Making Dates With Deadlines

This past week was all about deadlines. For months leading up to the first full week of May, many supplemental goals needed to be set and accomplished. And since I have a tendency to revert to Monkey Mind (see past blog post!), this concept is not always natural to me. I think many people who think in creative ways struggle with deadlines, so I’m not alone!

Early in the week I delivered and set up a series of outdoor flowers to fill the pots underneath this pool-side table. 

I’ve learned that setting an end date is powerful and beneficial. I think it actually makes me more creative and enables me to accomplish much, much more. I’ve mentioned before I like to break tasks into small, manageable bites. All of these lead up to an overall end target. It works for me. 

The garden bell class was filled to capacity resulting in 12 happy crafters going home with their beautifully decorated and assembled garden art. Throughout the workshop, I set completion goals for the students so everyone knew what had to be completed so we could move on to the next creative task. It worked well. I'm already planning a wrap bracelet-making class for June. Stay tuned!

Over the weekend, I split my time between two wonderful local shows. I had prepped the featured clay pieces for the personality of each venue, visualized and practiced the set up for the display and demo, made a list, packed, delivered and set up. 

This annual fiber spectacular at The Knot House (held the same weekend as the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival) features Indie Yarn Dyers from far and wide.  People line up to get in and grab first dibs on limited inventory colorways of incredible wool. As a knitter, it's paradise. As a potter, it's an opportunity to share my knitting-related clay pieces with this creative crowd. I spent Friday and Sunday at The Knot House and spoke to numerous attendees as they stood in line to pay for their stash. I learned here too. Some of these creative stitchers set goals and have a plan for their projects and many others just wing it!

Saturday was an all-day/night affair at my favorite Frederick shop -- The Muse. The town hosts monthly First Saturday events. The Mayfest theme this month invited visitors to collect flowers at participating shops to build a bouquet as they meander. 'Blobs' (named because of their oval shape and ability to morph into several uses) were the featured clay item for the event! I demonstrated how these are made and had fun talking with a steady stream of customers. 

Deadlines are necessary for me to complete one idea and be able to move on to the next. As a knitter, I'm one of those people who likes to work on one pattern at a time until it's finished. I don't like to buy yarn without a plan of what I'm going to make. It's too stressful for me and I think it actually slows me down. It's the same when I create with clay. Goals, deadlines, to-do lists and a plan all make me more creative and lead me to finish what I start. 

Busy Work

It’s showtime! This week’s schedule is filled to the brim. It feels kind of like finals time in college. Weeks of preparation on a variety of projects in the studio are all due this week. The frenzy to make sure each assignment is complete and ready for ‘prime time’ is invigorating. It’s time to share the excitement of what’s been percolating in the studio. I’m prepared and look forward to each event. Follow my Instagram (@claybylaura) account to see the latest photos of each of these projects. 

Installation of numerous potted flower bunches is first on the docket. These colorful blooms will be placed in containers for display underneath a wrought iron and glass table in the back yard of this customer. They will complement the variety of totems and yard art I've created over the years for this beautiful outdoor space. 

Mid-week I'll be leading a craft party sponsored by The Muse in Frederick, Md. The class is almost at capacity, so If you'd like to join us, contact The Muse right away! Each participant will colorfully decorate a garden bell and feather. We'll finish the assembly with assorted beads and buttons strung on fishing wire. 

Friday is where the frenzy picks up! The Knot House (my favorite local yarn shop) is hosting an Indie (Yarn Dyers) Pop-Up Shop over the weekend.  Tons of fiber fans are in town for the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and this popular complimentary bash has become a must-attend for yarn enthusiasts. I sell a variety of yarn-related clay items during the event (think yarn bowls or special mugs) and created this unique stick-pin to accent a hand made shawl or sweater just for this year's crowd. (I even enjoyed making the packaging for the pins and convinced my husband to let me cut apart one of his rarely-used sweaters for the job!) I'll be part of the fun on Friday night and Sunday!

Saturday, I'll plant myself at The Muse all day. First Saturday and Mayfest celebration draw lots of visitors to town. These fun shapes (nick-named Blobs courtesy of Whitney at The Muse) will be available for a discounted price -- AND you'll have the opportunity to get an air plant or beautiful flower to fill it right there in the shop! I'll demo how I make these throughout the day. Stop by and say hello. 

