Peace and Imagination

John Lennon:

Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one.

My first angels of the season come out of the kiln tomorrow. This years theme is Let it Go and they are each holding birds in their palms.

I will post photos tomorrow. The idea came from hearing Carlton Pierson at a jazz concert singing Let it Be and moving on to Let it Go.

And, my leaf plates are complete as well and I really like them. I pressed leaves from the Katy Trail into clay and I sold several at All Souls Art Sale this morning before I got the photos taken. The leaves on this post were growing at the Philbrook garden before the freeze.

Attitude Adjustments

Colleen C.Barrett:

Work is either fun or drudgery. It depends on your attitude. I like fun.

Carlos Castaneda:

The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.

H.H. the Dalai Lama:

The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy.

Just a few quotes from Wisdom Quotes to give us all something to think about.

If I Were A Rich Girl

I am working hard and the old body is objecting a bit. I am a little slower and still set goals too high each day. I am enjoying working most of the time but those aches and pains.

If I were a rich girl I would buy a new hot tub with a no leak guarantee and I would have a great big kitchen and have lots of dinner parties. Sounds a bit spoiled rotten but I would not mind trying it. I would share both things with other needy souls.

Angels and plates should be coming out of the kiln soon along with several other things as well. Glazing takes forever even when you know what you are doing.

My thermocouple in my small kiln burned out and with the help of a couple of friends the kiln can work again tomorrow with a temporary solution. This is not a good time of the year to have a kiln not working.

Oh, if only my hot tub would hold water!

Pre Announcement to Christmas Show

Yes, I will have an open house this year. Guess what? It will be closer to Christmas. I will list the artists next week. The space is cozy (very small) and so we will set up a tent outside as well. It should be fun and funky.
First, I must get through All Souls Christmas Show this Sunday and then I will concentrate on the show at the shop complete with mail outs etc. So here is a preview to events:

You are invited to celebrate with us right before Christmas!
What a unique idea!

Brookside Pottery and Friends present

The 17th annual Christmas Open House Sale and Show

Friday December 12th from 5-8
Saturday December 13th from 10-4

Visit me in my new location:
1138 D East 37th Street
Just down the alley behind my old shop




Come join us rain, shine or ice storm
We will be there with refreshments

Can’t find us call 747-7574
Visit my blog for more information at
LindaCowardPottery.blogspot.com

Squash Casserole without cream of chicken soup

Pottery and cooking. It all goes together. This is a good looking recipe for that thanksgiving squash from Southern Living on line.

Two-Cheese Squash Casserole

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Yield

Makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

• 4 pounds yellow squash, sliced
• 4 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided
• 1 large sweet onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 1/2 cups soft breadcrumbs, divided
• 1 1/4 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh chives
• 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
• 1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Preparation

Cook squash in boiling water to cover in a large skillet 8 to 10 minutes or just until tender. Drain well; gently press between paper towels.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 to 6 minutes or until tender. Remove skillet from heat; stir in squash, 1 cup breadcrumbs, 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and next 7 ingredients. Spoon into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.

Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Stir together melted butter, remaining 1 1/2 cups soft breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and garlic salt. Sprinkle mixture evenly over top of casserole.

Bake at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes or until set.

Southern Living, MAY 2004

What to do with 4 Pomegranates.

Ricotta Cheesecake with Pomegranate Sauce Recipe

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From Celebrations Italian Style by Mary Ann Esposito (William Morrow), for About.com

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hours, 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• Cheesecake:
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• One 16-ounce container skim-milk ricotta cheese, well drained
• 1 pound mascarpone cheese or cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• .
• Pomegranate Sauce:
• 4 large pomegranates (about 3 pounds)
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch, sifted
• 3/4 cup sugar

Preparation:

Cheesecake:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with the butter. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and grease the paper with the remaining butter. Generously dust the pan with flour and shake out the excess.

In a bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the ricotta and mascarpone or cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the sugar. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, until well blended. Fold in the flour.

In another bowl, with clean beaters, beat the egg whites with the salt until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the cheese mixture. Pour the batter into the pan, and smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Turn off the oven and leave the cake in the oven with the door ajar for 30 minutes. Remove the cake to a rack and let cool completely, then cover and refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours.

