It's Your Serve.

I’ve been thinking a lot about ‘giving back’ lately. As a clay artist, what skill set can I share with others that will be meaningful? It’s one reason I like to teach; it’s nice to share some of my experience and knowledge with interested students. I also donate various creations to charity events to help raise money and awareness for their cause. I know there is more to being ‘of service’ than that. So I’d like to explore more ways to spread kindness in day-to-day life. 

Garden bells are in process for a class I'll be teaching at The Muse in Frederick. Interested in having one for your outdoor space? Click on this photo to send me a message and I'll make sure you are notified of class details!

January 16 is a holiday celebrating Martin Luther King’s birth. People are encouraged to volunteer on this day to honor MLK. Service holds lots of different meanings; it can be interpreted spiritually, signify a community-driven passion or happen in simple one-on-one encounters. I think it’s most beneficial when it’s meaningful to the person providing the favor. 

New heart shapes are stacking up in the studio in anticipation of Valentines Day! Reserve one for yourself or a loved-one by clicking on this photo!

Volunteering can seem impossible or time-consuming in a busy life. I think this element of sacrifice is part of the point. My mother used to write a weekly column for the Washington Post called “You Can Help.” Each article would showcase a worthy opportunity for volunteering. Sometimes we just need a suggestion of where we can help out. Google is probably a great resource for that question nowadays. 

I tried out a new recipe that was shared with me for my favorite Eggplant Parmesan this past week.. That simple act of kindness fed my tummy and my soul!

Sharing is another good way to think about service. It’s an easy way to give back throughout our lives. Think of how good you feel when a family member, friend, co-worker or stranger does you a favor. Make a conscious effort to pass on the goodwill as well. 

In the spirit of giving, one lucky ClayByLaura Club member will receive this Bird Feeder from my studio. Winter is an especially good time to provide for the hungry birds in your neighborhood. Remember to fill up your own with ample seed this time of year. Want one of my colorful bird feeders for your yard? Click here to shop. (and if it’s not currently in stock, I’ll make one just for you!)

Janet Moll is the lucky winner of the January 2016 ClayByLaura Club giveaway. Want to have a chance for next time? Click on this photo to sign up!

Home Base

I’ve been making images and shapes of houses in my creations for a long time. It’s a familiar, friendly representation of a place I love. Since my husband and I have moved several times in our years together, I have come to realize that home is where you make it. It does not have to be a particular building or structure. It’s more ephemeral than that. For me, home is where my heart lives in the moment.

I made this mixing bowl using a potter's wheel in 1997. The thumb rest also acts as a pour spout for the bowl's contents. I always liked this shape; it's fantastically functional, so I'm working on recreating the form in a hand-built version. Click on the photo if you'd like me to make one for you!

Home images are cropping up in my plans for some renewed shapes I’d like to create. I think it’s a universal symbol of comfort for many of us. It can evoke memories of childhood, fill our planning for future goals and establish our sense of community when we take root.

So what to make? I like to create functional items – something that is attractive and can be used. What’s your suggestion? Are there particular pieces you’d suggest? Sometimes it’s hard for me to gauge what you’d like to use in your own home. Tell me. It’s helpful!

Playtime

Recess in grade school for many people was one of the highlights of the day. It was a break from sitting inside, freedom to run around and a time to cultivate play. I think a fun pause from our regular daily routines is still important to embrace – even as adults. 

I've been playing with some new imagery of my clay pieces. This image originated as a photo I took using a special backdrop and lighting. I 'plugged' the photo in to a program on my IPad and tweaked it with this painterly effect. It was fun!

In the clay studio, playtime means experimenting with new forms, combining different glaze colors and letting free-association thoughts flourish throughout the creative process. It’s not always so easy – even making art can get into a rigid routine. Breaking away from well-worn habits is freeing and can lead to lots of new ideas. 

Another program on my IPad allows me to write directly on the screen. These are some of the goals I've set for the New Year!

