Move over Clay...

Here comes baby.

For the last nine months I have been working on a new exciting endeavor. Having a baby growing inside you really takes over your world and your life. Before you know it, it consumes you whole and it's hard to think or do anything else. After months of planning and purchasing every baby gadget made by man, I am at the end of the road. With my due date just a few days away, I am ready for this new and exciting stage in my life...(and I am really tired of being pregnant.)

The smartest thing I've done for me, and would recommend to all future moms, is to start and finish your nursery as early as possible. There are so many things to worry about towards the end, that having the nursery complete really helped me feel at ease. With so many unknown aspects, I found that pouring some of my creative juices on something I can control was a very comforting experience. I painted the room using pastel blue, green and cream. Variations of those neutral colors were placed throughout the room that tied everything together. I personalized the space by painting three jungle animal illustrations that fit in with the the bedding.

With the last month coming to a close, what I've heard from every mom is all too true. The last month is the absolute worst. The baby is getting heavy, your belly is stretched to about as far as it can go, all the while being punched and kicked from the inside at every angle imaginable. It's during these moments that my mind drifts back to pottery.

I haven't set foot in my studio for the last 2 months, and it's really beginning to eat away at me. I am over the being constantly tired and exhausted. I am fired up and ready to come back!!! We'll see what the baby has to say about that. Being a first time mom I have no clue what to expect. I have read what seems like every pregnancy book, including the bible "what to expect when you're expecting" followed by "what to expect: the first year". I have also armed myself with the latest and "hottest" mimijumi baby bottles to minimize "nipple confusion". Yup there's nipple confusion apparently and I am ready for it!

From Ladybugs to Bunnies

About a month ago, a customer who purchased a Ladybug in my Mug - Mug asked me if I would place any other animals or wild things inside my cups. I thought about it from a practical stand point and tried to come up with a shape that can be simplified to sit flush against the bottom without creating too much of a headache when washing the cup... and so came the bunnies. They were so darn cute I couldn't help myself and I placed them on all sorts of things!

TRAPPED

It maybe hard to believe, (with such fast turnover in electronics) but I've had the same Dell Inspiron Laptop for almost 8 years. This sweet little dinosaur has served me so well and gave minimal problems. Over the last year however, with my excessive pottery photo, and i-tunes downloads, it became really slow and started to overheat. To combat the problem, I've positioned it in such a way, that the fan portion of the bottom would hang off the desk slightly to create a bit more ventilation. (Can you tell I have a problem with change?)

However, it's time had come and it just had to go. So for my birthday, my dear, sweet, husband bought me a new HP Entertainment notebook. I thought this thing was great!!! It was practically weightless, and are computers really this fast now a days?

A big surprise came when I needed to install some of the basic programs, you know, the anti-virus and the printer. The damn thing was a complete lemon. It would not install anything, and when I attempted to restart, never turned on again.

Luckily, Best Buy's return policy is wonderful, and they took the awful thing back without a question.

Frustrated, I decided to stick with what I know best, and buy a new Dell. I ordered a new Dell Inspiron that weighs all of 5 pounds :) and so far (knock on wood) works splendidly. The new Windows 7 came automatically installed and is very similar to the type of function and look of the Mac Safari. (I suppose a way for PCs to compete)...

Oh but this story does not have a happy ending. Much like my ancient Dell, I also have an ancient (by graphic software standards) version of Adobe Photoshop 7.0. That version is no longer compatible with Windows 7, and has not been compatible with any Windows since Windows XP. After numerous calls to Adobe Tech support in India, I discovered that Adobe will not upgrade me to the New CS4 photoshop unless my version was Adobe Photoshop 8.0 or greater. So until I cough up around $700, I have no photoshop.

So while I type this blog post on my fast and efficient new Dell, I will have to edit and list all new pottery photos on my dinosaur. God give me strength.

Diversity in Clay at the AMOCA

This upcoming weekend is the Opening of the Diversity in Clay exhibit curated by the American Ceramic Society, Design Chapter. The reception is this Saturday August 8th 6-9pm at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. I urge all to attend if you're in the Los Angeles area. I haven't been before, but those that have, said that the food at this reception is pretty great! So come on down and check out some fabulous pottery and mingle with yours truly and other amazing potters!

Reflection

Get ready for a long one folks...

Some recent events made me want to take a step back and reflect on where my pottery came from and where it's headed. Since my two year Etsyversary is looming, I guess my first Etsy sale is a good place to start. This is the first piece that sold. It had contrasting color, a curvy egg-like shape, still very similar to the shape I throw today.

With my first wheel-thrown pieces my first goal as a student and a potter was to make the form symmetrical, centered as well as making the piece as light as possible. I have succeeded at this over the last two years as you can tell by cheaper shipping prices.

Then came the Eggs. The fool proof blue/brown color combination that satisfied my need for both contemporary and traditional styles. After the arrival of the Robin's Egg, my pottery took a turn for the more refined, feminine style that is very much reflected in my pottery today.

A short while later came my trip to Paris and my discovery of hand-carved and still very much color contrasting Poppy. Shortly after came the Sprout. I still have to be perfectly relaxed and in a great mood to successfully throw those little suckers. The sprout teapot is yet again a perfect example of the modern/contemporary in me.

So where am I headed? With a larger collection of flowers and now my own blend of glaze colors, will I let the curvy, vind-y win out and settle on with the press molds and the slip? Or will I continue to be all over the place with my pottery much like I am in life?
Today's trip to the Getty was no help. I was yet again torn between the 1600's decadent, French gold and robins egg vases on the interior of the Decorative Arts Section and the museum's overly modern, clean-lined architectural exterior. But if they can live together so beautifully, why can't I?

I fast forward to my last sold item. Ladybugs!

They are awesome, fun and now that I found a glaze that does not run, I can add them to everything.(Strongly considering it!)

With a kiln full ready to go for yet another bisque firing, only time will tell.

Featured

Thanks to Bekah at BekahQuilts who was nice enough to feature me on her blog!

Bekah's quilts are beautiful! and can be found on one of my favorite websites - Etsy.

Diversity in Clay Exhibition

I am proud to announce that this piece was accepted to the 2009 AMOCA/ ACS-DC Diversity in Clay Exhibition. The exhibition runs from August 8th until August 28th at the American Museum of Ceramic Art - 340 S. Garey Avenue, Pomona,CA 91766. There will be a reception on Saturday August 8th from 6-9pm where awards will be presented. This is a fundraiser and all work is for sale, so I encourage everyone to come! This is a very happy moment for Alina Hayes Ceramics.