Nothing Like Waiting 'Til The Last Minute...

I am submitting these photos for the next 500 Teapots by Lark Books.
The deadline is tomorrow.
So I am submitting tomorrow.
The problem is, my printer is not cooperating.
It does not get it.
I need to PRINT OUT what is on the disc...
It says it right there in the instructions.
The printer EVIDENTLY does not LIKE instructions...
SO...Tomorrow(because I need one more thing to do tomorrow),
I will find a Kinkos type to print the images on the disc.
THEN, I will ship it off...of course... it is ENTIRELY possible
that the images won't be selected for the book.
In that case, I do wish I could receive constructed criticism
as to WHY???
But, ALAS, rejection does not come with explanations for these things...
SO... come January when they notify the applicants, If I am rejected,
I will ask for YOUR criticism. For now, I would like to sleep.

Catching Up.

Well...
We are back from Whistler... Just adults...
No Kids... CRAZY... No sleep because we took a red eye and
I am in that exhausted buzz place right now waiting to CRASH.
It was a good break from the intensity of Pam leaving us...
Here are some of the snow board photos...
P.S. I am still with my husband of 18 years even though
I ended up having to wiggle down a cliff of sorts at one point!











































Additionally, the 8 Fluid Oz. Cup Show has uploaded all of the images...
My cup has sold but it is nice to see the whole show!

I also had 2 cups accepted into The Coffee, Tea, Or ...? Show
at Terra Incognito Studios in Illinois.
My cup even made the poster:



















Sadly, the correct spelling of my name,however,
did NOT get into the show... But... you can't have EVERYTHING!

I can't wait to get back into my studio but of course...
ther is laundry and errands and did I mention LAUNDRY??

Cup Shows

I have a piece in each of the following upcoming cup shows...
If you live nearby, please check them out!
I think they will be on line soon too!


"8 Fluid Ounces"
A National Juried/Invitational Ceramic Cup Exhibition at
Louisiana State University
January 25-February 25, 2012
Opening Reception & Juror Gallery Talk is January 28
Alfred C. Glassell Jr. Exhibition Gallery • Shaw Center for the Arts
LSU School of Art • Baton Rouge, LA
225.389.7180








Cups of Fire-National Cup Exhibition 2012
January 29, 2012 - March 3, 2012
Exhibition Gala is February 3, 2012
Clay Gallery • 335 S. Main Street • Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-662-7927

Uncommon Goods Challenge

Hey guys!
Just thought I should tell you about this OPPORTUNITY!
I will probably go for it my self but either way my potter/ceramic friends should know about it!
So go check it out!!!

New Submission

Just chose these as submissions for a show...
You never know...
I love that it can be done on the computer!!!

Inspired By My Son (AKA XFactor HELL.)

Ok... I will link this to Ceramics.
I swear.
So, I have spent the past 48 hours in XFactor HELL with my dear 14 1/2 year old son Jake!
He is pictured here with his 15 year old friend Bree at the XFactor auditions in Newark NJ this AM.
It is probably 7am in this photo.
















Let me back track.
Jake has been writing and performing music with his keyboard for years...
He has some songs recorded last year on itunes HERE.
He played at The Stone Pony with his buddy, Matt Callahan in early March.... Not great video work but it gives you an IDEA.

So he caught wind of the new Simon Cowell XFactor show that was coming to America and decided he HAD to give it a try.
I TRIED for MONTHS to tell him and plead my case s to why I felt this particular venue wasn't a good fit for him... but he persisted(like mother, like son)
My final PLEA (when we arrived at 11:30 PM Tuesday night to "camp out" for the HOLY wristband needed for the audition in TORRENTIAL RAIN and temperatures in the 40s...) was that because the chances of winning were better if we played the lottery, I was willing to buy ONE THOUSAND lottery tickets instead.

He passed.

Dedication?

Well,it was wet. This is a DRY photo. In between bouts... 4am perhaps. FROZEN and SOAKED.




















BUT...
We made it inside at 6:15am and and hit the road home with our wristbands at 6:30 am.





















OK... well the really hard part was yet to come...
I felt like I was going to toss my cookies when we arrived at 5:15 this AM to get in line again... the nervousness in me was really the strongest right before his 20 second audition. These are the 36+"booths" with 2 judges in each... they pulled you along and away you went... He performed well,a soulful... albeit,mellow version of Albert King's I'll Play the Blues for You ... accapella. It was different...
and NICE. The judges were a bit clueless...
BUT...
He tried and he was passed over.

















THERE were 15-20000 people auditioning.
He stayed strong and did it.
He will move forward.
So what does he say as we are walking out?
"So, is the 1000 lottery tickets offer still available?"
I said, sadly, "Sorry Jake, I think not."
And we drove home.
We have had many conversations since the 11:45am car ride from Newark to home.
I believe Jake's talent lies in the fact that he is a whole AWESOME package...
He's into writing and producing as well as performing and I am drawn to that creative ability. Academically he's rockin' too...
He is wise while still being young.
I am proud to be his mom and I expect the future will be very interesting.

NOW... how does this relate to CERAMICS????
Well, I am always "waiting for the next one"...
I really don't put my work out there for competitions much....
Because...I always fell like the next piece will be better; The work isn't mature enough yet; etc.
I may be right... BUT...
I am clearly afraid of rejection.
This is not a way to live.
I have learned from my young son with the old soul to go ahead and try.
So... that's my plan.
But be patient.
I've got a lot on my PLATE.
Pun intended.