Slow Down You Move Too Fast, The Dilemma of the Christian Work Ethic

Fernando Botero's Reclining Woman

photographed at the Birmingham Art Museum (BAM)
outside in their art garden

Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.

As I wake up every morning lots of times I wake up with good ideas. It is a wonderful state of consciousness. It is there when I wake in peace and take the time to listen. It can be a time of new ideas for pots, creative display ideas or a key to finding inner peace.

Today I realized I need desperately to slow down. I remember as a child spinning a large metal top on a hard linoleum floor. You push down hard and press the metal stem making a grinding noise, metal against metal, applying more and more pressure. Then you let go and it spins and spins nearly falling over several times until it comes to rest on its side. I am a top.
Every year I love and hate the Christmas season. I love to make art people want. I love to go to a show and sell like a maniac and get the compliments feeling greatly rewarded in so many ways for my hard work. I love it when people want to buy my work.
I hate pricing my pottery. It is not that I don't know how. There are formulas, experience and real ways to honestly price my work. Whenever I mention this, my ever so helpful friends start telling me how this is done, as if I don't understand, and scolding me for severely underpricing my work.
I knew I was really in trouble when a friend, a savvy saleswoman friend, came up with a great idea. "I want to sell your pots for you and price them what they should be. That $70 pot should sell for at least $300. I am going to open a shop and sell your pots under a fake name and they will sell like hotcakes." Have I shot myself in the foot now? I cannot even try to sell for more if I sign the pot? The worse thing is, I like the idea. I would love to just make them and someone else, with not ego involved, can sell them. But, what has this spinning top done? Have I landed unsuccessfully on my side before finishing the spin?

I just quit weight watchers after losing 15 pounds. I will admit that 7 and half of those pounds were lost in PA while teaching at the Jewish Kids Camp in the summer where the food was not so great and I walked a lot. Now in this "spinning" part of the year, I find myself craving petifors and rich luscious foods. And, I know I should put my shoes on, go walk and take care of myself. The waist thickens, the face gets big and yikes! How quickly we can undo good habits and begin to pay the price.

The Christian work ethic. I don't like it. I do it. We cannot escape our culture. How do we keep the top from spinning so hard? I am a free spirit who can easily be sucked into getting great pleasure from being extremely productive. Something tells me it gives me a place of respect. It makes me valuable. So then why do I need to work under an alias to make this happen? Something is wrong with this picture.

I knew life was out of balance the other day when I quickly ran into Whole Foods looking for some delicious squash/crab creamy soup and noticed I was in another universe. People were taking their time, enjoying shopping, slowly carefully picking out their dinner and smiling at the same time. I was in a spinning marathon, rushing to get back to work and hurry and eat my dinner before a long night of teaching after working all day.

I am not whining. I am thinking out loud. When we do this public journal thing we open up to much criticism. I write these thought publicly because I know so many others feel this way as well and we need moral support and understanding. I thank everyone who has written me to say, "Thank you. You feel this way too? I thought I was the only one."

I like being busy but it is time to sit back and look for the balance. My husband wonders if he is even married and patiently waits for the calm after the Christmas storm as he has for some 35 years. My cats beg for my attention. The dust is thick on bookshelves. I may have to go back to the beginning of my half read books. My chest of drawers looks as bad as my office, cluttered and piled sky high. I haven't raked the yard yet.

I do have hope. I am not going to make a lot of cash again this year. But, my son replaced the windows in the garage door of my studio. I can clearly see the channel two tower and I can tell if it is day or night, dry or wet or soon to be snowing. But the really special and most calming thing is watching the hawk on channel two's tower. We have a special relationship from my point of view. I look out several times a day to see if she is resting on the perch of the antenna or swooping around the tower. She brings me calm. Watching the grace of flight. Watching her do her job as she watches for her dinner below. Sometime she is just in her nest, privately resting. I wonder if she watches me too. I would offer her a bunch of feeder mice on a box on the roof if I thought she wanted and could see them. And a very creative friend suggested I throw some in the air. Well, I do have a slingshot but it just doesn't sound right. So I will just watch. And, take a few lessons from the hawk.

Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feelin' groovy.
Hello lamppost,
What cha knowing?
I've come to watch your flowers growing.
Ain't cha got no rhymes for me?
Doot-in' doo-doo,
Feelin' groovy.

Got no deeds to do,
No promises to keep.
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you,
All is groovy. Sources: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/s/simongarellyrics/thefunkthstreetbridgesongfeelinggroovylyrics.html

Potters like to Cook! It All fits the picture! Raspberry Salsa Recipe

Raspberry Salsa, spread it on anything you like! Crackers, apples, celery, cake, lips.

John and I have a TV date every Sunday night and we watch desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters. Don't worry, we don't take TV seriously. I hardly ever watch TV. But this is our ritual. I go to Whole Foods and choose 3 special cheeses, cut some apple, add a few other good appetizers like stuffed grape leaves or maybe olives. And of course a good glass of wine. We kick back our shoes and stuff ourselves and laugh.

Pan roasted almonds with a touch of salt and raw sugar. Addictive addition!

Part of the ritual spread on the TV trays.

OK. So I have fallen off the weight watcher wagon again. Guilty. What can I say. I love to cook and I am a foodie. I will jump back on right after I try a few new recipes. Here is a great and simple one from Chips,Dips, & Salsas, by Judy Walker and Kim MacEachern.
If you are ever invited to a potter's pot luck etc. GO. We love to cook generally speaking. There is something about beautiful food and beautiful pottery. They go hand in hand.
Oops, I did not put this on one of my cheese plates. Mistake on my part on my pottery blog but oh well imagine it and next time I make it I will put it on a plate I made.

I made this recipe on Thanksgiving and it was so good I had to make it again. It is fresh and lovely and extra tasty. It is recommended over goat cheese. Having a picky veggie daughter I put it on pound cake for Thanksgiving. This time served it over goat cheese and also spread it on celery and apples to lower a few calories. And, I have been known to just reach in and snatch some out of the bowl in a spoon. No double dipping!

The Chambord, syrup and cinnamon make this dish. Don't worry about the chill time frame. It is good new or the next day. I think it would even be good on cardboard. Great! Easy.

Raspberry Salsa

6 ounces of raspberries, rinsed
1-11 ounce can of mandarin oranges, drained
1 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbs boysenberry syrup (I used blueberry)
dash of Chambord raspberrie liqueur (they say optional, I say do it)

Combine all ingredients in a pottery bowl made by mwhaw. Stir gently to combine. Chill for no more than one hour.
Stir and serve.
Makes about 2 cups.

How to create versus How about trying this idea? Art or Craft

I was working with one of my students tonight showing her how to make Christmas trees in clay. An interesting thought happened. She is a good student and has come a long way as she becomes more of an art professional vs more of a craft student.
We were talking about "How" to make the Christmas tree and I kept suggesting "what if we do this or that." I explained that each tree must be looked at individually and we think of the possibilities of things to do with the surface and the shape. I explained that there is no right way to make it. We just look at it and think of new ideas that might make each tree more individualistic and interesting. And that is when I realized that one difference in art and craft approaches is with art you usually have the know how technically, assuming you are somewhat proficient. With craft, you want to know how to make it. This is only a small part of it. I am not wanting to confuse craft with craftsmanship at this point.
It is just a small difference in approach. And, I recognize with practice, a person approaching the same idea as a "crafts" person would also begin to reach out.
When does it become art not craft? I don't know. Maybe craft is about "how to make it" and art is "How about trying this or that."
This sounds a little too simple but is worth thinking about.

Thanksgiving Poem by Marge Ackley

My friends Tom and Susan sent me this poem his mother wrote about Thanksgiving. I think it is lovely and I share the sentiments.

We offer gratitude to and for all friends

Who create, remake and refine one another;

Who point to stars and keep us from the dark;

Who help us hear the music in the silent places....

