Did You See That!!??!!!

I uploaded galleries of my pottery to FlickR yesterday, and of course I had to cruise through the spectacular eye candy by some seriously talented pro photographers. I'm never content just to look, though. I've got the worst case of "gee, I could do that" syndrome. My imagination runs wild; I am now a world traveling photographer with a portfolio of soul-inspiring shots! It's amazing what confidence owning Photoshop gives. So I messed around with masking and hue changes and came up with this piece, Datura. It's an evening-blooming huge trumpet flower that grows in the faraway place of my garden. I rather like the results, even though I may never be a famous art photographer in this lifetime.

I enjoy having a memory of summer's abundance on a wet winter day. Daturas are like God's magic show- right before your eyes, these ethereal beauties burst forth from unremarkable plants with cumbersome protrusions. Voila!

Did you see that!!??!!!

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.”

Albert Einstien

That's what I'm talking about!

Magical Reverie, Interrupted

The mountains in winter draw me into a magical reverie where every almost silent rustle could be a gnome or unicorn, and I imagine myself living peacefully and blissfully as part of the natural order of things. Even though I live with this astonishing natural beauty, my life has lately been anything but magical and charmed. I've been in the slightly less blissful world of modern technology gone wretchedly amuck. Our wireless internet connection ceased, my computer crashed, and we've been dealing with Charter cable reps, who are not nearly as endearing as gnomes or unicorns. But just milliseconds before my patient husband became the latest example of Tech Rage Insanity, it all began behaving perfectly again.

This explains why I haven't posted blogs this past week. I'm back!

Bee Happy

If you wander aimlessly in the yard, and stop to admire the first shocking purple of the crocuses that open their brave faces to the snowy cold, it is good to have a macro lens! My husband caught this little bee having a pollen party.

Don't tell me this isn't happiness! That its not buzzing in gratitude and praise; that it is not covering itself in grace, saturated in sweetness, savoring a sticky binge, perhaps a little drunk; like a priest who cleans up after communion.

I know there is some biological scientific dissertation on bees, but I don't believe it right at this minute. I want to watch the audacious little bee, and for a moment, drift in happy.

The Revolution Will Be Handmade

We're all likely to buy a wedding or anniversary gift soon. This year I'm thinking of how my spending affects our troubled economy, and I'm joining the Handmade Revolution. Think about it! In buying this gorgeous dinnerware set by JD Wolfe Pottery, or this 4 pc placemat set by Such Pretty Colors, 100% of your money goes directly to the artist, and directly into the Real Economy. 0% goes to CEO bonuses, golden parachutes, third world sweat shops, corporate irresponsibility, or any of the other depressing topics we were happy to never hear about until last October.

It's better for our planet, too. Stoneware pottery made in an artisan studio will far outlive commercial dinnerware, and it uses less energy to produce. A good fabric artist will always produce more durable goods with less waste than manufactured products.

Will I be spending more??? Will I be hi-jacked by my conscience, morals, ethics, and general soft-heartedness into doing The Right Thing? Heck, no! The 4 pc dinnerware set is $119, and the 4 pc placemat set is $35. Pretty much what I'd spend at an upscale corporate retail chain.

(The curious should know that I am not related to JD Wolfe Pottery, even though we have the same last name, and are both potters. I just ran across it on Etsy, and like the work. And I can't fill every dinnerware order out there- it's okay to spread the Handmade Revolution around. None of us will ever be Too Big to Fail.)

It's all pretty sweet. I used to just make stuff and love to shop and now I'm a revolutionary.

Magnificent Mugs

A mug is a potter's signature piece. It's where we put our design sensibilities together with our visual passion. A mug should balance well when held in the hand, the lip should be smooth, the handle should be a pleasing shape relative to the vessel. Furthermore, it should be something you'd like to see as you wake up.

I've been a potter for over 30 years, so I'm a mug snob for sure. I like having one of a kind mugs instead of matchy-matchy sets. When I set out mugs for guests, I notice how everyone studies them before choosing one. No one just grabs the nearest mug. We all feel that elusive intuitive pull toward just the right vessel, and so its important to have a variety.

The mugs I chose all have great design and visual appeal. Top left is Butterfly Mug by Jewel Pottery. I love the detail in the stamped butterfly- very cheerful. The slightly closed mouth makes this least likely to tip and spill- great for when small kids are around.

Top right is Large Turquoise Mug by Hodaka Pottery. It's a classic, perfectly balanced shape with gorgeous glazes. I adore pottery without imagery, where the interplay of glaze is enough to fascinate and invite contemplation.

Bottom left is Starry Night Mug by Di Terra. It's doodle-y art at its best. I love how the curliecues really explore the mug's surface.

Bottom right is Porcelain Cup by Stepanka. The play of glazes and stains is visually stunning. The understated whimsy in her imagery is held together by great design skills.

Which would you choose?

Charisma

I named the necklace that I blogged about last week . Charisma. I had great titles suggested to me, and had almost chosen one when I wore it to a meeting last weekend and every single person there complimented me immediately! No kidding- people I was meeting for the first time said 'hello, I love your necklace.' The picture you see above is my daughter, not me- trust me, I don't generate automatic compliments like she does! Oh, to be 15 again. Without the hormones... anyway, back to my anecdote...

I proposed something that created a 2 hour discussion, and I had a feeling the whole time that I knew exactly what to say. In the end, everyone voted for my proposal- including those who had been fairly skeptical initially. Only later did I think about this necklace, and how the turquoise + copper + picture jasper + clay have properties that should allow you to speak convincingly; wisely.

So it is called charisma- A rare personal quality attributed to leaders who arouse fervent enthusiasm. Personal magnetism or charm.

Isn't it interesting that we don't really know how or why charisma works, where it comes from. I'm not sure how gemstones attract or hold certain properties either.

It just is that way.

Charisma is now in my Etsy store if you'd like to look.

Backyard Beauty

The snow started yesterday, its dance of white fairy dust reshaping the landscape. The curious squirrels began this morning sifting through the glittering terrain, as if the abundant acorns are actually now rare collectibles.

What a metaphor! That which we see as rare and valuable may often lie barely hidden in abundance all around us; everywhere; everyday; for anyone curious enough to search.