Changing with the Seasons

I realized I'm having a hard time writing in a timely manner. It's already been 8 days since my last post. I'm feeling more of the fall briskness, a couple times the hint of winter has peeked through as well. We still haven't had our first frost and so are continuing to get some veggies out of the garden.

I love fall. I think I am more happy in the fall and in the spring. Those in between times when you can have warm or cool; sun, rain or possibly snow; and things are changing. In the summer it is all green and tends to be hot and humid. Here at least. And in the winter it is all snow. I think winter is the least changing and that makes sense since it is when everything is sleeping. I have no particular qualms with any one season, there are things I like about each, but I am a cool weather person. I like wearing jeans and sweatpants and curling up with a book, blanket and mug of hot chocolate. But I also want to be able to go stand in the sun and just absorb the warmth.

I'm changing with the seasons, too. I'm trying to let go of things that clearly make me unhappy or anxious. And when I finally make the choice and I feel that weight go, then I know it was the right decision, at least for the time being. I'm looking forward to finding more of myself, more confidence, more decision making ability, and I hope I can let go of a few more things in time.

But in the meantime, I have more pottery to be made, Kritters to crochet, business ventures to explore, and fall colors to enjoy! You all be sure to get out there and enjoy the last bits of summer and to be thankful for what you have, in whatever way is best for you.

Happy Fall Everyone!

With fall in the air I return to the studio. The end of my summer shows means I have a little break to make a few things in anticipation of my fall season and open studio time for the year. I'm refilling small items, playing with ideas that I might want to work on this winter when production demands drop off, and getting those last few items together for my renaissance faire.

Fall colors came early this year!

I did work on some Kritters to take up for restocking at Artistree. I may try to get a couple more done before I go up on Sunday, but since I have returned to the clay studio, that is where my creative energy is going at the moment.

Making leaf ornaments.

In my last post I told you about Stamp, Paper, Scissors where I now have work and of course the other shops around the area where you can purchase my work. The next three weeks or so I am once again having my open studios at home. So if you want to see all that I have, stop on by when my signs are out, or contact me through my Facebook page to make sure I am going to be around since I will be starting my hours at Artistree again now that my shows have come to completion.

More kids sale items.

I had fun this summer. I don't remember a lot of it, it becomes a blur when each week consists of making work, packing, shows, and unpacking, but I do remember meeting some great new people, seeing friends and acquaintances from previous years, seeing family and going on some small trips. I also know I have been trying to be more positive. Trying to figure out just what it is that I want for myself and who I am. It's more than being successful, more than knowing I am an artist with a soft spot for animals. It's finding contentment even in the painfully slow times, being at peace and problem solving when things get a little tight and being ok with it. Because as long as I can keep doing the things I love, and as long as I have family, friends, fans and customers who cheer me on, I really have no reason to be disappointed in this life I've chosen. I just have to keep reminding myself of that!

I love zinnias! And lucky for me they keep blooming into the fall.

And in the vein of family, friends, fans, and customers who cheer me on, if you've ever wondered about or wanted to be a patron of the arts now is your chance! I have started work on a Patreon page. It is a place where you make a monthly pledge and get exclusive access to patron-only videos, photos, and posts, and possibly receive some cool stuff that I'm making. You can view my preview page here and offer any suggestions for improvement of it before I launch. It is still a work in progress so you can't become my patron just yet, but thank you for looking, considering and if you feel moved to do so, thank you for sharing this far and wide!

Fairies in My Garden

I have random pottery everywhere. I have things from every stage of my pottery career from my first pot ever from when I was 12, up to something that came out of my last firing. (Which was a couple months ago.) Every now and then I repurpose something from early in my pottery development.

Today my mom and I visited three of the greenhouses in our immediate area, I picked up plants that could belong in a fairy world. Small leaves and flowers and fun textures. Then I needed just a few more things so I gathered some moss from our backyard and some small flowers from one of our gardens.

The bowl is actually the base of a fountain that I made at my first pottery job. I apprenticed for a few years around the time I got my driver's license. This was a collaborative piece with my mentor and I got to bring it home when it was done. It had a very short life as a fountain.

I also raided my trinkets and dug out some marbles.

The little pots and figurines are also from that time, or perhaps from before the apprenticeship when I was taking lessons in pottery from my mentor. The glass filled leaf was an experiment for ornaments and I kept several for myself. Stones that we have collected from various trips to Lake Superior became a path and the gravel is actually chicken grit.

The littlest frog lives in this pot with his "water" filled leaf pond.

It's my first fairy garden and I'm rather proud of how it turned out! I'm already thinking about adding a few things. I may need a dragon for deep in the shadows or a little hut for my little guy. Maybe another frog or two...