Firefly Market

Deep breath... Whew...! It has been a crazy few weeks and I keep reminding myself to breathe.

About two weeks ago I received an email asking if I wanted to participate in a market that I had been on the wait list for. The organizers decided to open up an extra area. This is a market that I have applied for many times (and have been politely rejected), so of course I seized the opportunity to participate! I was in bed on the following Thursday night settling my thoughts and I realized HOLY CRAP! THE MARKET IS ONE WEEK AWAY! For some reason I was thinking I had more time. So I had a week to get as much work finished as possible, make tags, price everything, get a tax license, figure out my display.... By the time the day before the show arrived I was probably clinically insane.

Saturday morning my dad arrived early early to help me bring everything to the market. Everyone there was buzzing and the excitement was in the air. I was pleased with my display! In the future I would love to have more work (and more time to create it!) and so another shelf or two, but for what I had it was perfect.

Wabi Sabi Cups For LON Little Shop

Last week I had the pleasure of having Jeff from LON Little Shop over for a studio visit. We chatted a little and he took photos while I worked away on our collaboration- small Wabi Sabi cups. The first batch is now in the shop! It is located on 13th Street just off the Pearl Street Mall if you want to swing by and see them in person. Here are some photos of the studio visit (photos taken by Jeff Walters). There is also a video about my favorite thing in pottery. I can't upload it here but you can check it out on my Facebook page.

Overdue Updates

Oh man, I have so much to catch up on! Obviously I haven't been blogging much. Working two jobs (or four if you count Vintage Rhino and Mud Whimsy), raising a teenager, and trying to make time in my studio has packed my days. But things are happening. So many exciting things! I have taken a few leaps and my ceramic business is finally gathering some momentum.
On my birthday (way back in November) I visited one of my favorite stores, Ironwood. Every time I go there I leave feeling very inspired- and I always have a few new plant babies too! On my birthday I like to dress up in something that makes me feel spectacular, and that day I wore my porcelain geometric necklace. When I went to Ironwood the owner of the shop complimented me on my necklace. When I told her that I had made it she offered to sell them at the store! This was a much-needed boost. Not only did it get me making things again, but it gave me the confidence to approach some other shops too.

A few weeks later I moseyed in to a new store in Boulder called Lon Little Shop. It was tiny, but so obviously thoughtful and well curated. There were some beautiful jewelry pieces and I thought my pendants would fit right in. I chatted myself up a little, and the owner Lon said sure, he'd try it out! Lon is always thinking and trying new things. You can practically see his gears turning when he looks at something and gets an idea. I also brought in my little air plant wall pieces, and this gave him the idea of a collaboration between me, his designer Jeff, and him. We came up with a very simple white saki cup (or air plant holder or whatever) with a small indention in the side. The first batch is in the making, and should be finished in the next few weeks! 

Spending so much time in my studio has been so good for me. I am getting new ideas all the time! I'm currently working on all sorts of plant accessories. Like markers, and hanging planters and fairy garden whimsies. I will post more updates as these things make their way to my Etsy shop, but here's a little preview:

Japan Photos

I don't have a whole lot to say... Life has been busy since returning from Japan. So instead I will just share some photos of our adventure

Japan Adventure Part 1

My boyfriend called me and said casually, "What do you think about going to Japan?" I responded, just as casually, thinking it was a hypothetical conversation, "Japan would be cool."
"Great! I'm so happy you said that. I'm making arrangements."

Traveling overseas was huge for me. I've never been off the continent and I didn't even have a passport. Also I have several jobs that I had to get time off from. But we did it. Brad got tickets, made reservations and travel plans. I applied for my passport and talked to my employers. On Friday, October 18th, we left Denver and traveled about 22 hours (including layovers and trains) and arrived in Tokyo around midnight.

Much of our time there was spent going on big adventures, like staying in a Buddhist monetary, hiking the 10,000 steps of Fushimi Inari Shrine, and eating at this interesting place, but one part of a day was dedicated to looking at ceramics in Kyoto. The bigger museums were closed when we visited (I wouldn't have guessed this but a lot of places were closed Wednesdays and Thursdays. It's the Sunday and Monday of Japan!), but we went in to little shops selling pieces made locally. I got my fill of inspiration! I have a few big ideas brewing...

The past few months I have barely worked on ceramics. I've been working A LOT at my other jobs, dramas and traumas keep arising, and at the end of the day I've just been tired. I haven't been making ceramics a priority. One great thing about traveling is that I come home with so much inspiration, and stepping away from daily life helps to put things in perspective for me. I need to carve out some time to make things- and not for the shop or to fulfill orders. I need some play time.

I don't have ANY photos of Japan at the moment- I am sitting in the airport waiting for my connecting flight home. The lights are starting to look like stars and I am trying not to fall asleep! I will write more when I am not delirious from jet lag and sleep deprivation.

Boulder Floods

Before I launch into the devastations of the Boulder floods, I want everyone to know that we are fine. There was no flooding in my house or studio and the roads around us stayed open enough for us to leave and safely return (not that we went out much!).

The past few days have been nerve wrecking. Flood warnings were constantly going off, sirens consistent, and the rain pounded down. I watched news and checked Boulder's OEM site every 5 minutes. I knew there were so many other things I should be doing but I couldn't take my eyes off of what was happening around my town. I felt so helpless.

My mom, sister, and niece live in Allenspark, a small town between Lyons and Estes Park. Both Lyons and Estes Park are under water. Highway 7, the way I drive to my mom's house, was destroyed by the raging Saint Vrain River. Normally this river is fairly tame, about 8 feet wide and at least 10 feet below the highway.

Highway 7, near mile marker 12

This is the only photo I have seen of the area, which is terrifying. All roads are damaged by rock slides or flooding, and my family is trapped. I received an email from my mom yesterday saying that they are safe, have electricity and water, and her cabin is cozy and dry. The community was pulling together, helping each other, and sharing supplies. 

My dad lives in South Boulder up on a hill. I thought that he would be untouched there, but a creek passes close to his home. The creek overflowed into the road, taking out a footbridge, flooding cars,  and closing the main road to his house. Unfortunately his house flooded. I spent some time there helping to suck up the water soaked into his carpet, and move furniture and belongings upstairs.  It is a big, expensive mess, but they are working hard to clean it up. 

Table Mesa and Broadway, the road to my dad's house

Despite how the floods have affected my family, I know that we are very fortunate. I will write more soon, but wanted to let friends and family know that we are ok. 

August Update

I am so ready for Autumn... Cooler days, that cozy feeling, and more time indoors. In June and July I worked like crazy on a handful of custom orders that I received all at once, and finished them in a big flurry. Then I had nothing for a long while~ no orders, barely any clay and very little inspiration. It was a good time for a break. I went on a little road trip, worked my other jobs, and spent time with my daughter. I have barely been in my studio for a few weeks except here and there and when I did visit it was briefly. I began to notice a little structure going up around the perimeter of my garden. First it started on the edge of the siding down to the garden wall. Then it expanded to the watering can that hasn't been used in a month. Then the builder remodeled and popped the top. It became a GIANT spider web! This morning I was watering my garden and saw something out of the corner of my eye. It looked like a spider, though it retreated quickly with the spray of water I gave my tomato plants. Tonight I went out to have a look and the master architect was out, sitting on his (or her) throne.

From far away you can barely see it

Closer

As close as I would dare

This spider is about the size of a quarter and the web it has built is bigger every day. So literally, my studio is getting covered with webs... It is time for me to get back in there.