Details

                                                                                       

I ran my hands along the wrought iron gates of Jackson Square, which have been worn away and repainted many times over. Café Du Monde still serves the beignets and French coffee that taste the way my memory serves them when I think about the 22 year old girl I was when I moved to New Orleans after college. I had not returned in 30 years until last weekend when my husband and I went for the Jazz and Heritage Festival, which, incidentally, is more fun than I can describe. If I think about the many layers of emotion that flooded through me, its overwhelming. There are the Katrina stories I heard, the vibrant funky music from the Gospel tent to the main stages, the incomparably good food, and all the quirky peculiarities of culture such as Mardi Gras Indians, Zydeco, and how alcoholism is not viewed as a disease but rather a sort of religion. It’s such a contradiction. New Orleans is fragile, damaged, corrupt, even violent, and at the same time its resilience is impossibly strong, and the lack of pretention is a form of purity. Despite the many who died or may yet die due to inept leadership, pollution or crime, those who live there are so fully alive. It is contagious. I think I’ll go back more often. I also see how my early experiences in New Orleans still live in me, and flow out into my ceramic work expressed in color, texture, funky shapes made with joy and sometimes after working through great frustration. The old lace. The fluid geometry. The details.

Sarah-Lambert Cook's Amazing Creative Vortex

The miniature watercolor with its impossibly rich detail and precision rendering are impressive, but what makes Sarah-Lambert Cook stand out is the quirky choice of subject matter. Monty Python, Jane Austen and Harper Lee references show up often, usually with an unusual personal twist. There are also finely drawn  animals, flowers, landscapes. Where, you might wonder, does she get all these ideas? Well, for starters, she has moved 5 times in the last year as a military spouse, so she's seen a lot of various landscapes, zoos, museums, nature preserves. But her best inspirational source is with her younger sisters. Their distinct and fearless personalities are captured below, along with Sarah-Lambert's notes. I think it shows how one creative person is often the voice for all that has touched us, especially the people who live in our hearts and minds.

This is my youngest sister who, at 16 years younger than myself, has a fantastic person style.  

She's really into red pandas right now and is wearing my Red Panda necklace (found here) while holding her own pet red panda, Charlie Brown.

Julianne is a pensive, beautiful girl who is just on the cusp of high school now. (Wearing the Le Magical Fireflies necklace) 

She spends a lot of time reading and even more time inventing stories of her own! (Wearing the Arrowhead necklace) 

Katy-Lynn is on the cusp of college and full of possibilities. Her observant nature helps in her writing which she is very good at! (Wearing the Llama locket)

It's Spring!

I watch the persistent emerging of green shoots pushing up as the sun they seek turns brighter and warmer every day. Soon the early blooms unfold. I spend afternoons clearing leaves and tramping softly outside, hoping to see a nest or burrow, just to be near it. In my studio, new ideas are taking shape as well. Have a look: The pieces are for sale here

staging obsessions

The most basic goal of staging is to tell a story about the object such as scale, function, style. Since I am one of those curious people who must push the boundaries, the staging of my pottery requires many props that get moved around and regrouped until something intuitive inside me says its right. This nesting bowl set is in  my Valentine collection. The heart formed in the negative space of  bits of winter garden finds and pieces pinched from a bouquet alludes to VD. I like to use bits from my own life. My husband surprised me with flowers. It was an exceptionally warm day so I enjoyed scavenging the garden. I've been scouring Pinterest for a dessert treat to bake and send to my college girl. So the story of my bowls is richer than size and color. It is about the love transmitted in cookies and gardening and getting something delightful that was unexpected.

Each staged picture is a small collage of the everyday magic in m life.

thoughts for the new year

For 6 weeks I poured every ounce of myself into mugs, bowls, hand formed tree branches, owls,and jars. Let'a not forget the Birds Nest casseroles,which shipped in large batches the same day they came out of the kiln. Packing was never finished until midnight. Emails poured in from around the world from happy buyers. I admit that there is a buoyant trancelike high that comes with intense focus,hard work, and success. Doing something well is very satisfying. Getting recognition for that is a sweet intoxication. I didn't hit the wall of burnout this year but I wound up exhausted in that braindead bone weary state where you can't really sleep because stacks of orders and unread emails haunt your dreams.

My husband and I took a short trip over the weekend to soak in the mineral waters of Hot Springs NC, just an hour north of Asheville. We stayed at River Dance B & B, which has one of the most spectacular views. We watched the stars come out over a steep gorge where the Laurel River makes a sharp bend. We hiked, and visited artists' studios in nearby Marshall. We also treated ourselves to an herbal body wrap, massage, and facial before soaking in the mineral water. I want to spend some time doing creative projects that don't involve clay, making long slow meals and having conversations that do not involve electronic devices. Just for  a few days. I do have new designs in pottery brewing. My New Years goals are the same as last years. THIS time I will be fully prepared for the 2013 holiday buying spree. One can dream.... Maybe I need to book my spa weekend in advance. Crazy has away of putting on a new face and slipping in my back door no matter how many times I kick her to the curb. At least she has good stories, and the best jokes.

Its time to find that perfect balance between crazy and peace.

the home decor outside your door

I have gathered dried stalks, seed pods, fallen pine cones, and twigs. The many shades of brown are as remarkable as a rainbow now that the loud autumn has gone. There are also green textures, bright berries, and a few hearty asters. Here are some arrangements I've made with my daily finds. First, here is what I've gathered today:

I like to add some drama with gold, silver, and a bit of neon paint.If you do this sparingly,  it looks like natural pops of color in bright natural sunlight.










Here are some arrangements I've made:

I used this for a diner party:

When guests compliment my work I can talk of things made by hands and how I found a hollow log, a perfect pine cone, or cluster of purple berries; all that I find exquisite. One free thing can set you free. Occasionally.

Wisdom of my cat

This is Wally, who was born in my closet, manages my studio, and has shared with me much wisdom.

Everything is simple.

Love is like a war. Easy to begin but hard to end.

Treat everyone to the same affection you show a cat. 

I advise everyone to follow their dreams. Except the one where they forget to feed the cat.

Unless you are absolutely sure, sleep on it. And don't be sure all that often.

There are only 2 philosophies. Hiss and purr. Mine is purr