Who hold us and will not let us go.

By Marge Ackley

Happy Thanksgiving
Tom & Susan

Are You Looking for Brookside Pottery, Linda Rimstidt Coward, Tulsa Oklahoma? Classes, gallery and supplies

Just in case you have lost me and are looking for Brookside Pottery, I am making this simple post on my blog.
Some of my customers think lost me or think I have gone out of business after I moved from 3710 South Peoria. So this is a simple way for you to find me if you have googled my business.

Where am I?
I am not located in the alley behind where I used to be, right behind Locker's Hair Salon, across from channel 2 in Tulsa. The actual address is 1138 D East 37th Street. I am down the alley off the parking lot in a garage at the end of the building. It is easy to find me if you turn west off South Peoria on 37th Street and look around the parking lot.

What are my crazy hours?
Hours: Seems like I am there all the time. I run late and stay late.
The official hours are Wed.-Fri for 12-5
And open the 1st and 3rd Sat of every month

Don't let that fool you. I am there a lot more and I teach on Tues and Wed nights as well as tutor on Monday afternoons. And I have to have some more worktime as well.

What kind of shop am I?
The shop is a working pottery studio, I teach classes, host birthday parties, scout groups and just about any kind of get together.
I also sell clay, tools, glazes and equipment.

How can you reach me for an appointment or more info?
My shop phone is (918) 747-7574 and my cell is (918) 697-6364
or you can email me at claylady00@aol.com (00 are numbers not letters)

I have been a potter for about 36 years and located in Tulsa for 19 years.

I hope this post helps if you are one of my customers that thinks I have disappeared.
I will be harder to find in Jan and Feb because my shop has no heat or air conditioning. If it gets real cold, I will be open by appointment only.

The Finest Folk Artist I Have Ever Taught

Steph's latest pottery face influenced by a drawing by Picasso

Steph holds her pot just after it comes out of the kiln.

Steph has been enjoying making vessels with faces on them based on her drawings.

Friends talking and exchanging ideas.

Steph and Don enjoy seeing another pot come out of the kiln.

Steph's Indian Face

Steph and Don came to see me one afternoon to talk about taking classes. They had found me on the Internet and Steph wanted to learn how to make things with clay. It is a pleasure to teach her. She is in my opinion as good as any fold artist I saw in the Baltimore Folk Art Museum. Her work belongs there.
I have taught her several techniques and she continues to grow and learn and is not intimidated by any form or idea. She just gets in there and does it. She keeps a great journal of drawings and ideas and I want to help her find her way to form these ideas. She is very original and loves really bright colors. I have also called in my son, Ian, to help her on class night. She immediately was drawn to his work and they get excited talking about ideas, colors and inspiration.
It is a pleasure to teach such a natural folk artist and to see the joy in her eyes when her work comes out of the kiln.

The Pursuit of Happiness, lol

VooDoo Diva sitting on the shelf at Brookside pottery, always smiling and waiting for a home.

Today a friend posted a quote about happiness on facebook and I cannot get it out of mind without writing about it. I tried to boost myself out the door and "get on with the day" but instead headed for my claw footed bathtub for a soak. It is a great place to think. I wanted to think about happiness which gets a little tricky.

The quote that started this is:

"Taisen Deshimaru, a Japanese Soto Zen Buddhist teacher writes: If you are not happy here and now, you never will be."

If you want to be a happy person that puts a lot of pressure on you. I get a little self doubt if I start questioning it. Would a "happy" person think like that? Wouldn't a truly happy person just say "Oh yes, and push like, lol comment on facebook, the over the fence communication system of our day?

I generally feel happy, am told I am a "happy" person and try to surround myself with happy people. Blag. The thought of that makes me unhappy. Sounds like everyone is either smoking pot, on anti-depressants, overly religious or just plain dumb. Oops, how could a happy person say such a thing? I don't want to be a PollyAnna but I do like the braids.

