010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheN4IW8d9JelL1levmXJYIWct3lRpx9b51yfoopcffE_VeMulrfp-vXYNDogUUQxKSJN9kTGGbcwJ8D8rYmdcJpfnqL5iD119nHVo6QMWpqrCi30zBDJrbQTVETM8rcy-WIhC3ve7UZKM/s1600-h/curious+pair+Jan2010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheN4IW8d9JelL1levmXJYIWct3lRpx9b51yfoopcffE_VeMulrfp-vXYNDogUUQxKSJN9kTGGbcwJ8D8rYmdcJpfnqL5iD119nHVo6QMWpqrCi30zBDJrbQTVETM8rcy-WIhC3ve7UZKM/s400/curious+pair+Jan2010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429433354157425282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90bjGUMAuDJws8i_d70eErvriY3O6a0FbNDjc_1Zgk33AKJfDcW3B6NqQJq31k2THMHiAqJ228wVI4Zt7r9D9IAa3k2sMwWms7uMGLANrzQ60ysDOgmMymbM7sBP2F-KfkdjgM0NVgjg/s1600-h/to+the+moon+Jan2010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90bjGUMAuDJws8i_d70eErvriY3O6a0FbNDjc_1Zgk33AKJfDcW3B6NqQJq31k2THMHiAqJ228wVI4Zt7r9D9IAa3k2sMwWms7uMGLANrzQ60ysDOgmMymbM7sBP2F-KfkdjgM0NVgjg/s400/to+the+moon+Jan2010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429433366064634450" border="0" /></a>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-50362258689575007522010-01-11T21:11:00.004-07:002010-01-11T21:32:56.674-07:00Curiosities in 2010The first bike cups of 2010 in progress:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_n1ix9H7iRf5CwcjRUWSJP6-zQaHT50wBN-R17Yfjs2TWy-r5g8B6i4Q-2b9ow9eb9qzNRLul2pHHmx3_AMdv7vpJp5aaSsEDkX7WYn2vGyc_10ZfIIr237-SeE3Imein69iF1HN4tQ/s1600-h/100_5932.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_n1ix9H7iRf5CwcjRUWSJP6-zQaHT50wBN-R17Yfjs2TWy-r5g8B6i4Q-2b9ow9eb9qzNRLul2pHHmx3_AMdv7vpJp5aaSsEDkX7WYn2vGyc_10ZfIIr237-SeE3Imein69iF1HN4tQ/s400/100_5932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425701264911462930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zw0eQxoXMwbyl7AmYoB_rsbKojlvUF01qaTGNrlHUZPzKzZDER8fwPfNm8CCfe53KUFrqVaSHIlNk8DlL3gtZcJJeW5Ur-yjZ4dNz3WcKlNgrUdHR1knB9DGNg-a_tK3Kou6ajI_8gQ/s1600-h/100_5933.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zw0eQxoXMwbyl7AmYoB_rsbKojlvUF01qaTGNrlHUZPzKzZDER8fwPfNm8CCfe53KUFrqVaSHIlNk8DlL3gtZcJJeW5Ur-yjZ4dNz3WcKlNgrUdHR1knB9DGNg-a_tK3Kou6ajI_8gQ/s400/100_5933.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425701268834176882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My "Lost" design here has evolved into "Curiosities," with the flower kissing the bike, or sniffing it's nose like two cats greeting each other, and some other flowers remind me of winged insects. I'm enjoying this design most of all! To the right is a new design inspired by a delicious apricot beer at <a href="http://www.drydockbrewing.com/">Dry Dock Brewing</a> in Aurora, Colorado, and in the back are "To the Moon!" and "Dive!" bike cups. Someday I'll have my work for sale again on Etsy... for now it's sold at the Arvada Ceramic Arts Guild gallery, <a href="http://www.madisonandmaingallery.com/">Madison & Main</a> in Greeley, and soon I hope to have some at Leta's Loot, a housewares consignment store in Aurora.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-64267573653873222442010-01-07T09:57:00.007-07:002010-01-07T11:03:24.924-07:00Studio updateI've been a busy little potter this season, making a lot of cups as usual, along with pitchers, jars & teapots. A friend commented on my lack of direction and the fact that I don't stick with one thing for long. It's true, I get bored easily, but I do have plans for a full dinner set, or luncheon set rather. What those pots will look like I haven't figured out yet. At the moment my mind is set on making a cup inspired by my cat Leo. Here he is enjoying a cuppa:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5yfDaSL2Om7vhKF5qg4jK7RT-4YHbxYM8yFg07HjlUKPM9GVBtY3EbJ-bgJhObPK7nJjH-9GkC-j3fxtTy8ZJ3eHrys4V89Mjwz4X21lSONb_GxnOjWcQJIzZZ5PiPvZsZIefoF4NQ4/s1600-h/leocup2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5yfDaSL2Om7vhKF5qg4jK7RT-4YHbxYM8yFg07HjlUKPM9GVBtY3EbJ-bgJhObPK7nJjH-9GkC-j3fxtTy8ZJ3eHrys4V89Mjwz4X21lSONb_GxnOjWcQJIzZZ5PiPvZsZIefoF4NQ4/s400/leocup2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424050662527087362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtF2WSmX-IzK8WSFXNlQUp2LRzCN563WdCdhSWvbM5WrASPk0lQwn-99H9TD1XoReJ0R7oUaq2djS1bF7lr0BpfWN4qPGmNyEqEOJdKKbvnUHQqu9_tDeSalRRbOIFcyLg79e7nWBbkn0/s1600-h/leocup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtF2WSmX-IzK8WSFXNlQUp2LRzCN563WdCdhSWvbM5WrASPk0lQwn-99H9TD1XoReJ0R7oUaq2djS1bF7lr0BpfWN4qPGmNyEqEOJdKKbvnUHQqu9_tDeSalRRbOIFcyLg79e7nWBbkn0/s400/leocup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424049005795045186" border="0" /></a><br />We're also experimenting with glazes at the Arvada Ceramic Arts Guild. Connie Christensen is in her glaze testing phase of the year, now testing dozens of cone 6 glazes, and we have a cone 6 electric glaze workshop at the Guild January 30-31. I haven't experimented much with glazes myself, but I would like to make some ^6 electric microcrystalline glazes. Here are two beautiful examples of a microcrystallines: <a href="http://http://www.susanfilley.com/pgs/lrg/tumbler.htm">Susan Filly tumbler</a>, <a href="http://www.susanfilley.com/pgs/lrg/yellow-cups.htm">Susan Filley cup</a>. Any advice on making & testing these sorts of glazes is welcome. If you're in the area & you'd like to join us for the workshop, call the guild for more info - 303.423.0448. The Guild is on Facebook too & I post regular updates about our events & news from other Guild members: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/?act=17153816#/pages/Arvada-Ceramic-Arts-Guild/159399742886">Arvada Ceramic Arts Guild</a>.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-31139229188429746252009-11-15T19:11:00.003-07:002009-11-15T19:21:17.291-07:00Snow Day!In front of the Arvada Ceramic Arts Guild (I joined in October):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9UAXBYsTUS_O2YRqsDB5LonTTm21e4SjssKhyphenhyphenDnyQqHm6koqGL3h0mTq5IVNQZOlfGezqqmxmIcocQZk5l6oqbBONwZ9oQyn-yds4H12463sr3aeCRqLAdusqwLfR2Os64iXwd4vSJ8/s1600/102_5859.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9UAXBYsTUS_O2YRqsDB5LonTTm21e4SjssKhyphenhyphenDnyQqHm6koqGL3h0mTq5IVNQZOlfGezqqmxmIcocQZk5l6oqbBONwZ9oQyn-yds4H12463sr3aeCRqLAdusqwLfR2Os64iXwd4vSJ8/s400/102_5859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404518458395278210" border="0" /></a>The snow made for a slow opening weekend of our holiday show, but I still had fun with it this morning. Making a snowman is a great workout! We're considering having a closing party near the end of the show to make up for the lull. If you're in the area, let me know if you'd like to be on our mailing list. We're also on Facebook - search Arvada Ceramic Arts Guild.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-35011117210569311582009-10-20T09:44:00.007-06:002009-10-20T10:24:49.982-06:00Interview: potter Lucy FagellaFinally we have another ceramic artist's interview. I've been busy with working, moving, and traveling, and I haven't made time to find artists to interview. So I was excited to get Lucy's email last week. I've followed her blog for a while anyway and she's a wonderfully skilled potter. Take a look for yourself. I still plan to continue the artists interviews as long as I hear from them, but if I'm m.i.a. from my blog, I'm in the studio - it's that time of the year!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xb1HAvaC_TB4Ng68kc_0oL6jGNJx7fPVr__BHmQlL2A-IbiCGFDJsd8r2uWdEqG6j4LhoJ6FP12eQZvwEoJmrRP9_Ey0vZnukj-s9JXbKe7jfXpX5hCxTk-2xTedJZdpbGw-Mtf4MVQ/s1600-h/Lucy+Fagella,+Stacking+cups+with+leaves.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xb1HAvaC_TB4Ng68kc_0oL6jGNJx7fPVr__BHmQlL2A-IbiCGFDJsd8r2uWdEqG6j4LhoJ6FP12eQZvwEoJmrRP9_Ey0vZnukj-s9JXbKe7jfXpX5hCxTk-2xTedJZdpbGw-Mtf4MVQ/s200/Lucy+Fagella,+Stacking+cups+with+leaves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394711167450698722" border="0" /></a>Lucy Fagella, 45, Greenfield, Ma. <a href="http://www.luciapottery.com/">luciapottery.com</a>, <a href="http://www.lucyfagellapottery.wordpress.com/">lucyfagellapottery.wordpress</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you work in clay?</span><br />Greenfield, Massachusetts, renovated barn.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have another job?