That’s right. Classes start back up again this week, Tuesday to be exact. And this session I’m doing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays. I don’t know how that even happened. Promised myself I’d only do Tuesday and Thursday, must have been some pretty persuasive Wednesdayers!
It seems like a pretty long break this time, three weeks I think, and you’d think I’d have done lots of work over that time … but, no. I think I made two one pound bowls (which isn’t much), and thought about some stuff to do. Just haven’t had the gumption to get back at her. Haven’t even really cleaned the studio much (which means that’s the big job for tomorrow!).
In fact, I was thinking that perhaps it’s time to give it up. You know, get through the next couple of sessions of teaching and start to pare down the studio. Make things simpler. Stop spending money on clay stuff (like equipment, etc.) and then we went out to dinner last night to another potter’s place — and before I had a chance to even whine a bit, she said that she was losing her enthusiasm too and wasn’t even heating her studio so she could work over the winter. We commisserated with each other as we huddled by the fire.
We think it’s the weather. We’ve been huddled since the weather broke at Christmas … with piling snow, freezing rain, or gloomy skies. We want to hibernate!
I’ve got piles of pots left over from last year that need firing … the weather’s too cold. Or it’s bloody raining …
Waiting for the kiln (not Godot!) …
Or you have to wade through slop to the kiln shed … where the floor of it is either flooded or frozen …
Kiln shed through the mist …
And, just when I do get going the studio assistant decides he’s going to help out …
Maybe if I stand over here she won’t notice!
Wants to be a potter …
Then there’s the wood stove in the studio. I really appreciate the warmth, and the ability to dry out the work, BUT it puts me to sleep. Very hard to work in clay with your head resting on the wheel!
Warm fire … doesn’t make me want to work!
And there you have it. Not much getting finished around here. It will have to wait until the students come back and build up some energy in the place. Guess I get more done when I’m forced back in the saddle …
Now I’m going to go make a cup of tea, get out some fiction and put my feet up. Next week will be soon enough.
Hope you’re having a great day,
Susan McD
