coffee + the car wash

I can't tell you how happy I am to see buds on the trees, lil green leaves, robins, worms, bees! It makes this city so much more beautiful and livable. And the leaves dampen all the noise from our charming 24 hr backyard car wash. Side note: There is a man who drives a red SUV that always comes to the car wash at midnight, opens up all his car doors, and proceeds to vacuum out his ride while blaring gospel music! Yesterday was a very industrious studio day. I'm still working on that commissioned series of porcelain bird forms, which should be completed by early May. We're currently testing glaze colours and finishing up the last details...I can't wait to see the pieces installed and share some photographs on the blog! I made an additional mold yesterday, too, so the production process can be a bit more speedy.

I fired a bisque kiln full of fatties (aka the large square vases) and assorted cups, birds, and bud vases. I'm trying to be more prepared and have a bountiful stock of bisqued work ready to go for shows, shops, and the mother of all marathon shows, Christmas One of a Kind. I know, it's in November, but here's for trying! Some artists prepare for that show all year...or so I've been told.

So yes, same old, same old for me. I'm balancing on a fine line between ceramics and food...working in both worlds all of a sudden, and quite enjoying it. My friend Vivian Lee, who will one day be a pastry chef and ceramic artist, once pointed out to me how similar ceramics can be to baking. We both have big ovens and follow recipes, but ceramics is way more unpredictable! I can make you a hundred muffins with the same recipe and things will likely turn out the same...if I make you a hundred cups, at least 20% will develop a plan of their own and do crazy, unpredicted, unwanted things.

Resto, studio, resto, home. Muffins, vases, birds, dish washing, food prep, home. Coffee, coffee, coffee.

Love it.