</span><br />I teach adults pottery from my studio. I consider this part of my being a potter. Teaching keeps a great flow going to my work. The questions asked by students are a constant reminder of how the non potter, or beginner potter views pottery. That is important from the business side of selling work to the public. It reminds me not to get too caught up in just what I want to make as an artist, but to incorporate the potential customers wants and or needs for their daily rituals of using handmade objects.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity? Please explain.</span><br />Most are by choice, some of the objects I make, or the amount of classes I teach are sometimes made from necessity... paying the bills!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?</span><br />Mornings/afternoons from 8am-2/3pm is studio time five days a week no matter what. Then it's exercise of some sort, bike, ski, walk, or watch a soccer/basketball/baseball game of my two sons. Classes are three nights a week. Some Saturday's I may fire a kiln, do a Farmers Market once a month. Sundays are off... need one day completely away from the studio.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_NVSmp93QTK0_K7IlDWFsXgGrItf0jxqgZv4g8_Ezrk5d1o9-9NAnzNmUssSa8612imzTm_Rb0HP63pijjX-_aAtKb8_n1n0xM29FUyD0TcVvb_0uI_5CRcJpCGhTRj-T1CRx5Yjiv0/s1600-h/Lucy+at+work.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_NVSmp93QTK0_K7IlDWFsXgGrItf0jxqgZv4g8_Ezrk5d1o9-9NAnzNmUssSa8612imzTm_Rb0HP63pijjX-_aAtKb8_n1n0xM29FUyD0TcVvb_0uI_5CRcJpCGhTRj-T1CRx5Yjiv0/s200/Lucy+at+work.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394712544065062034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">affect your</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> work?</span><br />I am very concerned about the way a make a living and how it effects the environment... every time I fire the kiln! I really don't think being a potter is an environmentally friendly occupation. But there are offsets... like buying handmade, local, and the fact that I don't get in a car everyday and drive for miles to get to work.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?</span><br />I stop, do one of the many other tasks that need doing, like web stuff or blog stuff, or pay bills. Or like right now answer your interview, (as my back is killing me and need a break from throwing and trimming!) If all else fails, I get on my bike and ride!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you create art in other mediums?</span><br />Not any more, my hands are too tired from being a potter. My first love was drawing, and printmaking.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you sell your work?</span><br />I sell at some shops. From my website. Many Urn companies carry my line of cremation urns, so many of my sales come from that. I have been wanting to open up an Etsy shop... hopefully very soon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How did you approach those venues about selling your work?</span><br />Shops... I just brought samples of my work. The Urn companies came to me, and asked to represent me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you could change one property of clay, what would it be? (from potter John Bauman in the second Monday survey)</span><br />Make it so it would not have to be fired... wave a magic wand and poof, food safe, durable pottery, with no fossil fuels used in the process!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ53Q11G-Ok7uoZeiuQSZqwK3ijnsmyClonqo_xirv0i2QwjxhduqOuJqJQj7Oo49i9aMN32jpvJJ6-st95-h_y0sedIIQVLDmjP5ETxY6p5oVfeDTkRJP8zzESF7BsHmvFS6OFvKst8o/s1600-h/potter+hands.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ53Q11G-Ok7uoZeiuQSZqwK3ijnsmyClonqo_xirv0i2QwjxhduqOuJqJQj7Oo49i9aMN32jpvJJ6-st95-h_y0sedIIQVLDmjP5ETxY6p5oVfeDTkRJP8zzESF7BsHmvFS6OFvKst8o/s400/potter+hands.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394718464776149314" border="0" /></a>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-78571694310568507732009-09-21T22:28:00.007-06:002009-09-21T23:17:27.008-06:00Change in weather, new love for tea bowlsBeing the first cold day of the season, I had a lightbulb moment with my morning cuppa tea. Instead of the usual mug, I instinctively chose the non-handled tea bowl to warm my hands. I used to shun handles because I was terrible at making them - most beginners are - and at the time I preferred non-handled cups anyway... maybe that's just an excuse since I didn't like making handles & I hadn't found many mugs that I liked. In the past year I fell in love with mugs, but I have a newfound appreciation for tea bowls - it's all in the season. On cold days like today mugs might be used more for cold beverages, but a warm cup feels comforting cupped in the hands, more intimate. I can picture me sitting on the couch after a long day at work, wrapped in a blanket, watching the cats run around while imagining different pots form in my head, drinking a toasty cuppa tea. Though I enjoy the long days and outer warmth of summer, I welcome the change in seasons, with the inner warmth of tea, and wearing long-sleeved shirts.<br /><br />I can't remember the last time I made a tea bowl... if ever. I make many cups, though none I would describe as a "tea bowl." In fact I don't know what it means for a tea bowl to be a tea bowl, except that I have seen enough labeled so that I understand the general form of one. Please, educate me on the history of the tea bowl if you can. Meanwhile, here are some beautiful yunomis (tea bowls that are generally more tall than wide) from one of my favorite artists, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20305146">Kristen Kieffer</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlzfM9l5GQEcU8I2VRyW2Y0tfjSKyyXKNnahWC4z_m5024vWIyLVPnx0c1hQiei3A9fqQgkQHMd7rx0dXjNvBPAk6z2VMb0RfDrYIj20krxClMQ0sN0mPH-5S55wOHh7y0v7qX27b93g/s1600-h/kristen+kieffer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlzfM9l5GQEcU8I2VRyW2Y0tfjSKyyXKNnahWC4z_m5024vWIyLVPnx0c1hQiei3A9fqQgkQHMd7rx0dXjNvBPAk6z2VMb0RfDrYIj20krxClMQ0sN0mPH-5S55wOHh7y0v7qX27b93g/s320/kristen+kieffer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384156484198717938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.54822287.jpg"><br /></a>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-16280954795047381382009-09-08T09:28:00.002-06:002009-09-08T09:45:39.619-06:00Interview...?Tuesdays are for ceramic artists interviews... but I haven't heard from any artists this week! So if you'd like to be featured here this week or next, take a look at this post for all the questions and my email address: <a href="http://ceramicerin.blogspot.com/2009/06/ceramic-artists-survey.html">ceramic artists interview</a>. I'm always open to new questions.<br /><br />p.s. Are you on Twitter? I post updates from my blog & other interesting ceramics links I find: <a href="http://twitter.com/ceramicerin">ceramicerin on Twitter</a>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-12834150226901712922009-09-02T21:03:00.004-06:002009-09-02T21:44:10.229-06:00Green teacherToday was my first day of teaching at the local pottery center, & I think it went pretty well. Not stellar, but not bad. For one thing I'm a novice teacher - I've taught kids at a summer camp handbuilding with clay. That's about the extent of it, and now I have two entirely different classes: adult clay building - a mix of hand building & throwing - & kids throwing.<br /><br />The adult class consists of old-timers who have taken that same class together for months, perhaps years, and they all had an idea of what they wanted to do, they all had projects they were already working on. They're quite sociable and it seems they take the class simply for fun, to enjoy the company of their classmates, and to have someone to answer this classic question when they see something interesting in a picture: "How did they do that?" I can usually answer those questions, but for the remainder of the class, I'm not entirely sure what I should be teaching with everyone going in different directions. So I started out demonstrating how to make pots footed, similar to these works by <a href="http://www.willieggerman.com/Work/Vases/HTML%20Pages/Gaucho_Tripod.htm">Willi Eggerman</a> & <a href="http://www.tarawilsonpottery.com/vases">Tara Wilson</a>, then socialized & answered sporadic questions the remainder of class, wondering how else to make myself useful as most of the students seemed to be fine with their current projects. Next week I plan to teach more on throwing, but of the two classes, it's the true beginners that I'm more concerned about...