Another Girls Night in Studio #2

We had our second Girls Night in the clay studio tonight and it was just awesome. I think the ladies had a great time, and boy oh boy, were they ever productive! We went through about 30 lbs of clay and they really made some fun items. I love seeing people just play and have fun, and not get so caught up in perfection. So many folks don't get any kind of clay experience in school and they come to these parties completely virginal. They use tools in ways I've never even thought of, and do things in a completely different, and fresh way. I love it when they drink a little wine, loosen up and do lots of laughing and playing. I'll have to finish these pieces that they made tonight, and that's not as much fun for them, but in the end, they will get complete pieces that (hopefully) will be functional. There is no way I could get all of these ladies back into the studio to finish their work. Tonight's ladies live all over the country and it was a way for them to have a family night during their Thanksgiving holiday. But what is important to me is that they had a good time, and learned just a little about the process of making pottery. It is an unbelievably time consuming craft (or art) and most people do not realize how much goes into making a single mug or bowl. I think it was just awesome and I hope to do more in the future!

Another Girls Night in Studio

Last week's clay class was successful and super fun, and lucky me, I have another one tomorrow! I don't know these ladies, but they will be bringing the wine and apps, but I know we will have a fun good time. I have three options for them: throw on the wheel, make plates and platters a la Chinet brand paper plates, or they can make square (ish) nesting bowls. I'll be sure and post some pictures after the class is over. Talk to you soon!

Girls Night in the Studio

We did it! We had our girls' night in the studio last night and I think everyone had a blast. We had a couple of folks back out at the last minute - they just didn't know what they were missing, right?? Plenty of wine flowed and yummy apps were eaten, and then we got down to business. Two girls got on the wheel and tried their hand at making bowls, and the others made plates and platters using Chinet brand paper plates as molds. I pulled out some texture making things and just let them go to town with it. A couple of the girls had never even touched clay, so it was great to give them a chance to experience that. It is so funny, the personality quirks that come out when one plays with clay. You can see who is nervous and worried that her piece won't be awesome. It IS sort of scary, to be presented with so many options and only two hours left, so in your head you are thinking that you better get busy! Welcome to the clay world! I hope to do that again sometime in the near future. I think it is a huge amount of fun to share my "clay bug" with my friends. And sure enough, they were talking about taking pottery classes before the night was over! Ha Ha! We suckered you in (insert evil laugh here)...

Girls Night in the Studio

Next week I am hosting a Girls Night in the studio. This will be the first time I've done this, as my old studio was way to small for anybody except me. I'm looking forward to sharing my clay with some friends. We will probably have 7 people, with plenty of wine flowing. I've already figured out some projects they can work on, unless they come with ideas on what they want to make. I have also been working hard to get the studio organized and put away. It has taken me months (I'm not kidding), months! to get everything squared away. And you know how it is, it is never really finished. If you are like me, you hoard some stuff that you don't really need, but you think you might use in the near future: a bowl of colored slip, a really big piece of egg crate foam, some good, sturdy boxes that would be just the right size... for something. All that crap takes up space. I have thrown some of it out, but there is still a lot. When I die, someone is going to have a huge job of cleaning out my studio crap. Perhaps a construction dumpster would be the way to go.... But anyway, back on track.. So, Girls Night: I'm really looking forward to it and I will take some photos of our masterpieces and be sure to post those. Have a good day!

Getting things in order

You know, it's odd, I'm not really a very organized person, but I love it when things are organized and neat. I've been working in the clay studio for the past couple of days cleaning and hanging shelves. I never really took the time when we moved in to really get settled in the studio. We had a 3 month old then, and she wasn't really into letting her mom get lots of time in the studio. Also my mom was really sick at that time, so working in the studio wasn't a priority in life. But I love getting things in order, and getting them just the way I want them. I've been doing clay for 10 years now, and just now I have my own real studio that I can set up the way I want it. Therefore, it is very important to me to get everything just right! That is MY space and I don't have to ask anyone if they like it or not. What a nice feeling! Last night, I was so pleased with how the space is coming along, I thought I might host a Girls Night in the studio - complete with wine and appetizers. I haven't done anything like that and I think everyone would have a great time making something. Well, maybe after I get a small refrigerator to keep the beer and wine cold! That's important, you know!