So what's keeping you busy these days? I hope it's something fun!

Creativity

Often when I meet people and I reveal the fact that I am a clay artist, I hear a response something like this: “You must be so creative, I am not creative at all.” Of course I take that as a compliment and usually reply, “we all have things we are good at and clay is one of the things I can do.”  I’ll also add, “even if you can’t make art yourself, it’s good to hear that you appreciate creativity.”

Here's how the pots of flowers looked in my imagination. I was able to transfer that idea and image into an artistic result. 

I have a strong creative muscle. I’m aware of it and try to exercise this attribute on a regular basis. It is relatively easy to access my creative mind. On the flip side, I think I’m naturally weak in many math-related functions. I know my “I just can’t do this” attitude plays a role in blocking some of my success with this analytical part of my brain. 

For me, creativity flows for numerous reasons. I recognize I’m good at turning an artistic idea into a concrete item. I set aside time and built a dedicated space to practice my clay-making skills. I’m not afraid to take risks and accept failures as a learning curve. And hardest of all, I try not to judge my results or compare what I’ve created with that of others. 

Look what I found at a local flower shop. I did a double-take! I love this idea and want to make a version of my own. That's how my creative mind works. See something, makes something!

Creativity is a skill that requires nurturing. Even if it’s not your strong suit, I think everyone has a creative streak. Maybe a simple attitude adjustment will help you access your creativity. Make time and space for a creative activity. It might not be art,  it might be gardening, cooking or writing. Maybe it’s even participating in or appreciating the creativity of others. Go to a museum. Attend a concert. And I promise I'll work on my negative attitude about math skills. 

What's Your Story?

Our extended family gathered for a Seder this past week to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Passover. This springtime religious holiday often intersects with the Easter celebration. Both religious holidays are based on retelling a story crucial to the root of each faith’s belief. Beyond religion, I think storytelling is integral to all of our lives.  It helps us preserve the past, share our ideas and imagine what might happen in the future. 

Clay is a central element in my own story. It’s woven in and out of my life since I was 14 years old and is a great reference point and memory trigger for me.  I believe every pot I make holds a story. I relay that message with a short written explanation on the back of my business card included with the pots I sell. For me, making pottery is one way I tell my life story. 

This recipe freezes well!

So what’s your story? How do you share your memories with loved ones and friends? Is there a central theme running throughout your narrative? It can help you tie your own story together and continue to share it with others. We all have stories to tell in our own way. 

Going Public

One of my pottery epiphanies occurred when we lived in Charlotte, NC. I lucked into a clay studio within walking distance of our Uptown home. I took classes and rented a small studio space there. I quickly discovered that Charlotte is an art-friendly town. I met many talented artists and enjoyed an abundance of public art installations throughout the city. 

The classes I took, sparked many of the hand-building techniques I still use today and opened my eyes to a wider range of making and selling opportunities. In particular, I became educated on the idea of clay as public art. It really hadn’t occurred to me before. Charlotte is good at providing opportunities for artists to make and permanently display art in the local community.

These sample tiles of a local school logo will be used to promote a special project I'm helping create and then used on the finished totems.

I am in the beginning stages of a public art project here in Maryland. I’m teaming with a local school to create 3 outdoor totems covered with the artwork of the children and school supporters. Sold as a fundraising opportunity for the school, participants will purchase the chance to decorate a tile with a bright under glaze image. I will finish the tiles with clear glaze and a firing in my kiln. Then, I’ll help install the project at the entry of the school.

I see this as a win-win situation. I’ll be exposing my clay expertise to a new group of people. The school will raise some money and benefit from a unique art installation at the school’s entryway. And, I think everyone will have fun in the process. Art can bring people together. This is one more way to accomplish that on a larger scale. Got an idea for a public project we can partner on? Click the photo above to send me a message and we'll start the conversation!

Out With The Old

I’ve never been a fan of finales. I can remember crying (hard) when the last episode of Lassie aired on television when I was a kid. I didn’t want to let it go. I’ve learned as I’ve grown to say my goodbyes and move forward. 

I’m thinking about all of this for a couple of reasons. I attended one of the last local performances of Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey circus this weekend. I felt a little lump in my throat during the final act, but realize this circus-model is no longer viable. It’s one more ending I’ll add to my list. 