<br /><br />Kids are a whole nother animal. I have a difficult time as it is enunciating precisely what I'm doing as I throw a pot, but to get an 11-year-old to simply center clay is a challenge. Any advice in this area is more than welcome. Do I need to watch every video I can of beginning pottery and teach all my friends & family to throw in order to become a good teacher? I'm sure that wouldn't hurt... so what videos would you recommend I check out from the local library?Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-83717409382188140382009-09-01T19:11:00.005-06:002009-09-01T19:21:09.195-06:00Interview: Paul Nielsen<span style="font-weight: bold;">Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OV0Pfvx1Olyt9Gyoz227O4anKS50o6CtI1j4tp0BIhCrwRG9UJM2Yqjd1m36wxYKCvwy8EylLx1AQrKxCd_LHWTMb57yhj-rQOGt04obSvtknoOVaF8WTvIQYSZ3UTDL8OT-AY2QeDQ/s1600-h/Paul+avatar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OV0Pfvx1Olyt9Gyoz227O4anKS50o6CtI1j4tp0BIhCrwRG9UJM2Yqjd1m36wxYKCvwy8EylLx1AQrKxCd_LHWTMb57yhj-rQOGt04obSvtknoOVaF8WTvIQYSZ3UTDL8OT-AY2QeDQ/s200/Paul+avatar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376673209154828066" border="0" /></a>My name is Paul Nielsen. I'm 32, I think, and currently live in Grand Island, Nebraska. My wife and I just moved back to Nebraska from Northwest Arkansas. I blog at <a href="http://theaestheticelevator.com/">TheAestheticElevator.com</a>, and my in-progress artist website is <a href="http://pcnielson.com/">pcNielsen.com</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you work in clay?</span><br />We're currently living in a loft over my father's antique store. My studio, which I've only been in a month since moving (and most of that time was spent unpacking and organizing), is in the basement of the building. I have a lot more space than my previous garage studio, but not having any windows might get to me after a while. I actually hope to do some sculpting en plein air, especially when storm season rolls around next year. Prairie thunderstorms are a significant theme in my work.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have another job?</span><br />I do indeed. Despite graduating with a studio art degree in 2001, it's only been in the past three years or so that I've begun pursuing sculpture as a career. Since graduating I've worked in a coffee shop, remodeled houses and worked as a marketer/designer for a religious nonprofit. I still do the last two things on that list. It's difficult for me to imagine anyone being able to dive right into a career in the plastic arts without a day-job subsidized period of transition, so to speak.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">re your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity? Please explain.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwS8Ra1xbRekyRaR3RJRyip5DGBWmK_ln5Qe46juTLus-xlqzmpLW3nqeyOBn0ZXFzEK0ASV5Oy6yyIi9YPQd5RLO6qPiPAwq3Vm-rKZpj8QyHE7LS9XB36mo1rKL2gJhRoE5jixu388/s1600-h/paul2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwS8Ra1xbRekyRaR3RJRyip5DGBWmK_ln5Qe46juTLus-xlqzmpLW3nqeyOBn0ZXFzEK0ASV5Oy6yyIi9YPQd5RLO6qPiPAwq3Vm-rKZpj8QyHE7LS9XB36mo1rKL2gJhRoE5jixu388/s200/paul2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376672570687475490" border="0" /></a>I'm not all that sure how to answer this question. In all likelihood there is a combination of both choice and necessity in my decisions that relate to all aspects of life. Do I wish I had more disposable income? Sure. Would I like a large studio with windows and a soda kiln? Of course. Am I thankful for what I have at the moment? Absolutely.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)? </span><br />While I'm probably more administratively gifted than the stereotypical artist, I am not very good at keeping a schedule. It's best for me to have a regular time in the studio, preferably on a daily basis. I use a calendar to plan both long-term and short-term. This helps me finish projects; I'm the kind of person who normally has ten different things going on at the same time, and bringing a work to completion can get put off at times.<br /><br />The other things in life just sort of float around — in a semi-organized fashion — the minimum two or three hours a day I hope to spend on artwork. And it might be worth noting that my schedule varies depending on the time of year. I'm less motivated in darker winter months (it didn't help that my garage studio of the past three years wasn't heated either).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?</span><br />First off, creating objects — working with my hands — is something I'm just plain wired to do. If I'm not able to be doing it for some reason or another, I go stir crazy. I focus on clay because I love its character as a medium. I love the process from dirt to fire. I love the way clay responds to my hands when I manipulate it. I love the finishes.<br /><br />Most of my work is sculptural. I'm more drawn to handbuilding than throwing, however I did build myself a kickwheel last year and hope to use it regularly in the future. I always have hopes of spending time on functional objects, however being an artist with a day job — and thus a limited amount of studio time — I usually end up just working on my sculpture.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How concerned are you about environmental issues? </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwL7L897Pa6z4eihYeWLBMWkocYDkv5oevRVGZInkJ_I-tKBW2MTbkF1y859FFi3QcOfMvAD_KtAJvb7mH1KSGUHRf1WQ3osxpwVKTN4yr00uBIn4w5CjO52QhnxD2Gr2G2qEkA5uewBI/s1600-h/paul3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwL7L897Pa6z4eihYeWLBMWkocYDkv5oevRVGZInkJ_I-tKBW2MTbkF1y859FFi3QcOfMvAD_KtAJvb7mH1KSGUHRf1WQ3osxpwVKTN4yr00uBIn4w5CjO52QhnxD2Gr2G2qEkA5uewBI/s200/paul3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376672582008711074" border="0" /></a>I try and live a sustainable lifestyle: Recycle whenever possible, dream of someday living off of the grid (probably with solar power, maybe wind), salvage and reuse and don't be wasteful in the first place etc etc. This is largely informed by my faith in an attempt to be a good steward of God's creation. I prefer the word sustainable which implies, in my mind, a broader and more complete view of humanity, culture and environment than politically charged (and thus less productive) terminology like "green" or "environmentally friendly." I'm very cynical when it comes to politics in general.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Does this affect your work?</span><br />This comes through in my artwork mainly via my use of found objects or salvaged materials. More and more I've become alarmed at how wasteful American culture is, in a myriad of ways. Reusing objects and materials is a subtle way for my sculpture to communicate my dislike for our consumerist culture.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?</span><br />Most likely hit the trails on my bicycle. Or blog, or call friends to play Settlers of Catan (or some other German board game).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">D</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">o you create art in other mediums?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVwbbdIkcejQhLDmn659VgcKMKXKEPruPDoi1JFKmz7yG3n-4dcyw-EF8Or4TaipwupK9BbiUsNKT6_HYm1-QLcUPY7MSS1EaAY5I4S8CCTh6vrAdUOPUvnfXQR4TzkRNnC4lzx3YvDM/s1600-h/paul4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVwbbdIkcejQhLDmn659VgcKMKXKEPruPDoi1JFKmz7yG3n-4dcyw-EF8Or4TaipwupK9BbiUsNKT6_HYm1-QLcUPY7MSS1EaAY5I4S8CCTh6vrAdUOPUvnfXQR4TzkRNnC4lzx3YvDM/s200/paul4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376672590524548082" border="0" /></a>I focus on clay but refer to myself as a mixed media sculptor. I use a lot of wood and incorporate a variety of other natural materials and found objects; fabric and gemstones make somewhat regular appearances. I'm not, however, fond of synthetic stuff. You probably won't find plastic in any of my works.