Go West

What a vacation! It's always been a win-win thing for me to go out west. Loved being in WA state. And now? It's taken me awhile to adjust to life back in NC (time change and all) after being gone for almost two weeks. Best thing to help with returning was heading back to the studio. :)

While at Holden Village, at the wheel and experienced with a clay that was part porcelain and loved that! Here are six pieces I made in a couple of days that were fired on Wednesday. Had a new observer too. Check out the deer in the distance.


The studio itself was beautiful, nestled in the Cascade Mountains.

At the last minute, I stayed up past midnight to make one more tumbler for the kiln, here shown as the third on the left of the pieces on the fence with the gorgeous backdrop which turned out to be one of my favorite piece. I really like that form and the blue glaze on it. The glazes at Holden Village had to be painted on with the exception of the blue; which was different for me. I painted them on too thick; it was disappointing. The backdrop is beautiful, though. I don't think there is a more beautiful place to throw pottery.

So, all in all I had a refreshing and relaxing time. The weather in WA state is the best; dry and not too hot. Read two books in a week... and loved being in the Cascade Mountains.

Only thing I would have wanted to change about vacation was to make it longer. :)

Also spent some time in Seattle, briefly before I flew back east. Went to Bainbridge Island and visited galleries there- and my favorite quickly became
The Gallery- Bainbridge Arts & Crafts.

And, it's always so peaceful going back and forth to Bainbridge Island on the ferry. I recommend the trip highly. Here's a pic of me on the way back to Seattle.





And to top it all off, I got a free roundtrip ticket on the way home as the plane was full during one of the legs. So, I'm already thinking of when to go back out to WA state again. :)

It was also a wonderful surprise to see these two finished pieces from Barrel Firing #3 at Clayworks. One is my first handbuilding piece, thanks to Elaine's teaching! After putting a little Murphy's Oil Soap on them, some more colors came out. Thanks Becky, Elaine, John, and Minke for including them in the 'Model T' barrel.

Here they are... this pic doesn't show as much color as there really is. Oh well....

These days? I'm awaiting the beginning of the fall class and counting down the days until Barrel Firing #4 in late September.

Closer to the Equator

Just returned from traveling with a group of 16 youth and adults from my church to Costa Rica for a week. During our trip, we just ‘happened’ to visit a potter--- that encounter somehow worked its way into our itinerary, and it was a joy to watch him shape the Costa Rican earth into forms. I bought one of the blue crosses—the blue seems to be my favorite glaze color. The youth were amazed, and I was too--- as they can be seen looking at his wheel from all sides. What a crowd crammed smugly into his tiny studio. Evidently, he learned from a north American potter too!

Time with the children was a highlight… yet I wanted to take them all to Target (although there was no Target) and buy them clean clothes that fit. Yet, they had such a joy about life—and we learned so much from them and their families and their strong, deep faith and boundless generosity and love. The team loved their time there so much that some didn’t want to return.

The flowers were gorgeous; here's one that was growing outside the church where we were sleeping and working. I tried to capture them on camera as much as I could.

One of the best parts for me was time with Maureen, a teenager that I brought to the US as part of an exchange program while at my former church. Hadn’t seen her in two years; it was a joy to share dinner with her and her boyfriend, Jose. She’s had a tough life; her courage and sweet spirit inspire me. How I wish things were different for her. Here’s the three of us.

Also went zip lining in the rainforest canopy (picture hopefully to post soon) and white water rafting! It was a great trip--- incredibly exhausting and it is refreshing to be back where there is less humidity. My clothes don’t feel wet or damp anymore and I don’t have a layer of bug repellant on my skin.

I read The Shack book by William Young during the trip. It was one of the best books I’ve ever read. I recommend it highly. It reminded me, amidst other things that life is hard, yet God is good. If I could give five books to everyone, it would be one of the five. A must read.

Finally, here's a group pic in front of a beautiful painted mural that includes some of the flowers and animals found in Costa Rica. Several in our group are wondering when we'll return. It was a privilege to be a part.

Latest Favorite

Last night I was at the studio and these days, this form seems to be what ends up after a few minutes at the wheel. A good drinking vessel. :) I've also been reading Ceramics Monthly magazine recently and have become more and more interested in soda ash- I really like the effect it has on the finished piece. Gotta go buy some and experiment with it a bit. This next weekend, my goal is to make something BIGGER-- to rise up to the challenge that several at the studio are agreeing to do.

I have much to do and so little time these days as I leave for a week in Costa Rica beginning on Monday. With that said, it'll be great to be here at home for awhile beginning in mid-August. I think I'm becoming a homebody too (except for time at the studio).

Trip to Orange Country

Well, I went to orange country this past weekend (Knoxville, TN) and these are what I brought home.

I even saw glimpses of my upcoming vacation in this sign in a Border's Bookstore.

It was so exciting to walk in there to edit my sermon and discover that they serve Seattle's Best Coffee. This is the view on an ad in the bookstore when one stands outside one of the Seattle's Best stores in front of Pike's Place Market. Gorgeous! Great coffee too... Yes, I'm headed to Seattle in early August. I can hardly wait. The weekend turned out to be great- and I even ate Indian food for the first time. I loved receiving all of the hugs and blessings from the people of God at St. John's Lutheran Church in Knoxville. I preached there as part of a homecoming celebration and it was an unforgettable day. They gave me the yellow roses and lilies. Grace, yes grace.

Stopped by my FAVORITE grocery store on my way back as I drove through Asheville. If I could only pick one place to buy my food, it would be Greenlife Grocery. I wonder why they're not here in Charlotte. Got some great organic, healthy food and even sushi for dinner. :)

I've been so busy ever since I've returned that it's taken me this long (it's 10:47 pm) to make this post about the weekend. Sometimes one of the best parts of the day is watching CSI Miami and laughing at Horatio. Today is one of those days.

Tomorrow I'm headed to the studio... how I've missed time there!