To serve, run a knife around the edges of the cake to loosen it. Release the spring on the side of the pan and remove the springform ring. Put a serving dish over the top of the cake and invert it onto the plate. Remove the parchment paper.

Spread the pomegranate sauce evenly over the top of the cake. Cut the cake into wedges. (The sauce may also be placed in a bowl and passed on the side.)

Pomegranate sauce:
Cut the pomegranates in half. Place a fine mesh sieve over a large bowl. Using a spoon or your fingers, scrape the seeds into the sieve.

With a wooden spoon or a flat meat pounder, press on the seeds to extract 2 cups of juice. Discard the seeds and set the juice aside.

In a medium saucepan, mix the cornstarch with the sugar. Slowly stir in the pomegranate juice and mix well. Cook the sauce over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce begins to thicken and darkens to a deep wine color, and the sauce coats the back of the spoon. Remove from the heat and let cool. The sauce may be made ahead and stored in a jar in the refrigerator. It will thicken somewhat if stored. When ready to use, thin with a little warm water if necessary.

Yield: 1 cheesecake

Source: Celebrations Italian Style by Mary Ann Esposito (William Morrow)
Reprinted with permission.

Now I know what to do with those 4 pomegranites. And, I must find this cookbook. Pomegranate sauce sounds wonderful. I bet this lady can cook!

Thanksgiving, a personal thank you

What do potter's say at Thanksgiving? "Oh no, how many days till Christmas?"

I am thankful for a lot of things. I am thankful that I don't think I have to eat turkey on thanksgiving and stuff myself.

My favorite memories of thanksgiving are hiking up Mt. LeConte in Tennessee with friends and having turkey sandwiches and wine in a backpack and setting at a picnic table on top of the mountain, surrounded by snow. After having our meal, we spent the rest of the day hiking back down the mountain. Our friend Lyn did this with us and she cannot do it again. She died a few years later of ovarian cancer. I miss her. She used to eat candy bars and drink cokes for breakfast and laugh about it. If I thought I might die soon I might do the same thing.

Another favorite was going to the tall grass prairie preserve in OK, again with a delicious light weight picnic and a small glass of white wine and listening to nothingness. We spotted a Native American lady sitting on the hood of her car playing a flute to the buffalo and asked her they liked her music. "No," she said, "But they are getting used to it. And watch out because they can go from zero to 35 in seconds. Don't get to close to them."

I don't like to watch parades on TV or eat too much or for that matter watch football on TV. I don't like processed corn syrup foods on Thanksgiving.

What I do like on Thanksgiving is planning to exercise, like a nice bike ride. I try and think about what I personally feel thankful for and there are a lot of answers to that. I am a very lucky person and I am grateful.


So I guess we will just all be thankful and leave it at that and eat turkey if you want to.

My thanksgiving grocery cart was unusual again and it contained:
4 pomegranates for fun,
French brie and snotty crackers
brussel sprouts even though no on else in my family will eat them
squash to make a sinful casserole
a big bag of potatoes for garlic mashed potatoes for Rachel
champagne because I love it
maraschino cherries to put with mint and lime in sparkling water
pork loin for John and Ian
and a half bushel of apples to play with.

Ok, I know it all sounds a bit weird together but it is spread out throughout the day. And, some grocery store will probably be open if it doesn't work out.

And then there is the pottery, I will go finish glazing and load the kiln so it can fire on Thanksgiving while I go for a bike ride.

And, I will be thankful to be there because we all know, Brookside Pottery could have disappeared this year. Our playhouse is still there and so many people come to play. Aren't we thankful?

Banana Leaves

I planted a banana tree outside my bedroom window and it grew into three lovely plants. Now, we have had a good freeze and the party is over. The plant is limp. The leaves on that plant are my favorite leaves to watch. The light goes through one and shades the other and the greens are plentiful. It will come back next spring. Pressing leaves in clay is one of my favorite times of texture in clay at the moment. These leaves however are way to big for my kiln.

Success and Happiness

Eric Baker's Iron and Glass Tree in the Garden of the Philbrook. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought it was real for a minute.

I still like making pots after 35 years. I feel really lucky to have always known what I love to do. Of course there is more to life than pottery and travel and photography are my next favorite ways to spend my time.

Children in my pottery classes will sometimes ask what it is like to be a potter. I tell them I am very very rich but I don't have a lot of money. And I tell the adults if my life gets any richer I think I will throw up. I feel very lucky. But you do have to make it happen. It is not just luck.