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you sell your work?</span><br />At the moment you can purchase my sculpture in the Local Flair gallery in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, or by sending me a message via pcNielsen.com. I tried Etsy.com for a while, but with no success.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How did you approach those venues about selling your work?</span><br />I was approached by the person who started Local Flair. We knew each other before she founded the gallery. Sad, but true, who you know often factors into your success as an artist.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have any questions you want to ask other ceramic artists, or artists in general?</span><br />Do you have a soda kiln I can borrow?Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-1379287333327565752009-08-25T09:46:00.003-06:002009-08-25T10:06:54.085-06:00Interview: Carole EppWelcome back to the weekly ceramic artists interview! I didn't hear from anyone for the past couple weeks and I was too busy to keep you posted anyway. The interviews will now be posted on Tuesdays. If you'd like to be up next week, <a href="http://ceramicerin.blogspot.com/2009/06/ceramic-artists-survey.html">here's the post</a> with questions and my email. Thank you Carole for stepping up this week... I've been chatting a little bit with her on Twitter, but I just recently took a better look at her work. It's beautiful! It looks well crafted and creative, and I hope to see it in person someday. What do you think?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIu3n8stjrxm_tCzcD09aOzeeH7z6UbzDma4yIA0hWx0vimh7IpCiVXCPh_-T8388V29Om5zozXfjS-a2x-R1ywqq0yKLVBCeNcdhg8FAezNuwwWDyDO_Ui6rsPU024jNxXtecwIfl2wg/s1600-h/02bCEPP.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIu3n8stjrxm_tCzcD09aOzeeH7z6UbzDma4yIA0hWx0vimh7IpCiVXCPh_-T8388V29Om5zozXfjS-a2x-R1ywqq0yKLVBCeNcdhg8FAezNuwwWDyDO_Ui6rsPU024jNxXtecwIfl2wg/s200/02bCEPP.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373932382488422658" border="0" /></a>Carole Epp, 31, Saskatoon Sk, Canada<br /><a href="http://Caroleepp.com">Caroleepp.com</a><br /><a href="http://Musingaboutmud.blogspot.com">Musingaboutmud.blogspot.com</a><br /><a href="http://Caroleepp.etsy.com">Caroleepp.etsy.com</a><br /><a href="http://Caroleeppceramics.etsy.com">Caroleeppceramics.etsy.com</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you work in clay?</span><br />We converted our garage unto a studio. Had to insulate and heat it to get me through the minus 30 winters, but it does the trick. A dream studio really considering the living room and basement studios I’ve had in the past. The garage has been a bit taken over by my husband’s project motorbikes, but that means I have company late at night when I work.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have another job?</span><br />My other job is my 18 month old. I was for a while trying to balance studio work, child raising and working here and there at the local craft council and teaching evening courses, but it was too much. My priorities are my family and my own practice, selfish as that sounds (or maybe just feels to me as I love to be more involved with the community) I miss teaching, my students were fantastic and I get a lot out of teaching. Oh and I’ve also taken up sewing in the last 2 years, it’s not a job per say, but I get obsessed pretty easily so it does take up a sizable chunk of my time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity? Please explain.</span><br />Right now we’re in a position where we have (as a family) decided that it makes sense for me to be focusing on my artist practice rather than a “real” job (although the latter would actually come with a paycheck…). The further I get from my college safety net the more vulnerable I feel and the more challenging it is to push your work, and make the connections you need to get ahead. I feel that taking any sort of break from exhibiting or making work would mean a difficult road to get back to where ever it is that I am now with my career. I feel the set back might be too overwhelming. Plus focusing on my studio practice means I’m at home to raise my kid, which is important to me. I’d rather that than him be in daycare raised by others. It means that my studio time is quite limited to naps and late nights, but you learn to value those moments way more and to be hyper productive when those moments present themselves. It’s always been important for both my husband and I that we follow our dreams and not live a life that will cause regret later on. If I gave up art for a better paying job, I’d live with regret. I’m lucky I have a very supportive husband and family, not everyone is so lucky.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?</span><br />I work on my son’s schedule, he’s the boss. When he naps I work, sometimes he gives me 20 minutes, some times 3 hours. I try to get up a bit before him in the morning to have a cup of tea in peace and get some on line (twitter, blog, etsy) or computer (proposals, emails, writing, photoshopping pictures, etc) work done. Errands get done with the boy in tow during the day, work again during nap time, family time with my husband after work until my boy goes to bed and then more work. Sometimes I try to steal more time in the studio on the weekends. But honestly what I’ve just said is my ideal and it likely sounds like I get into the studio more that I really do. Being a stay at home mom means taking care of the home as well, and sometimes (often) things like clean laundry are more important that my studio work. Sad but true. If I was in the studio everyday when he napped or was in bed I’d live in a mess.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MYO4qtBG3lTbu1O2SJCRKrrGX4-YIrnC5y64YmypGbH5afMqLhwFBbqYpr0BHSAJIK2vrO3hEJXCc96sFtewYtJF3rRpzFAqXznqNyJvaMu9f28Z6VNllUvXYwi4iKxJFPJN9BSXo1o/s1600-h/14SetofSpaceVases.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MYO4qtBG3lTbu1O2SJCRKrrGX4-YIrnC5y64YmypGbH5afMqLhwFBbqYpr0BHSAJIK2vrO3hEJXCc96sFtewYtJF3rRpzFAqXznqNyJvaMu9f28Z6VNllUvXYwi4iKxJFPJN9BSXo1o/s200/14SetofSpaceVases.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373932388561830146" border="0" /></a>I make both. Why? Sometimes I think because I’m insane, sometimes I think because there is so much interesting processes in ceramics that inspire me and give visual voice to my ideas that I can’t be limited to a single output. But to the larger question, why do I make art – I make art to feel less alone, I make art because it is a form of communication with others, of understanding and of shared experience. It can bring joy, it compels thinking and productive change and because I’m at heart an idealist that believes we can change the world and my art is a simple action against the rise of indifference I see around me. It is my voice when I’m speechless, it allows my intuitive soul to speak, it allows me an outlet from my frustration, my anger, my love and ideals.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?</span><br />Highly concerned. It does affect my work in terms of subject matter as well as part of the reason I make the work I do as I often address environmental concerns such as over-consumption, disposability and new research and technologies such as those that affect our food and water supplies. I’m also trying to learn as much as I can to make my practice; firing, materials, recycling methods more effective. I’m no saint, I have lots of room to improve, but each day I’m aware and trying to work on it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?</span><br />Right now any day in the studio is a good day, a blessing really as those studio days are few and far between. I daydream about the days to come when my little guy is in preschool…<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you create art in other mediums?