My little ballerina turns 1!!

Wow! Marley has turned 1 and I just can't believe it! It is so much work, but it is also so much fun. She made me laugh so hard today, and I just had to take a photo of it. She was having the best time banging on my computer in her little skirt. Enjoy!

Ahhh, Summertime!

This morning, as I write this, we have a houseful of friends. The special relationships that you develop with your friends has become increasingly important to me. As my family shrinks (due to deaths), I've realized again and again, how crucial friends and family are to one's happiness and stability in this world. There is so much craziness out there, and we all tend to get caught up in our individual lives, that sometimes we need a kick in the backside to remind us to get out of our little bubble. I know I do! It's been great having everyone here. We play in the pool with the kids and share dinners together. For two nights, we have been trying to plan a big trip with all of us: we are thinking Ireland! I hope it works out! Two of the couples with us are the ones we went to Greece with, and that remains one of the best vacations of my life!

Time in the Studio

Today, I guarded my time in the studio. There are so many other things that are crying out for attention, but today, I said to myself, "Forget it. All those other things will have to wait." And so, because of this mentality, I got in about 3.5 hours of solid studio time, which is WAY more than I normally get in the studio. So from now on, my new word of the day is NO. If I don't say NO to all those things that are screaming for attention, my studio time just gets eaten up. So no more of it. I'm a happier person when I can create and I am a better mother too. Therefore, I will invoke the power of the word "NO". I think that will bring some balance to my life, and that is something we all need, right?

Morning!

Well, I have had an amazing morning already! It's 6:30 am and I just finished eating toast, having a cup of coffee, and watching a powerful storm roll in. Listening to the birds, the frogs, the thunder... Nice. Now I'm heading out to the studio to unload the kiln!

Good morning

Good Morning! This morning I am feeding the baby and enjoying a cup of Black Magic coffee. The baby is self-feeding herself boiled egg yolk and whole wheat bread. A good wholesome breakfast for a 10 month old! Later today, I have a good friend coming over to join me in the clay studio. She has admired a creamer and sugar set that I made a while back, and so I told her to come over today and she could make one for herself. This will be the first time I've let someone into my new studio to work and I know we will have a good time! I will post some photos later, hopefully later today.

Big Coil Pot

I just finished my big, big coil planter. Well, I finished building and carving into it. Now it has to dry for a long time, then go into the kiln for the first firing. I can't wait to use color on it. This planter is for my pool patio and I will try to use some colors to make it match the decor. All this coil building has made me want to get an extruder, to make nice even coils. So much time is spent just smoothing and smoothing..... But I am looking forward to doing another one. I want to have a pair of these. Also a good friend of mine has already mentioned the idea of me doing some for their new house. That is exciting! It is so good to be back in clay.

Had to get more clay!

Hi guys, I just got back from the ceramic supply place - I had to buy more clay so that I could finish my big planter! I had enough clay to bring the planter to its full height, but I still need to put a rim on it and then cut it into two sections. I will have to make a tight fitting flange for the seam so that I can put it back together after firing, and I needed more clay for that too. So I was close, but not close enough. I should have the planter finished here in the next few days... Its so good to be back in pottery, and what a change in direction! Kelly Thiel Pottery back in action!