My Dad told me one time, "Linda, God gave you a garden but you gotta pull your own weeds."

Albert Schweitzer:

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

(quote from Wisdom Quotes)

Making Pottery for Christmas

Christmas has never been an easy laid back time for potters. Potters who want to make a living cannot play that role. I cannot even tell if it is easier this year. It is supposed to be.

Oh well, it is not a good time for a trip to Santa Fe. We wanted to go over Thanksgiving break but it did not work out for many reasons.

So, I worked in the quiet of the shop today, Sunday, and made angels, nativity scenes and worked on a fun piece for Karen Keith.

The pottery has been very cold the last few days (around 48 degrees) and I broke down and bought another space heater and went to work again. I want to hide in my shop the next couple of days and make a few more Christmas items. I really hope I can post photos on my blog for everyone to see soon.

Andy Rooney had an interesting TV message tonight about not passing by Thanksgiving for Christmas. My Christmas open house is planned for Dec 12 and 13. In our ever so commercial society that seems late. What is wrong with celebrating and shopping for Christmas right before Christmas?
My non-materialistic attitude does not pay at Christmas. I try and make fun stuff for people to give as gifts but I cannot make myself make expensive stuff just to sell I like to make lovely affordable utilitarian gifts.

So all of you who tell me you read my blog regularly, hang in there, and maybe I really will get photos for email shopping up soon!

Forgiveness

Flower in the Garden at the Philbrook, Remember Festival of Trees starts tonight!

Mohandas K. Gandhi

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

Good Morning from Creative Quotes

My friend Maura and I were talking about how we like thinking. She has just returned to school for a master's degree and noted how she likes the intellectual stimulation of new ideas and students around her. I always feel that way too. Thinking, discovery and creativity. Quotes are great stimulus for new ideas and thinking.

Here is a quote from Wisdom Quotes:

Monica Baldwin:

The moment when you first wake up in the morning is the most wonderful of the twenty-four hours. No matter how weary or dreary you may feel, you possess the certainty that, during the day that lies before you, absolutely anything may happen. And the fact that it practically always doesn't, matters not a jot. The possibility is always there.

Know any good quotes for pottery signs?

I love fun quotes that give us something to think about. If you know any short quotes good for signs, email them to me please.
I plan to make:

Be nice or leave.
Back off I'm a goddess
and a few more Unitarian quotes.

Any ideas? I would love some good suggestions.
claylady00@aol.com

or leave a comment (comments are edited but I will get to it!)

Kilns for sale in Tulsa!

Kilns for Sale

*Paragon TNF series Electric Kiln. 27inches deep by 23 wide. Includes good quality shelving and posts. Updated paragon digital controller
$400 dollars (sold)

*Paragon 17 by 18 deep Electric Kiln with a manual controller. $100.00 (still for sale, may actually be a Skutt kiln)

Contact: Whitney Forsyth
631-3700 Work
746-0988 Home

Reflections, My Entry in the Philbook Festival of Trees

Reflections, Stoneware 28" tall
$350

Closeup of reflections

Festival of trees is almost here and I know I have done this show many times, maybe 12 or so?

The theme is southwest this year. Just when I had decided to never do the theme again, they chose of of my favorite themes. So now what can I complain about?

I had so many ideas and finally decided on a sculptural woman. Title? Reflections. It was fun to create and discover how she should look.

She will be on display at the Philbrook Museum and for sale during the event. It was a pleasure to create this piece. So enjoy and come to the show if you can. Visit the Philbrook website for times and dates to see the show. I also delivered a beautiful brass and aluminum tree for my friend Randy Doss. Every year his pieces are interpretations in metal. His piece is titled the 12 rings of Christmas. The festival kicks off this Friday night. Come join us.

Carlton Pearson First Jazz Concert at All Souls

How could we not go? A Friday night jazz concert at All Souls, Tulsa. The place was packed and there were guest performances we did not expect. Alto sax by Marquis, Wayman Tisdale and Hot Sauce who performs with Patti Labelle. It was fun.

And of course it came with messages.
Carlton sang a Stevie Wonder song or two. He said he knows him personally and he also sang John Lennon's Let it Be. Carlton's little girl also belted out a Beyonce song. It was beautiful and he looked like a proud daddy.