</span><br />I sew and do a lot of photography, but I wouldn’t say they’re an art to me. It’s a creative outlet but they’re more just arenas in which I dabble or play without expectation or pressure to create anything more than intuitive or visually pleasing surfaces and imagery. It’s strange but they are so completely separate from my clay practice. It’s a good thing, just interesting to contemplate why that is.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you sell your work?</span><br />Commercial galleries mainly, plus this year I’ve opened online shops for my work. But as with most things they require more work that I initially realized and to adequately wear the hat of fantastic marketer and promoter for my online shops is something I just don’t have the time for, so they’re not a very profitable venue. I write grants to try to get my sculptural work made, when this is successful it covers the cost of production as well as subsistence so selling the work after that is icing on the cake.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How did you approach those venues about selling your work?</span><br />I write a lot of proposals to galleries. I send lots of emails too. Even at times an email regarding something else to a gallery with a simple link to my website at the bottom has opened doors for me. I spend a fair amount of time looking at the sort of work different galleries show so that if I spend the time to write and send them a proposal it fits their mandate and their aesthetic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have any questions you want to ask other ceramic artists, or artists in general?</span><br />Millions of questions…but right now I’m most stressed about trying to make a living and help support my family so I’m always just looking for advice on how to better run the business side of things. I guess I’m also curious if I’m the only insane one that misses college critiques sessions? I’d love some good honest feedback on my work, but never seem to find it. We’re all so supportive of each other in this community (which I’m not knocking, it’s a good thing) but sometimes the truth is a good thing as well to help us grow, as artists and as a craft medium in contemporary visual and material culture.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEW question: If you could change one property of clay, what would it be? (optional question; from potter John Bauman in the second Monday survey) </span><br />Is this like “if you could have one super power what would it be?” hmmm… I’d like a clay body that could read my mind and have the ability to alter it’s form on it’s own so that when I lie in bed sleeplessly at night envisioning all the pieces I want to make but lack the time to make, the clay would be out there in the studio magically turning itself into the sculptures of my mind…wait on second thought, I’d miss the haptic interaction too much, I love to get elbow deep in the muck, I love the challenges the material presents. I love the questions even more so than I love the answers. I don’t know that I’d change anything.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-35985237122867145742009-08-03T08:59:00.006-06:002009-08-03T17:20:49.757-06:00Interview: JanetFor the 9th ceramic artist interview here we have potter Janet from Canada. I'm hoping to interview a friend for my 10th, but I haven't heard from any yet, so go on & email me your responses if you'd like to be featured in a week or two. <a href="http://ceramicerin.blogspot.com/2009/06/ceramic-artists-survey.html">Click here</a> for the individual questions.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4yO8ES6c7f7Umjp4JRO8QkwCvD1B4vcUIeVzPET3onRg8kCUJ535MBxZjur9GVl31moCUHyVULOFEM5yhpPNkDm9kvZBzjD92BmOQ9M4O7XOJI1SPT_KHGWrer1E1y35SUmdZhuR8lM/s1600-h/janet+vase.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4yO8ES6c7f7Umjp4JRO8QkwCvD1B4vcUIeVzPET3onRg8kCUJ535MBxZjur9GVl31moCUHyVULOFEM5yhpPNkDm9kvZBzjD92BmOQ9M4O7XOJI1SPT_KHGWrer1E1y35SUmdZhuR8lM/s200/janet+vase.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365753076577380002" border="0" /></a>Janet Holson-Mazzer, 46, Midland, Ontario Canada, <a href="http://www.jansonpottery.com/">jansonpottery.com<br /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you work in clay?</span><br />I work in my basement and the garage of my home.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have another job?</span><br />I have a 3 ½ year child and my pottery business.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity? Please explain.</span><br />These days I seem to have a lot of commissions. I think that depending on the size or complexity of the piece, sometimes it might take me a while to figure out how to proceed. I have found that when I have wholesale orders, it zaps the creativity out of project. I feel like I am working on an assembly line. Most things that I make are things I like or see that I would like to try making. Sometimes when I finish a commission that I put off for a while, I am surprised in what I learned through that process and in the end I am grateful for the experience.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?</span><br />There never seems to be enough hours in the day to make everything work. I have a new website that I am still working on updating and have added a blog and would like to get there more as well.<br /><br />I try to run household errands on days where my husband is working. My Mother-in-law comes over so that I can get work done. When my husband is around, I can usually get a great deal done. When things are busy with our home life and I don’t have time for clay, I continuously have ideas and projects running through my head.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?</span><br />I have loved clay since I was a child. When I was in high school, I took a lot of ceramics courses and if someone had asked me at that time what I wanted to do with my life, I would have said without hesitation that I wanted to be a potter. At that time, I moved into a field that I thought I would make a better living at. Some years later, I returned to my first love and continued to work at another job. It is only the last 5 years that I have been able to work without another job. When I am away from clay for whatever reason, I want to be close to it. When I am working, nothing else exists. I found this even more so when I made sculptures.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?</span><br />I am very concerned about environmental issues. I am careful with my own health when it comes to mixing glazes and do not flush anything down the drain including clay. I have buckets that I rinse everything out in. Because I work from home, I am always concerned about dust and safe material storage. I am a chronic recycler and I reclaim all of my clay instead of throwing it out. I feel better knowing that I am taking care of my surroundings.<br /><br />I have a garden, I run all of my errands on certain days and try to have as many car free days as possible.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?</span><br />If I having a bad day with some aspect of my day, I move on to sketching or something else that is completely different yet a necessary part of what I do.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you create art in other mediums?</span><br />Not at the moment. I have done a couple of metal clay courses in the last year and was initially smitten with it, but I find that I always end up back with clay. This autumn, I may take a jewellery or a photoshop course.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you sell your work?</span><br />I do some small shows around the area where I live. I sell on Etsy and have an established clientele where I live now. I end up getting a lot of commissions through all of these.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How did you approach those venues about selling your work?