Aargh!! Computer problems. Xcel has taken my customer address list of over 500 and scrambled the first names with the last names & addresses. So, I'm having to go through my card file and sort through to match them up properly again. I hate this. I think it's Satan.
I started back to work in the studio the day after Christmas after a two-month post-surgery hiatus (right shoulder rotator cuff - fun). The first six weeks were the absolute rest period in a sling with minimal movement, even in physical therapy. Then the aggressive p.t. - and the painful part - began. During the rest period, I was allowed to use a computer keyboard and pen/paper, so I had originally planned to use that time to write; but in reality, my arm was weak and it hurt even to type. I ended up taking a vacation from almost everything, just 2-hour walks with the dogs, TV (started a bad habit there), reading and some cooking (it was difficult and painful to chop vegetables).
I had begun to worry that I would stay in permanent vacation mode and kept asking myself, Is this retirement? But it was surprising that as soon as I started back in the studio, all the love of it came back. The thing I want to avoid, though, is the stress and time pressure from before. I'm applying to far fewer shows, being picky about which ones. Before the surgery, I'd reached a point of mental exhaustion with travel. When it was time to leave for a show, I was depressed about leaving the dogs, the garden, our neighborhood, the studio, everything and everyone.
Surprisingly, even though people knew it would be a 3-month wait for any orders of work I didn't already have on hand, quite a few orders came in; so, so far in the studio, I've been mainly working on those and on getting inventory on my site and the artfulhome.com site up to snuff. Not doing any new work, but have ideas I'm looking forward to starting. Today I am loading the kiln with all of the orders, so, providing they all turn out well, I can start on the new work next week.
I did take these photos this week. None of these are new work, they've been at shows if there was room in the display to put them out; but I'd never photographed them before.
I started back to work in the studio the day after Christmas after a two-month post-surgery hiatus (right shoulder rotator cuff - fun). The first six weeks were the absolute rest period in a sling with minimal movement, even in physical therapy. Then the aggressive p.t. - and the painful part - began. During the rest period, I was allowed to use a computer keyboard and pen/paper, so I had originally planned to use that time to write; but in reality, my arm was weak and it hurt even to type. I ended up taking a vacation from almost everything, just 2-hour walks with the dogs, TV (started a bad habit there), reading and some cooking (it was difficult and painful to chop vegetables).
I had begun to worry that I would stay in permanent vacation mode and kept asking myself, Is this retirement? But it was surprising that as soon as I started back in the studio, all the love of it came back. The thing I want to avoid, though, is the stress and time pressure from before. I'm applying to far fewer shows, being picky about which ones. Before the surgery, I'd reached a point of mental exhaustion with travel. When it was time to leave for a show, I was depressed about leaving the dogs, the garden, our neighborhood, the studio, everything and everyone.
Surprisingly, even though people knew it would be a 3-month wait for any orders of work I didn't already have on hand, quite a few orders came in; so, so far in the studio, I've been mainly working on those and on getting inventory on my site and the artfulhome.com site up to snuff. Not doing any new work, but have ideas I'm looking forward to starting. Today I am loading the kiln with all of the orders, so, providing they all turn out well, I can start on the new work next week.
I did take these photos this week. None of these are new work, they've been at shows if there was room in the display to put them out; but I'd never photographed them before.
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Peacock Candlestand for a 3" diam. candle is 8" high, 7" in diam. $150. It has a jeweled peacock set in an alcove and 6 jeweled "feathers" around.
Spring Candlestand, also for a 3" diam. candle, 6" high, 4.5" diam. $98.
I also uploaded 2 or 3 new pieces to Studio Clearance. Go to www.pcragopottery.com, click on Current Work, then on the left, click on Studio Clearance.
Spring Candlestand, also for a 3" diam. candle, 6" high, 4.5" diam. $98.
I also uploaded 2 or 3 new pieces to Studio Clearance. Go to www.pcragopottery.com, click on Current Work, then on the left, click on Studio Clearance.
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