Let it Be and on to Let it Go
He said we have to learn to let go of things and people and jobs, stuff, and lots of other things. He is right. We must let things be. "Sometimes you gotta just let it go and let it be."

There was also an inspirational talk about "It's alright. It's OK. Hold your head up." That was in reference to Wayman Tisdale and his discovery and surprise that he had bone cancer after tripping down the stairs to get his wife a glass of water. He had played basketball for OU, the Olympics and pro ball as well. So what was he to do? The day before his leg was removed he just went fishing with his son. That made the most sense at such a moment of crisis. He has more inner strength than he ever realized and he makes beautiful music when he sings and plays jazz.

And then they talked and sang more jazz about Every thing must change. The young become the old. Yep it is looking like that.

I Like My New Pottery Studio, It is cozy.

"No heat, no air but it has running water and a toilet and I love a creative challenge." That is my normal response when people ask, "Well, how do you like your new space?"

So far, so good. I want to stay as long as the rent does not go up and until the bulldozer pulls up in the name of progress. No, there is no official plan to bulldoze but that is probably what will happen. "Up to code." What if Italy had so many ordinances? Would there be more new and fabricated buildings? Would it save lives? I don't know.

The studio feels like a studio. And, yes there is still more organizing to do. I had to decide between being a lovely and perfect studio v.s. my typical jump over that and "sorry about the mess" kind of place with new pots. Clean and neat and nothing to sell or arty chaos with new pots. Artful but Messy, that is was the headline in a story in a newspaper about me 25 years ago in Meadowview Virginia.

I have wonderful and generous friends who want to help. Thank you! Some will help this Saturday and we should have fun nesting and making pots too. Maybe I a can find us a nice sherry to sip while we work.

I do like the creative challenge. Creative thinking is part of my art. Do I give customers hats and gloves when they come in, with the fingers cut out to feel pots? Does steam from a coffee pot make the room warmer? Can I bounce heat off metal and keep it warmer? Does concrete warmed by a heat light help and is it cheaper than a space heater? Maybe we will just drink more sherry and laugh and wait till spring again to be warm. The kilns really help warm the shop and there are several more options. All in all, it is a fun challenge and the shop is certainly not boring. It continues to be a meeting place for like minded and not so like minded souls. It is fun.

Better go make some more pots to fire and warm the place up for the weekend.

More Quotes from 50 on 50

Nora Ephron:
"I feel very lucky at my age because I'm married to the person I should have married in the first place."
Her latest book is hilarious, I Feel Bad about My Neck. Mine is already loaned out.

Faye Dunaway:
"It's about what you can do each day to achieve your dreams."

Mary Kay Blakely:
"In the ten years I've been reading the death notices, I have yet to encounter the praise: 'She maintained her ideal weight.'"

Donna Karan:
"You can't let your mind get old. You always have to be open, always ready to take on new challenges."

How Long Does it Take?

I went to All Souls Unitarian Church this Sunday. It was different and quite refreshing. I often refer to myself as a failed Unitarian and then others remind me there is no such thing. The church was about a third black during the second service and believe me, that makes the music rock the whole building. Unitarians can now chose between the more traditional service and the second service. This gives more people more choices.
The election stimulated many like minded people giving thanks to the idea that maybe "all men are created equal" it seemed to really be happening. It was delightful to see my church more integrated. It seems that the soul that Carlton Pearson crowd has added to All Souls fits me and several others just right.

When I was in about the 6th grade our open minded Zion church invited the black choir to our church to sing. I still remember it and the dynamics it added to the surface. We considered that a very liberal move and it was in its own time frame. It was only once and it was "special."

Now I am 57 and finally the black choir is actually a part of my church. Our Unitarian church never had so many black members. It was good to see the cultures and religions finally meshing. Now it works. The extra words spoken out loud as they agreed with the minister was different for our services and I will get used to it. The warmth is beautiful.

Then there was Carlton. I only heard him speak once several months ago and all of a sudden I understood religious charisma. I also really like our minister, Marlin. He is a great thinker and I like to listen to his sermons and insights. He seems very thoughtful and respects other ideas without pointing fingers accusing others as they find their own spiritual paths.
I have never appreciated responsive reading unless I think of it as poetry read out loud and I am embarrassed to say, hymns sung with so little enthusiasm don't thrill me either. Methodists have been accused of singing in that sing-song way without much feeling but I think our church did it too. The hymnals in our church have been updated but still many songs are unfamiliar and difficult for untrained voices to sing. Our choir has always been quite sophisticated with several operatic voices. They know how to sing professionally and I appreciate them.