</span><br />I have lived in Midland, Ontario for about 5 years and prior to that, I have lived in Toronto. I did a lot of consignment for a number of years. I approached galleries and have also had them approach me. My work was almost always there on consignment. I had read “Stayin’ Alive” by Robin Hopper and a number of years ago and he said that when galleries/shops take your work on consignment they as not as motivated to sell your work because if it doesn’t work, they can just give it back. I have never really pursued the wholesale aspect of things because I have a young child and don’t always know how much time I will have to work. So these days, I work mentally on what my own gallery/workspace/teaching space will look like. I have also had some people who have found me through my website, Etsy or word of mouth.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have any questions you want to ask other ceramic artists, or artists in general?</span><br />I would like to know if other artists whether it be ceramic or other, have a ritual that they perform before they begin their work.<br /><br />In response to Jim’s question, I like to listen to a huge variety of music. I really like Zero 7, Bliss, Buddha Bar compilations, John Mayer, Molly Johnson, and even though I don’t understand it, I love French Canadian music.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05bo_l0Hf8Z3eo1QC9AW98LUeuXJ7gpvAw6Pv92NrhF23_6VW-1zg6T04iXHXKGV8ZzV8dSih3j9kwQ6UDh94kBcIx5zaHxYL_8vLVKGVg3UqDXST-W4AxrrKWuf5zWk4QG5zq8toyVk/s1600-h/Floral+Ring.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05bo_l0Hf8Z3eo1QC9AW98LUeuXJ7gpvAw6Pv92NrhF23_6VW-1zg6T04iXHXKGV8ZzV8dSih3j9kwQ6UDh94kBcIx5zaHxYL_8vLVKGVg3UqDXST-W4AxrrKWuf5zWk4QG5zq8toyVk/s320/Floral+Ring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365880882766586178" border="0" /></a>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-14275044576849182009-07-30T19:12:00.007-06:002009-07-30T19:37:47.473-06:00Cornbread recipeIt's a cold, rainy day in Colorado, so I'm baking to warm up the kitchen. Here's my favorite corn bread recipe:<br /><br />Ingredients<br />1 cup <a href="http://www.pamelasproducts.com/">Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix</a>*<br />1 cup yellow cornmeal<br />2 teaspoons baking powder<br />¼ cup honey or <a href="http://www.madhavasagave.com/">agave nectar</a><br />1 cup almond milk<br />2 eggs<br />¼ cup butter or shortening<br /><br />Directions<br />Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.<br />In a mixing bowl, combine Baking Mix, cornmeal, & baking powder.<br />In a 2nd bowl mix honey, milk, eggs, butter.<br />Add wet ingredients to dry, beat for 1 min.<br />Pour into a greased 8-in square baking pan. Bake for 20 min.<br /><br />*Can be made with all-purpose white flour – increase baking powder to 4 tablespoons, and know that it won't be as awesome.<br />--<br /><br />Do you have any delicious recipes you care to share?Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-53539057163289653812009-07-27T21:38:00.004-06:002009-07-28T18:05:20.128-06:00Interview: potter Cindy Gilliland<span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)?</span></span> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41PNXzAOnrPi2VRHJBgXVyKg7t90AZaWSdjAmBoBiU1wc63nG5KmRp6rhudRnWq8VplwB_AI6VcRgfWOszJnxwLoLDJP3z3SkhoLyWdspK27yFmB3ign_XQRHoQ2XHNhDEf3MBOCdTtE/s1600-h/twitterbowl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41PNXzAOnrPi2VRHJBgXVyKg7t90AZaWSdjAmBoBiU1wc63nG5KmRp6rhudRnWq8VplwB_AI6VcRgfWOszJnxwLoLDJP3z3SkhoLyWdspK27yFmB3ign_XQRHoQ2XHNhDEf3MBOCdTtE/s200/twitterbowl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363666090630246802" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >C<span>indy Gilliland (Dirt-Kicker Pottery)</span></span></div> <div><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span>47</span></span></div> <div><span><span></span><span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >W<span>ashoe Valley, NV</span></span></span></div> <div><span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://dirt-kickerpottery.blogspot.com"><span></span></a><span><a target="_blank">dirt-kickerpottery.<wbr>blogspot.com</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you work in clay?</span></span></span></div> <div><span><span><span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >M<span>y Studio, Located 50 feet from my house.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have another job?</span></span></span></span></div> <div><span><span><span><span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >N<span>o. Prior to working with Clay, I worked in Escrow for 20 plus years.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity? Please explain.</span></span></span></span></span></div> <div><span><span><span><span><span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >C<span>hoice. Pottery is a choice for me. I could make a more lucrative income working in escrow, but at this point in my life, I chose to make pots.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?</span></span></span></span></span></span></div> <div><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span>I do whatever needs to be done. If I need to take care of grandkids or run some errands, well... the pottery has to wait. I'm usually in the studio 4 or 5 days a week.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div> <div><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span> </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div> <div><span><span><span><span><span><span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I<span>t is a creative outlet. I makes me happy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div> <div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I<span>'m very concerned about our environment. My work does not currently reflect my concerns.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div> <div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I<span> turn on Hawaiian Music, open a bad of Laguna Hawaiian Red clay, make me a Mai Tai and pretend I'm making pots in Hawaii :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you create art in other mediums?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div> <div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I<span> paint with acrylics.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you sell your work?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div> <div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >O<span>pen studio, Etsy, website (to be completed shortly) and word of mouth.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How did you approach those venues about selling your work?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div> <div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I<span> don't like lugging my work to shows or fairs. I prefer building a contacts list and selling directly from the Studio.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have any questions you want to ask other ceramic artists, or artists in general?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div> <div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >W<span>hen your love for making pottery turned into a job, did it hamper your creativity?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEW question</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">:</span> If you could change one property of clay, what would it be? (optional question; from potter </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ceramicerin.blogspot.com/2009/06/survey-potter-john-bauman.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(180, 123, 16);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >John Bauman</span></a><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" > in the second Monday survey)</span></div> <span><span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I<span> like clay just the way it is.</span></span></span>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-68286624475918086122009-07-20T12:33:00.004-06:002009-07-20T22:24:58.329-06:00Interview: Jim GottusoFor my 100th blog post I give you the <a href="http://ceramicerin.blogspot.com/2009/06/ceramic-artists-survey.html">weekly interview</a>, today from potter Jim Gottuso in Kentucky. Cheers!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)?