what i do when i should be doing something else

i am really quite the master of procrastination.  more than anything, i need to be cleaning up the studio, beginning to set up for my studio show and glazing glazing glazing.... instead, i can't seem to stop painting.  i thought i would start a couple of canvases to pick away at in the weeks to come, and now i am obsessed working on about 7 paintings and NOT glazing.  what is wrong with me?

and here is a link to some more in progress..... paintings in progress

staying focused

Sometimes i have such a hard time staying focused and on track in the studio; especially when i have so much to do.  I blame it on the rain today....  but really i am just having trouble keeping up with all of the things that need to be doing.  I worked for the morning in the studio sanding and smoothing the edges of a bunch of trays and dishes that are dry and waiting for their initial firing.  The mud gods weren't with me for much of the time, and i ended up breaking a number of pieces under my - apparently not so gentle- touch.  bummer.  I was hoping to  get the kiln fully loaded and get that bisque fire done before the evening rolled around, but it was not to be.  Having to drop work in the middle of any task and go to pick up a little one from school always throws me for a bit of a loop, and today it really threw me off my game.... what could/ should have been about a 45 minute round trip, turned into a 3 hour tour of school, a few different printing places, the craft store, the post office, and, why oh why did i even go inside?  TJMaxx.  it didn't seem like any of these little errands were taking too long until i got home and realized that it was 2:30 and that my work day was already moving quickly towards being over.  I guess at that point i just got discouraged enough that i haven't really poured myself into much of anything since then. 

The trouble is, i have a busy weekend coming up with out of town guests and soccer games and a drop off for a holiday show that i do every year, and my studio show is NEXT weekend!  i am so ill prepared for this year's show, and i really should be spending EVERY waking moment making things, and finishing the hundreds of things i have already started... not to mention cleaning the studio and the rest of the house, and starting to set up the show....  

I see a few all nighters (or VERY late nights) in my immediate future.  
and lots and lots of coffee.

this treasury is on Etsy's front page right now! yay!

 the photograph in this listing shows a chARiTy elise mug in its natural habitat.


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32258968

how can i expect that anyone would want to read this when i don't ever write anything?

And why is it so hard for me to write anything here? It's not like i don't have anything to say. i have loads to say! and i certainly have a lot of work that i could show you. i could at least put up a picture or two once in awhile!

Well, alright then.... here are a few pictures.


I did a little craft show this past weekend at an elementary school in my area.
Here are some of the jewelry pieces i was selling there. My lego guys are a big hit!






 These are trays full of pendants and pins and then folks can choose which kind of cord or chain they would like.









 This year i opted to pay for a double booth space so that i could really spread out. I modified the booth from my standard set-up and left the big folding screen at home, and it looked pretty good, i think.

It is no secret that i am completely addicted to texture. I look at EVERYTHING around me and think about how i can capture its texture to incorporate into something pottery related. So, i collect antique (and other) buttons, funky cabochons, quirky miniatures and toys, sea shells and fruit pits.... I make silicone molds of them-- as well as the bottoms of shoes, wood-carvings, cookies,fruits and vegetables, baskets, clothing, thrift store finds... I carve stamps and texture sheets out of linoleum and soft cut, from clay and plaster, i make stamps from bubble wrap, perforated steel, hardware cloth, nuts and bolts and screws.... So, i hoard all of these things and then i use them to make ceramic pieces which i hoard as well. All fine and good. i use many of these things to make earrings and pendants, rings, magnets, embellishments for my own art and pieces for mosaic. The thing is, i make way more than i can ever really use. They pile up and take up space in the studio. You would think i would stop making them- stop collecting them.... but i really can't! So, once again i will be listing more of these items in my etsy shop-- so that others who love and appreciate them can use them in their creations too! When i first opened my shop, i had more pendants and tile type things for sale, and for some reason i stopped making them available... i guess it seemed like too much of a bother to list such small items.... But now, spring is here, and i am eager to get the studio in working order again- eager to clean and organize and systematize-- and also excited to share some of my finds with you!! So, please check in soon and often as i will be creating a flurry of listings comprised of materials for others to use.

Speaking of which, i need to get in there and make some more stamps because the last batch has been picked over as well....

Here is a shot through the front window at night (the patio furniture inside obscures some of the view)

This is a shot of a little retail "island" in the center of the store- it has not been merchandised yet but we have just been playing with its placement.

Here is a view of the "tea wall"-- canisters full of loose leaf tea, european bakery case waiting to be filled with amazing confections and pastries, chalkboards ready to be filled with menu items; the grid wall is a place for hanging some retail items, clocks, mirrors, etc...

Panning around to the right a bit... showing more of the retail area... this picture was taken more than a week ago- before the other furniture was placed....