Often, it’s the input of my family, friends and customers that help achieve a playful session in the studio. This give and take of ideas and suggestions is always helpful. I can use your help now. Please take a moment to fill out this survey. It's the first time I've used this feature on my website. If it does not work in the email you received, please click here to go to the survey form directly on my website and fill it in there!

Thank you! I hope you find time for an activity that you enjoy in your daily routine this coming year.

Presence – The Gift That Keeps On Giving

The days after holidays can be a letdown. There is such a build-up to a particular day and event, that when it’s over and done, it can be a little sad. My remedy to this natural ebb and flow is to focus on the positive, and think about the lasting gifts each holiday brings.

Knitting is one of the ways I sit with my family and enjoy their company. 

Sure, presents and elaborate meals are nice, but what I truly remember about holiday events of the past is the people. The time we spend together talking, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company – those are the gifts I most remember. As each holiday comes around, and past family traditions are shared with new friends and growing families, it’s also a good time to reflect on those no longer present. 

Some of our family traditions for Christmas include Chinese Food carry-out, a trip to the movies, and playing a board game. These memory-building activities are a fun way to spend time together, relax, laugh, and enjoy each other’s presence. What are the holiday traditions/memories that are important to you? Click on the photo above to tell me!

I did manage to slip into the studio this past week to finish up some commission pieces. This unique colander will replace a broken one that was made long ago for a special friend. I already have lots of new ideas brewing and am excited to get back in the studio to create in the new year ahead. 

Enlightened

After this year’s winter solstice, December 21, the days will begin to get longer. Good! I’m not a fan of early darkness in the late afternoon and I would guess not many people are. It’s no wonder that so many of this season’s holidays celebrate with light. It brightens the darkness of the season. 

Another way to look at this seasonal lack of light perhaps is to recognize its impact on the daily rhythms of our lives. For me, it encourages a kind of cocooning affect where I turn inward, slow down my routine and attend to more projects inside my home than the longer days when light is plentiful and I’m drawn to be outside. 

This year, both Christmas and Hanukkah fall in the same calendar timeframe. Our family has honored both holidays since our children were born. The flames of the menorah candles re-enact the ancient story when a one-day supply of oil lasted eight days and nights. This is the first menorah we bought more than 30 years ago. Click on the photo to hear Adam Sandler's original Hanukkah song!

We bought the chili pepper lights on one of our trips to Santa Fe, New Mexico. They have adorned one of our holiday trees ever since!

Mostly this time of year, I'm looking forward to spending time with my family. Together, we'll share some meals, hang out, watch some movies and solidify some new memories for the holiday season. I hope your holiday celebrations are light-filled, heavy with family, friends and food and most of all memorable!

I use this basic latke recipe each year. I've occasionally embellished it with extra ingredients, like sweet potatoes. They are always served with a side of apple sauce and sour cream. The recipe is from a cookbook I bought at Goucher College bookstore called Simple Jewish Cookery by Edna Beilenson.

MishMash

Mishmash is the perfect word to describe what’s going on in the studio this week. There is a lot happening all at once. Several custom projects have been completed.  I’ve participated in two different Open Studio sales. Internet purchases are pinging my cell phone. And, I still want to be in the studio exploring some recent ideas. Probably lots of creative makers are experiencing this combination of controlled chaos in their lives as well. Maybe you are too!

Take a drive to this Open Studio and you won't be disappointed! Stacey Krantz invited a wonderful mishmash of area artists to participate in her annual Open Studio including me. Not only is her fantastic workspace filled with her own amazing creations, there are gifts galore to satisfy a number of people on your holiday list. I've already shopped there myself and made note of some more I'd like to purchase. I'll be in Stacey's studio this coming weekend -- so I hope you'll stop in and say hello.

The winter season is full tilt for many people who are balancing their regular life schedule with additional social events, home decorating, holiday shopping, family gatherings, special cooking and baking activities. It’s a good time to remember to pace ourselves, say no when it’s too much and choose to spend our time on what’s personally valuable. It’s different for each and everyone. 

