One more day.

So much has happened since my last post I don't even know where to begin. There was glazing madness and then firing the kiln during an ice storm...no power problems, thank goodness. Packing and loading for Craftacular...which ended up being quite spectacular. I met lots of fellow Esty folk, clay people and others. And I met lots of folks saying that they had "hearted" (my new favorite verb) my things on Etsy or recognized my work and even 2 people that had bought things from me on Etsy! That was fun. We stayed at my sister-in-law's apartment on Saturday night, slept VERY little, woke up and shot right to the Metropolitan Pavilion. We got a sweet parking spot right out front and parked for free! We finally got home around 11pm after picking up Dudley at our friends house. Monday and Tuesday were spent posting left over work like a madwoman and packing up TONS of boxes. I had to bring them straight to the post office because there were just too many to leave for the mailman. I had to go again today, 10 boxes and 5 of them were BIG boxes. I also managed to work a little in the studio today. I still had a few more things I wanted to make for presents. I'm planning on firing a bisque on Friday. We are supposed to get hit with a bunch of snow on Friday. We had some late last night, into the morning. Jon had a 2-hour delay. It doesn't look like school's going to happen Friday. Then he's off until after New Years. A nice long break. I'm hoping I will have the discipline to take a break too. After I glaze this last load of work over the weekend, I'm planning on taking a break until after the new year. I think I deserve it!!
Well, the last day to purchase work in time for the holidays is tomorrow. Friday was to be my last day for shipping but I may not be able to leave the house until Saturday. If you still need something, buy it tonight or tomorrow before 1pm so I can get it shipped out tomorrow!!

Brain freeze.

As I sit here awaiting the freezing rain and staring at the huge....no, ominous....Christmas tree in our living room, I am exhausted.

When I sit back and look at all the work my hands have created in the past few weeks.....it's really quite amazing. I certainly feel it. My hands feel tight. My back is sore. My brain is kind of numb.We did get the Christmas tree on Sunday and I managed to decorate it in between attaching handles and painting naked chicks. I'll have to take a picture of it. It's the second tree we've gotten that had a bird's nest hidden in it. I think that's supposed to be good luck.

My last load of work for the holidays is almost finished. Saturday, I pack it all up for Craftacular. I will be taking some listings down from my Etsy shop Saturday afternoon. If there is something you've been looking at, I suggest you get it before then. It may not come back with me. Any work not sold will be re-listed on Monday along with new work. Also, my last day to order for guaranteed delivery before Christmas is December 18th. Almost all items ship USPS Priority Mail (2-3 days). Pendants and ornaments ordered alone will ship USPS 1st class (2-5 days). I am willing to overnight any items, just contact me for shipping rates.

Oh, yeah. Does anyone have any good ideas for a gift for my mailman? Do people still do that??? I give all my packages to my mailman to take. Except when I have A LOT going out...then I feel too bad and bring them to the back loading dock of my post office. Anyway, I gave him a mug last year so I don't want to give him another piece. Any suggestions?

Still sick.

I'm still sick and now I'm feeling totally grumpy. I can't even sit at my computer in the office/guestroom. I'm sitting on the couch with the laptop and a box of tissues watching Dune (which I love, but sometimes makes me want to puke when I watch it). Jon and I watched the entire series of Twin Peaks several weeks ago and just realized that might have been the root of my owl obsession lately. And it rekindled my crush on Kyle MacLachlan...well, my crush on Kyle MacLachlan as Agent Cooper.

I'm one sale away from 1,000. That's the only thing that isn't making me grumpy today.

I'm off to Bailey's in an hour to pick up some mason stains. I just found out that they discontinued one of the stains I use to make my pale blue, so I'm going to start testing new blues. It's good, I need some change.

I really need to not be sick anymore. I have so much work to do. I can't believe Craftacular is in less than 2 weeks. I'm kind of starting to panic...

Woo.

It's been a looooong week. I had an opening last Saturday in Catskill, NY. I really hate going to openings. It's mostly those group shows where I am the youngest by about 15 years and no one realizes I am one of the artists...it doesn't help that I don't look my age either...and I'm pretty anti-social... I think that's why I don't go out of my way to get shows within driving distance. Not that I don't like having gallery shows. If it's someplace I like or put on by someone I know, it's waaaay more enjoyable, even (dare I say) fun. I did actually sell one of the 2 pieces at the opening. I'm assuming this was after we left to go get sushi. Anyway, to promote holiday sales they are letting buyers take the work when they purchase it so I sent them another piece.

One of the pieces I'm showing is an owl vase. Similar to this one.

Unfortunately this one has a crack in the bottom. It's small and was completely filled in with glaze, so it's still water-tight. I'll probably be posting it on Etsy since it's not gallery worthy. I have another one that is much taller and has little feel at the bottom. That one also has a crack at the bottom but it goes all the way through. I may just keep that one for myself.

I'm not one for trends. I know owls have been big for a while now. I thought they would be "out" by now, but they are still going strong. I've really been on a bird kick and wanted to make a vase. Owls just seemed like a logical choice.

I've also made some small pitchers.

Again, the owls just seemed to work with this shape.

In other news, I just sent more work to Tilde in Portland, OR and to the Kohler One and Only show and The Clay Studio in Philadelphia now has some new snowflakes. Oh, and guess where I will be on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 from 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM?

Yup! This will be my one and only craft show of the season. So if you happen to be in NYC area, come to the Metropolitan Pavilion at 125 West 18th Street and say hi! I'm really looking forward to meeting some of my Etsy friends in person.

That's all for now! I've got to go make lots and lots and lots of work...