</span><br />Jim Gottuso, 51, Louisville, KY, <a href="http://jimgottuso.wordpress.com/">jimgottuso.wordpress.com</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you work in clay?</span><br />In the back room of my house<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have another job?</span><br />I have a 4 1/2 year old but no other paying job<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity? Please explain.</span><br />If you mean decisions about what I make then both. If I have a commission then it's by necessity (the necessity being the need for income); if I'm just making stuff, it's what I choose to make. That being said certain things sell better than others so I always make a bit of both.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?</span><br />Wow... there's not enough time to write it. I have 4 year old and I watch her solo every sat. and sun. (so i don't even attempt to get anything done on the weekends). Weekday mornings I do blogging, email, (any computer tasks, including photoshop, submissions, etc.) for about 1 to 1/2 hours. Then I try to run household errands before noon and go to the studio after lunch (if no errands, get there earlier). Work till about 7 usually but often later. Have dinner with the family and put the little one to bed. Check in on the computer before bed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?</span><br />I've always loved clay since first being exposed in undergraduate school. I put it off, starting and running two businesses with my best friend. Although I certainly wanted to do those things (the businesses), a part of me couldn't see how to make ceramics work economically... sometimes I regret not going through the hard times with clay earlier only because I would be so much further along in my progression and experience as a clay person if I had.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?</span><br />I'm pretty concerned and vacillate on how to deal with my concern. We are very conserving of energy and water as a rule, no AC last summer in KY; don't leave appliances on or lights on when they're not being used. We're vegan (that's probably the biggest thing). I've never owned a new automobile. I do all my shopping within 2 miles from my house so we don't drive much. I fire electric and am very careful about having large densely packed kiln loads and I fire to ^6.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?</span><br />Go get my daughter and give her a hug and chat for a bit, go find music that I really want to hear, put that on and get back to it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you create art in other mediums?</span><br />Not currently; I have over the years done a good amount of sculpture, drawing, woodworking and graphic and web design.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you sell your work?</span><br />mostly in galleries currently... about 3 in town and some out of town galleries as well. shows and i'm trying to sell online (hint, hint), i also do an annual craft fair in town.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How did you approach those venues about selling your work?</span><br />One recently called me out of the blue, others i either called or visited or sent materials to online.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have any questions you want to ask other ceramic artists, or artists in general?</span><br />No questions in general, although i always want to know what music each individual i come to know listens to and specifically what music they listen to when they're working. always trying to fill in the blanks i guess.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If I could change one characteristic of clay</span> it would be it's bothersome obedience to gravity... antigravitation clay would be dreamy.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-91900240649731625852009-07-13T09:13:00.005-06:002009-07-13T09:31:04.292-06:00Interview: Laurie Erdman<span>A</span><span>nother week, another interview. <a href="http://ceramicerin.blogspot.com/2009/06/ceramic-artists-survey.html">Click here</a> to see the questions on their own if you want to be in next week.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZtDarPHDKPBTLmO1VEQWN4ixCG0uCsXMN2VyMd6OW6YpYyWEG5OvHrLRY77Daf6jiT7YehnXYNAH-IAqJbUOAAFZ9Hw6WNx9xwzfJRd9AsQ7C-34-6iteDcFxEk8cCKsy3eH-aHtmV4/s1600-h/Claytastic-34.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZtDarPHDKPBTLmO1VEQWN4ixCG0uCsXMN2VyMd6OW6YpYyWEG5OvHrLRY77Daf6jiT7YehnXYNAH-IAqJbUOAAFZ9Hw6WNx9xwzfJRd9AsQ7C-34-6iteDcFxEk8cCKsy3eH-aHtmV4/s200/Claytastic-34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357966437301657266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)?</span><br />Laurie Erdman, 42<br />Arlington, Virginia<br /><a href="http://www.claytastic.net/">www.claytastic.net </a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you work in clay?</span><br />Primarily at the Art League ceramics studio in Alexandria, but just set up a home studio to work between sessions<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have another job?</span><br />Yes. I’m a business development professional for an education company. While fulfilling, it keeps me away from the wheel far more than I would like.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity?</span><br />Both decisions are made by necessity. Pottery started as a creative outlet from a stressful job. It has become a passion and I am now just starting to market my work. I still have to have the day job help pay the household expenses.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?</span><br />During Art League sessions, I am the studio every Sunday, and increasingly on Saturdays and any other time I can, as I am building up inventory for holiday shows and sales (currently have 4 scheduled). Every morning I spend my tea time at the computer managing my Etsy store, tweeting and blogging. Then it is off to the day job. In the evening, I take pictures of my work and manage my online presence. Of course, with the home studio, I can now start working on pots in the evening.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?</span><br />I have always been drawn to the tactile nature of clay, whether playing in a mud puddle as a child, or picking up a finished piece in a gallery. It was natural that my creative outlet would flourish once I decided to try ceramics. I was hooked the first time I touched it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?</span><br />Very. However, working in a community studio doesn’t give me control over those issues. However, last year our studio moved from cone 8 electric to cone 6 to reduce energy usage. When I get my own kiln, I would be very interested in learning how to single fire (just did it in a soda kiln and was very happy with the results). I do recycle my clay as much as possible.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?</span><br />Walk away. And often I go eat because there is something about working in clay that makes me forget to eat. Not good to throw with low blood sugar; the results are bad.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you create art in other mediums?</span><br />I have painted and I love photography, but I do neither on a regular basis. Although I have been thinking about adding photo work for potters as a service.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you sell your work?</span><br />Right now I sell mostly online and to friends. I have an Etsy shop and have sold a piece on eBay. I am planning on doing most of sales at the end of the year. I will do a local craft show at my church in December, a local collectors show in November, a charity show sponsored by my employer and finally a home show.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How did you approach those venues about selling your work?</span><br />I am a member of the sponsoring organizations for the crafts shows, so its just people I know.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have any questions you want to ask other artists?</span><br />For those that have their own studio, how do you manage all the equipment and materials and how many different glazes do you use? As I contemplate my own studio, the investment is overwhelming.