The Golden Cage

During a time in our country, where one is lucky to even have a job, I find myself trapped inside mine. I work at a retirement community for actors and do medical collections there. It is a job that is so un-stimulating, that to call it boring would be an understatement. In case you do not know what a medical collector does, let me tell you.I speak to disgruntled patients that don’t want to pay their medical bills, I peruse patients medical records searching for additional diagnosis and in turn read about STD exposures, their stool quality, the detailed descriptions of their genitalia on the daily basis. I also call insurance companies that come up with every possible excuse not to pay patients medical claims.

During my two 15 minute breaks, I daydream of teapots, vases and different type of flowers I will adorn my jars with this spring. I also get 30 minutes for lunch, during which I try to stuff and digest some sort of a sandwich. Having said that, the job is located 7 minutes away from my home, and while I am not a morning person, and have to be in by 7AM, I am home by 3:37 PM. This allows me to run my errands, swim in my pool in the summer, and take my pottery classes at Glendale Community College.

So while I whine and complain about this awful day job, it allows me the time to do all the things I love, but at what cost I ask you? I have been keeping an eye out for something else for the last two years, but I am still here. Still in this half cubicle, still staring at the computer screen in a micro-managed environment. The reason for this is that our economy is in the shitter, and I have not found another comparable option that is as convenient as this. So here I sit, while my mind wonders through Robins Egg valleys and Poppy jar meadows.

Even as I am writing this, I know I should be grateful, but I can’t help tearing at myself wanting to get out and do something creative. My husband who is one of those people who does not have a creative bone in his body. - I am not being mean, it’s a fact and he would tell you this himself, finds it difficult to understand that it is not something we, the creative people choose. It is in us, and if there is no outlet, we go crazy! I know I am not alone this. Back me up people!

A Much needed Break

I did not create a single piece of pottery in the past month. December was the month for selling. As my shop became bare, I took a much needed break from pottery. I had a few distractions. The Twilight Series being one of them. I had no idea what all the hype was about, and went to see the movie before I had any desire to read the book. After being swept off my feet by Edward Cullen – the handsome vampire, I simply had to read them all starting with the first. Now I know I’m not much for a critic, and always give even the worst of films/books a warm review. I should start by saying that I found Twilight the movie to be a pleasant version of the book, and was happy when all the little gaps left by the film were filled by the book. Book two – New Moon was painful, Book three – Eclipse was excruciating, and I was looking forward to Book four – Breaking Dawn to relieve me from the repetitive, crawling writing of Stephenie Meyer, all the while hoping that I will once again find the same innocent sweet romance between Edward and Bella that drew me into this swamp in the first place. It never came! I suppose it serves me right reading books written to high schoolers. Although I have been doing a survey and the teens are not too thrilled either.

Going back East for the holidays is always a treat. I love returning to New York to enjoy it, but leaving before it leaves its dreary mark. I used to be completely in love with that city. After living the easy life here in Los Angeles, NYC just seems like too much work for me. It’s absolutely true that if you make it there, you’ll make it anywhere. I do not know any other city where it’s inhabitants have more resilience than New Yorkers. I was really glad about the chance to hang out with my sister. She is away at school and I only get to see her a few times a year. We did all the necessaries. Saw the tree, turned the cube.

This month it’s back to work, back to responsibility, back to reality…uuurgh. My studio is in desperate need of a serious cleaning. How long do you have to do pottery before you can look for an intern? J I am in serious production mode and cannot wait to get my fingers into clay. I’ve been brainstorming during my time off, and have some exciting new pottery ideas that I will attempt to execute in 2009. I wish you all a happy, healthy and successful New Year!!!

December in L.A.

December is right around the corner here in Los Angeles, sunny with temperatures in the 80’s. But then again if you live here, you already know that. I’d like to give an update on some events I am participating in this month. If you’re in the Los Angeles are, stop by the Local World’s Fair, sponsored by Etsy along with other companies. Maybe you’ll snag some one of a kind gifts, or something really neat for yourself. I’ll be there on Saturday, December 6th with current and new pottery you’ve come to know and love. So even if you don’t want to shop, but are really bored, stop by and say hi!

Two of my teapots are off to the Steamboat Invitational Teapot Show in Steamboat, Colorado. I wish I could go see them, but I am off East this holiday season. So all you tea lovers in Colorado,
check out the show. Teapots will be on display December 2nd through February 1st.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

Art vs. Craft

After spending all day playing with clay, my husband and I decided to take a trip to the bookstore. As soon as I walked through the door, I waived good bye and marched proudly into the “Art Section”, to look through pottery books for inspiration. After scanning through hundreds of books on Art history and famous painters, photography, books on fashion design and make up artistry, books on motion pictures…hmmm before I knew it I was in the adjacent “Architecture Section”. Puzzled, I walked over to the information desk and asked if they can help me locate books on ceramics. The girl politely stated that if they have any, they would be located upstairs in the “Craft Section”. Oh… So I walked upstairs and located the “Craft Section” In the very corner, next to the “Pet Section” was a small insignificant “Craft Section”. There on the bottom shelf between quilting and jewelry making, I was able to locate a total of four books having to do with ceramics. FOUR! So hold on, let me get this straight, putting lipstick on someone’s face is more of an art than ceramic sculpture? And what about Ceramic History? One of the oldest art forms in history. Are advertisements from the 60s more of an art form than million year old Chinese porcelain teapots? I was beyond furious while flipping through these mediocre soft cover “books” on the floor of the craft section where I belong. So my question to you is, what is art and what is craft? Who decides where Art ends and Craft begins? Why do we get shoved aside while make-up artists get all the glory together with Oscar De La Renta and Andy Warhol? Hello, I am a make up artist… and what is it you do again? Crafts?

October Love

Fall has always been my favorite season, with a particular love for October. Maybe it’s because New York finally began to cool down during this time of year, maybe because it’s my birthday month, or maybe it’s because of Halloween. Halloween is by far my favorite holiday (that’s right it tops Christmas). My best friend from high school and I were still trick-or treating when we were 16 years old, and since I can no longer trick-or-treat at the age of 29 - without looking like the neighborhood freak and I don’t have any kids, - I am dressing up Mops.
I know, I know it’s kinda mean, but I just can’t help myself. (I’ll post pictures of that later.) Sorry, got side tracked. Back to fall…Star from lunaarcana shares my love for Autumn as well as my Acorn Jars, and was kind enough to feature my pottery, and myself in her blog. It never seizes to amaze me how nice are the folks of Etsy.

Acorn Fever

As I am feverishly throwing my acorn jars, They were featured on Miapella's Blog!

The acorns are very excited. Thank you :)

Fall Season is Here

Even in Sunny California, summer is coming to an end and I am really looking forward to fall and the holiday season. Lately I’ve been gearing up and making pottery like a mad woman. I’ve learned the hard way not to get excited about your pieces until they are out of the kiln, out of your car and tucked away safely on the shelf. Now it’s time to get excited. The glazes came out so wonderfully that I am still a little skeptical talking about them. Something had to go wrong somewhere… but it didn’t. So here we are. Off to make more Acorns!