A friend recently gave me a treat of Richard Sadaris ticket to hear him read. I was happy. We sat on the back row, giving me a feeling of freedom and superiority being a bit claustrophobic. And I laughed harder than I have in ages. lol.lol. I laughed until my throat hurt. I left happy and feeling like someone had hit me laughingly in the chest. Is that happy? Or is that just laughing, some kind of evolved instinct?

Having goals makes me happy. In the early years of my marriage I confess, my husband and I were getting a bit bored with each other. Goals. I knew we needed a mutual goal. We are both a bit type A, asking a lot out of life, and we needed to head in the same direction. Can you be type A non hyper active? That's me for all my friends that are reading this saying "Well maybe John is type a but not Linda."
So I thought about it and we decided we would hike across Tennessee and John would write about it and I would photograph it. That made us both happy. One step at a time, it slowed life down and helped us get down to the basics. 567 miles in 62 days of happiness. Sometimes sleeping on the ground, spread eagle and holding on tight while the earth is spinning is great.

I read in a book about the Hopi Indian tribe that never has a Hopi said, "Stop the world. I want to get off." And then the book elaborated about the Hopi sense of time and the calmness of the culture. That sounds happy to me but that was over 25 years ago. Is it still true? Was it ever really true?

Recently, given the opportunity, I would have gladly hopped out of this mind and body to give myself a break. Stop the world. I don't want to get off. I just need a break. This goal thing is getting out of hand. I don't do illegal drugs but I did drink a cup of real Kava the other night to try and "turn off." It tastes like drinking dirt and it only helped me go to sleep. By morning I was ready to hit the road again. It is too easy for me to forget to take time for myself and relax.

"Slow down, you move to fast. You gotta make the morning last. It's...." Forgot the rest of the song. Hope that was not the important part.

I watched a group of friends recently pursue their happiness. It seemed to be that none of them would be happy until they each found a husband, a rich husband. It was quite a scramble. They all buffed their bodies and "smiled" at rich men a lot. My concern was if they would be able to find love if they could not give love a little more. Was love really even involved? They all did it. I hope they are happy and have found love. If they stay married and keep smiling I guess the answer is yes. They are happy. I often wish I could be that self centered and get the body back in shape and spend some cash.

Spending cash does not always work either. Before my first child was born I had a miscarriage. Just when I thought OK, we are really having a baby and that will be fun. Boom. In my mind I could intellectually accept it. The baby probably would have had problems of some sort. I can try again etc. So, I decided I would take the deposit, all $500 I had given the Doctor's office for the baby having experience, and go shopping to make up the difference. I left every store I visited all day empty handed. Cash, as long as I have enough for basic needs, does not do it for me

Sometimes I wonder if crazy people are really just happy people to the extreme. Then I hear the other side, the scared and angry stories about truly diagnosed crazy people

I am happy when I cook. I am happy when I am making art alone. I am happy when my kids and husband are happy. I am happy when I am exploring, traveling and learning. I am happy when I surround myself with intelligent and interesting people.
I am not happy when I get on the scales after I cook. I am not happy when I can't think straight because people won't leave me alone so I can make art. I am not happy when I worry about family and friends. I am not happy when I think I am not happy.

How much is happiness related to gender? My husband and I were talking about this the other night. Is it more difficult to be happy if you are female? I am not sure. But, thinking about why so many women are not happy is a worthy thought. I am sad when I see a woman's happiness come only through her husband. That is not to be confused with appreciating, supporting and loving your husband. But in fact, many woman's careers which can bring happiness are greatly altered by the husbands job and motherhood. You have to be able to pull off what you want in any location and in stolen moments. And, I think it is mostly OK.

Yes, I am happy most of the time. It helps to be a basic optimist by nature. A friend told me you can change your habits but not your basic personality. It makes me wonder if we can control our happiness. I think the answer is not black and white but how about "sort of."

So Mr ever so smart Zen Buddist teacher. Yes I am happy now and will probably always be. Right after I take a nap.