Here's one idea that's brewing for me. After a conversation with a friend who was using one of the 'cake plates' I'd made for her many years ago when I was primarily using the potter's wheel, I started thinking about how I could recreate this popular item using my current hand-building methods. In between everything else that is happening in my studio, I quickly made a sample to see. It's a start and I already know how to make some improvements to the design. 

Embrace the mishmash of your life right now. Weed out what doesn't work for you. Think of ways to improve your experience. Try new things. And stay positive!

Everyone Needs A Cheerleader!

“Two, Four, Six, Eight. Who do we appreciate?”

In today’s world, I’m sure this qualifies as an old school cheer. I was a cheerleader in both junior and senior high school when this group shout was a standard. It was the days of sing-songy chants, split jumps in the air and semi-dance routines to live marching band music. During athletic events, our goal was to encourage the sports teams and guide the fans in supportive chants. 

These garden bells are on their way to their new homes. A fellow artist and childhood friend entrusted me with the design and completion of this project. She provided some guidance with desired colors, but left the other creative choices up to me. Support like this encourages my artistic abilities. 

Looking beyond sports, I’ve realized the importance of a good support team in professional and lifetime pursuits. Words of encouragement go a long way to bolster confidence and improve our attitude. I bet everyone likes to have enthusiastic and vocal supporters at work and at home. 

Participating in a creative outlet is a good way to bring cheer in to your own life. There are so many ways to satisfy a creative urge you may have. Do-It-yourself Pinterest projects, studio painting parties or local 'crafternoon' gatherings are a few. Even new computer programs are a tool any of us can use to exercise our artistic muscle. Look what my husband created from a favorite photo of two of our dogs!

I’m lucky to have some great clay cheerleaders in my world. Other potters, my family and many of my customers are a vital part of this support system. Their encouragement, advice and positive feedback cheer me on and guide me toward success. In turn, I like to be a positive voice for people in my life circle. Verbalizing appreciation makes everyone feel good. 

This group of bowls is accompanying a dinner set on its way to California. I experimented and accented each foot of the bowl with a pop of color. I like the results!

In addition to words, actions speak volumes. Even strangers benefit from good cheer. Eye contact and a smile might be just the uplift a fellow human needs. Purchases made at locally owned businesses are a boost to every community. Think about the people in your immediate circle and spread some encouragement there. I bet it reverberates right back to you tenfold. 

If you live around the Washington, DC area -- this holiday show is worth the trip! I'll be on hand Saturday, December 10 and Friday December 16. Stop by and say hello! Click on photo for more details. 

Risk and Reward

This year I decided to try a new way to cook my Thanksgiving turkey. The technical term is ‘spatchcock’. By cutting out the backbone and splaying the bird, it cooks quickly and evenly. What I didn’t plan was the size of the turkey, the availability of an appropriate pan, the dimensions of my oven AND a visit from the Fire Department when the smoke detectors activated. The good news is the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal cooked perfectly and I learned some tricks for making my next attempt worry-free. 

Here’s what I learned from my cooking attempt. Trying something new is filled with risk. Failure is always an option. But success is a strong possibility too. The lessons learned from an unfamiliar skill are valuable and build on the knowledge we’ve already mastered. Attitude is important too. Thinking positive – “I can do this” – helps. If there is a fiasco, learn from it and try again. It’s probably rare to have total success on a first attempt at a new skill. Practice moves us toward success.

This custom garden bell will be assembled and shipped to its new home this week. It reflects some improvements to my original design and use of new materials to achieve the customer's desired color palette. 

Time in the studio reflects the same lessons I learn from cooking and other life skills. Taking risks with new shapes, techniques or glaze combinations does not always bring the desired results. Lots of time and energy go into a clay creation, so it's frustrating when the final product falls short of the desired expectation. Failure is good though, especially if the mistakes lead to future success. The point is to keep trying. Stopping after defeat is not an option. Observe. Learn. Make another attempt. 

Congratulations Mary! Your new pie dish will be mailed to you this week!