Many years ago, when I was first trying to loosen my clay-making rigidity and mostly throwing pots on the wheel, I hand-built a series of bowls with torn edges and three spiral-coiled feet. I used a colorful palette of under glaze on the inside and each of the feet. These became nicknamed my cirque bowls. They were a departure for me and have led me to my current organic approach to making clay vessels. 

I made the bowl on the left many years ago with a potter's wheel. The bowl on the right was created more recently using a slab of clay pushed into shape over a mini basketball. Each one is a functional bowl; the aesthetic is different and shows how my clay art has evolved.   

I’ve learned to let go of old and familiar life patterns, experiences and things to make room for new ones to flourish. This time of year seems to lend itself to this shedding. Peeling away layers of clothing as the temperatures rise seems to be a good metaphor for noticing other life experiences that may need a good shake off. Old is comforting and familiar. New is unwieldy and unsettling. Honor what’s past, but move on. Embrace what will become and enjoy the ride. Those are my springtime mantras.

I Second That Emotion!

Topics for this weekly blog usually reflect life observations and clay studio experiences that bubble to the top of my awareness during the week. All of these experiences factor into my life and what I create in the studio. Feelings that are associated with art were front and center for me this week. 

I talked to a potter friend, Lyndsay, during the week about her tearful response when she encountered some pots made by renowned ceramicist Warren McKenzie. She was caught off guard by this reaction but also understood the power of the moment. In the best of circumstances, art can provoke a gut reaction.

Then, I experienced my own emotional reaction when I went to an acoustical guitar performance at the Unitarian Congregation I attended when my children were small. Entering that space and listening to the music unlocked a surge of feelings. Fond memories of meaningful sermons, the recognition that time in my life has passed and the pure enjoyment of live music all flooded together. 

What is it about art that can produce such visceral feelings? If you google “what makes art emotional?", there are lots of links to explore. Art is an expression of the maker that evokes a reaction. It doesn’t have to be complex. Art is really just another form of communication between people. Some artists may plot the intended reaction to their creations; I think most just want their art to make a connection with another person. 

Over the years, as the pieces I make have evolved featuring bright colors, textured surfaces and organic shapes, my own artistic voice has become stronger. These clay vessels and structures are meant to communicate the joy I feel as I make them. I am having a blast in the studio and know I am lucky to experience this on a regular basis. That’s my emotional goal – to let the user in on the happiness I feel when they use a ClayByLaura piece in their daily lives. 

Fresh Start

It’s the first day of Spring. Although the air temperature where I live and the recent blast of snow may be Mother Nature’s last winter hurrah, I am in the budding mindset. All kinds of ideas, custom orders and business improvements have been swimming around in my head. I need to push forward. One of my remedies to this Monkey Mind (described in last week’s blog) is good old fashioned planning. 

It starts with a list. Once I’ve written out tasks that need attention, the jumble in my head is somewhat relieved and I can begin to organize and tackle each item. This simple visual reference point helps move me toward action. It also helps me remember what needs to get made. Are you a list-maker too?

Spring is often associated with cleaning. It’s a time to clear away built up clutter in our homes, our yards and yes, even in our minds. Purging both thoughts and items that tend to drag us down, helps clear a path toward a more fulfilling existence. Marie Kondo’s popular movement to ‘Spark Joy’ is one example of this. Her minimalist approach has you only keep the things in your life that you truly love. I’m not that extreme, but I think the overall advice is sound. Strip away the stuff holding you back so you can move forward with what makes you happy. 

So I’m back to my happy place – the studio – this week to roll out, stamp and create more FUNctional pieces and hopefully spread some of that joy around. Is there something I can make just for you? Do you need a gift for a special someone? How about an idea for something I haven’t made before? Let me know. Click here.

Finally, let me spark some joy in someone else’s life today! Leslie Hamlin is the ClayByLaura Club winner this month. I’ll be sending her this one of a kind bracelet I assembled with up-cycled jewelry, charms, leather cord and one of my decorated clay medallions. Not a member yet? Click here to join and begin your benefits!  Want one of these bracelets of your own? I have a limited supply of these fun new items that combine two of my passions, clay and jewelry.  Click on this link to let me know and I’ll send you a first dibs opportunity to purchase one by week’s end.