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One of the downsides of being a working potter is there's little time to play and experiment with new techniques and forms. While working on orders and being in the midst of market season, it's all I can do to stay (mostly) on track and on deadline. But experimenting is important for several reasons. For one, you don't want to get burnt out or bored. I love making my birch pieces, but since I am looking at the birch and practicing the same techniques over and over, it can get a little mind-numbing. Also, without mixing things up, it is...

This past weekend, I was at the Berkshires Art Festival in Great Barrington. It was a fun weekend, and my sister came out to help me. It was nice to have the assistance, but it was more wonderful to hang out together for a couple days, which we don't get to do often enough. During the weekend, I met many amazing artists and talked to lots of friendly visitors. I have to admit, before attending the Rhinebeck Crafts Festival and then the Berkshires, I was intimidated by the size and scope of these shows. Up until now, the markets I've...

A few weeks ago, I made a comment in one of my posts about my anxiety and I received a few comments so I thought I would take a moment to write more about my experience and how I view my anxiety now. This past weekend was the Rhinebeck Crafts Festival, and it was my first year being a participating artist. There were moments leading up to weekend when I felt lightheaded, tired, sweaty, and even at times like my chest was being crushed. Thoughts went through my head telling me I should back out, that I'm not good enough,...

Back when I worked in corporate, I got in the habit of making daily to-do lists. I would review my work emails at the end of each day and make a list for the next day. Over time, to-do lists helped with my time management and staying on task. Making lists worked its way into my personal life, and when I left corporate life, I found ways of using lists for almost everything I wanted and needed to get done. It has been a wonderful productivity tool, and a tool I'd recommend to anyone wanting to get more done without...

Last Monday, my new kiln element arrived and I replaced the damaged one and immediately ran an empty kiln to oxidize the new element. After the kiln cooled, I got back to firing new work, both bisque and glaze. With less than two weeks to go before the Rhinebeck Arts Festival on June 25th and 26th, and the Berkshire's Arts Festival July 1st-3rd, I have a lot to get caught up on. For that reason, this is just a quick post to say the kiln is repaired and I'm back to firing. I definitely feel the pressure, and I'm grateful...