even as a potter i find endless words of wisdom from dillard’s writing about her own struggle in being a writer. every artist alike deals with “writers block” and as i struggle through my own period of this i am comforted by her words.

the latest quote that is helping is this:

“Similarly, the impulse to keep to yourself what you have learned is not only shameful, it is destructive. Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes.”
— annie dillard, the writing life)

i believe she is saying here to pass on what you have learned by teaching, discussing, this is funny but blogging too.

also i find more meaning. i think even learning more myself, to never end the discovery process is so important. i have a rule for myself to take a class or a workshop once a year. it can be in anything actually, just so i never stop learning. this is hard with kids, but i find it so important, especially when you have had a summer of making 350 mugs and don’t have time for much else.

i also think she is saying to share what you have inside through your work. get it out so that it won’t spoil and become a vacant land of forgotten and wasted ideas.

so, besides mug after mug after mug for a large order, i’ve been getting my ideas out and making these:

[View with PicLens]

i love pattern and when fabric patterns wrap around an arm of a chair it takes on it’s infrastructure, as i think this sanderson fabric reflects. the pattern is somewhat boring if you’d see it on the wall, but on this chair it takes on interest because of the skeleton underneath.

this is important when placing my pattern on the form, i want it to compliment the shape and line.

here are some forms with slip i’ve been working on. layering colored slips and scraffitoing through the layers then putting my pattern on top of the layers. this effect seems to be giving me what I’m looking for, we shall see in the end.

Picking up an order of dry materials to make my glazes this week So, then hopefully I will be able to do my first firing in the new studio!! For having fired so many kilns of so many types and for this being electric, I have to admit I’m a bit apprehensive about it.

I have to laugh at myself A LOT.

On another note. I recently discovered that Liz Zlott Summerfield, an awesome potter in the area, has developed cancer. this is such sad news but the community around where she lives has surrounded she and her husband by hosting a fundraiser  and will have an online auction to help raise money for her treatment.

There will be an online sale that will be held on Etsy.com and will begin September 1st.

You can make a monetary donation to a PayPal account created for Liz’s benefit.
By using this link below, you can be assured that all donations will go quickly, safely and directly to Liz.

The link to this account is: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=XMYBAEHMPQXEE&lc=US&item_name=Liz%20Zlot%20Summerfield%20Benefit&currency_code=USD&bn=PP%2dDonationsBF%3abtn_donate_LG%2egif%3aNonHosted

.

this is hard to understand, and as i worry and fret about where my patterns will go o firing my kiln, i am reminded of how fragile life is and how we are not promised anything, every second is precious.

i’m enjoying my time in the studio vey much and so are Dan and will…..look at those batman pj’s. so sweet.

thanks for reading. see you soon.