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-12216367656421976492009-07-06T10:39:00.005-06:002009-07-06T10:50:51.343-06:00Interview: Kanika MarshallThis weeks ceramic artist interview comes from Kanika in California. Would you like to be next? See the interview questions <a href="http://ceramicerin.blogspot.com/2009/06/ceramic-artists-survey.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokiJJDhhxEHBDCMuZP2g_Gi1z0coyISgImHzh6i8shGRsZQs9-AjtIcmrG57X9YQZ01TTws-IWBYsIoVMtxOC4ug0Hx9sYtgh9VHzfniiTvI2oYMx6CMjKSITXFKpZ-tRY0pkD_885XY/s1600-h/Kanika+at+1910_April+2006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokiJJDhhxEHBDCMuZP2g_Gi1z0coyISgImHzh6i8shGRsZQs9-AjtIcmrG57X9YQZ01TTws-IWBYsIoVMtxOC4ug0Hx9sYtgh9VHzfniiTvI2oYMx6CMjKSITXFKpZ-tRY0pkD_885XY/s200/Kanika+at+1910_April+2006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355388521461145778" border="0" /></a>Kanika Marshall<br />Half a century<br />Elk Grove, CA<br /><a href="http://www.kanika.us/">www.kanika.us</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you work in clay?</span><br />In my studio, an annex in my home<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have another job?</span><br />Yes<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity? Please explain.</span><br />Solely by choice. The extra money from my art is nice, but not critical. When my kids were young and I became divorced, I needed money from my art in order to pay for after-school day care. Now, the positive acclaim is sometimes more important than money, but not as important as the joy in making the art.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?</span><br />Day job 8-5, clay is any other time, often up until midnight many nights<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?</span><br />I love the tensile quality of clay. You can make nearly anything from clay. Clay works well with my other addiction: fabric. Clay is awesome with glass, metal, wood, beads, shells, and leather. Clay can be glazed to any color. Clay is a chameleon, like me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?</span><br />I am concerned, so I wear a respirator, installed linoleum over my carpet so I won't vacuum up the clay dust anymore, open the windows to ventilate my workspace and purchased a trap for my drain so the clay/glaze reside doesn't go down the drain (altho' I have not yet installed it!). I use lead-free glazes. I keep the garage doors open while I am doing a glaze firing. But there is still a lot more that could be done to make my clay experience safer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?</span><br />I never have bad days, except maybe with the potter's wheel! I mainly do slab/tile, coil, and free-form three-dimensional clay work. Non-wheel work is always pleasurable and fruitful. I never run out of things to create, just the time to make them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you create art in other mediums?</span><br />Lots of mixed media (fabric, glass, metal, wood, beads, shells, and leather), but clay is the primary medium.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do you sell your work?</span><br />My studio, website, galleries, art shows, and local stores.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How did you approach those venues about selling your work?</span><br />I apply to art shows, keep my website updated, use e-newsletters and Facebook to help market my work, use Vistaprint to print postcards and business cards to hand out everywhere, keep in touch with my customers, and have several portfolios for upscale and lower-grade galleries. I visit galleries several times before approaching the gallery owner with my portfolio.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have any questions you want to ask other ceramic artists, or artists in general? </span><br />Does anyone have a small slab roller for sale in the northern California area (preferably near Sacramento)?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEW question: If you could change one property of clay, what would it be? (optional question; from potter John Bauman in the <a href="http://ceramicerin.blogspot.com/2009/06/survey-potter-john-bauman.html">second Monday interview</a>) </span><br />I work real fast, so sometimes there are explosions (happy little accidents). I would love to remove the possibility of explosions!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092272382384742896.post-30296049001028425972009-07-05T22:11:00.007-06:002009-07-05T22:57:16.264-06:00Mini-vacation4th of July weekend = a vacation at home. It's been a beautiful weekend, complete with indulgences. If you're thinking of visiting Colorado, this is why it's awesome (especially for those who like to eat...):<br /><br />1. <a href="http://www.cherryarts.org/">Cherry Creek Arts Festival</a> (Friday afternoon): ART, not craft... there were so many different varieties of painting, sculpting, drawing, printmaking, and clay making to see. Of course I couldn't afford to buy anything, but it was inspiring and beautiful nonetheless. To retreat from the heat of the afternoon we wandered around Room and Board to check out more beautiful things we can't afford - fancy furniture.<br /><br />2. <a href="http://www.thehuckleberry.com/">The Huckleberry</a> (Saturday morning): an amazing restaurant in Louisville with a beautiful ambiance, wonderful service, and the most delicious food and tea I've tasted. They have the BEST vegetarian gravy. If only they could team up with Lucile's Creole Cafe to get their biscuit recipe, you would have the most amazing biscuits and gravy in the world. mmmm...<br /><br />3. <a href="http://www.luciles.com/">Lucile's Creole Cafe</a> (Sunday morning): an amazing cajun restaurant in Longmont (or Boulder & Ft Collins) with delightfully filling portions of delicious cajun-style food. Their homemade ketchup is the best I've ever had, good on the already flavorful and tasty Hanks Eggs - peppers, onions, tomatoes, potatoes and eggs all scrambled up with spices and topped with avocado... and ketchup. Friggin tasty. Always come home with a plate of leftovers when I get Hanks Eggs, which is almost more delicious than the first time because I'm not growing uncomfortably stuffed after eating half a giant bisquit and a begneit (sort of like a donut, but more delicious).<br /><br />4. <a href="http://www.sweetactionicecream.com/">Sweet Action</a> (Sunday evening): this is what Twitter is good for - indy ice cream shops announcing their daily flavors and making us drool. So we make a 1/2 hour drive to get ice cream. Between the two of us we had 5 different flavors; in order of my favorites:<br />1. Baklava, honey ice cream with real pieces of baklava; 2. Boysenberry cheesecake, with real pieces of cheesecake; 3. After Dinner Mint, mint ice cream with those little pink, green, & yellow mint chips with the teeny white sprinkles on the bottom; 4. Apple Streudel; apple cinnamon ice cream? or something tasty like that; 5. Maple Walnut - took home a pint of this and was disappointed by the lack of flavor. I had some delicious maple ice cream in New Hampshire last summer at an amazing bakery & ice creamery called <a href="http://www.umplebys.com/">Umpleby's</a>... I'm sure they have the upper hand being in New Hampshire, but nonetheless, this maple ice cream was lacking some maple flavor. I'm tempted to add my own syrup to it. Maybe I'll continue the indulgences tomorrow morning & make some pancakes topped with ice cream & real maple syrup. That's a good way to start the week, right?<br /><br />To add to the weekend vacation we checked out the community swimming pool, played a silly game called Luck of the Draw, lounged around doing nothing (i.e. watching a car race), watched a lot of stuff blow up (woo! hooray for America!), and listened to my dad tell stories of him & his friends being re<span style="font-style: italic;">tards </span>when they were younger (while repeating lines from The Hangover). Good times. How was your holiday?Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07048340996080986674noreply@blogger.com0