So, after 50 years I finally feel a bit more of the racial equality in our religion and politics. I feel like maybe anyone who really does try, can succeed. Perhaps we don't have to be born to rich white families to succeed. The door has opened further now. I am not saying anyone can be a leader but I do think perhaps with education and determination we have a better chance than I thought.
We should also have a woman President before too much longer. It was great to see so many people from so many walks of life voting, knowing how important it is now and that it can make a difference.

Now my faith has been restored to think we can make a difference. We will just have to watch and see what happens in the next 4 years. I hope we become a stronger nation by example. It won't be easy but with time and great patience things may improve. Things like health insurance, educational opportunities and the economy.

Women's Quotes from 50 on 50

I guess while I am still in my 50's I better comment, brag or complain about it.
How fun it is to be older, hopefully wiser and finding like minded quotes from fantastic women. Check this book out, 50 on 50,by Bonnie Miller Rubin, if you can find it.

Linda Ronstadt:
"So, life changes. And if you want to do what's authentic , you have to change too."
*because of my maiden name some people I went to elementary school with think they know her but it is just little old me

Stefanie Powers:
"I know the importance of uncontrollable curiosity. I can't stand having an opportunity and not taking advantage of it."

K.T. Oslin:
"There is a lot of mediocrity out there and you must do your best not to contribute to it."

Patti Labelle:
"Just don't get lazy. Work at your relationships all the time. Take care of friendships, hold people you love close to you, take advantage of birthdays to celebrate fiercely. It's the worrying-not the years themselves-that will make you less of a woman."

Suzy Kellett:
The truth is that I really like the ease with which I move through the world right now. But I wouldn't mind being cute just one more time..."

Sue Grafton:
"Train yourself to listen to the small voice that tells us what's important and what's not."

Sophia Loren:
"Mistakes are part of the dues we pay for a full life."

Beautice Wood's Again

If you don't know this artist I want to introduce you to here. She is one of my heros. I love her work and I love her attitudes.
These pieces are from her permanent collection and can be seen on her website. There is a lot of terrific info about her to read and there are several books out about her as well. Before I knew a lot about her, a friend gave me a book about her and said "Here, she reminds me of you." What a wonderful compliment. I wish I had her nerve and her gutsiness. I love her artwork and unknowingly, I spotted it in the Nelson Atkins in KC and ran over to the piece. It was glowing in the light. I wish we had access to her glazes but I am afraid they remain a mystery.

These are pieces from her permanent collection. She mixed glazes basically in a cooking style and lived her life joyfully and completely without reservation.

I had posted in my studio three important things in her life according to her bio for a long time

1. chocolate

2.younger men

3. she didn't give a shit

Visit her web page and find out more if you want:http://www.beatricewood.com/.

I like the nerve but I have to say,

1.Sometimes I like fresh rasberries more than chocolate

2.Younger men must also be intelligent and age does not really matter to me

3.I like the idea of not giving a shit but I do not want to think that way at the expense of others.

Check out her book I Shock Myself. Wish I had those glaze formulas. There is also a great little movie out about her. Wish I had a copy.

Wally? Are you out there? I am so proud of you!

Oh my gosh! Life and art really do mesh.

Guess what? My wonderful and ever so aware of everything husband just informed me the Wally, Tony Dow, you know the Beaver Cleaver's older cute brother will have a piece in the Louvre in Paris by invitation.

Read this story from Yahoo. I hope I have given enough credit to this wonderful source. I bet you can search Yahoo to read the original with great respect to them.

'Leave It to Beaver' actor to show at the Louvre

• 
  
  
  

Tue Nov 11, 10:53 am ET

AP – In this image released by Blair Hayes, a bronze abstract sculpture of a figure of a woman holding a shield …

• 
  

LOS ANGELES – Eat your heart out, Eddie Haskell.

Tony Dow, best known as the actor who portrayed The Beav's big brother, Wally, in the '50s TV series "Leave It to Beaver," will have one of his abstract sculptures on display at the Louvre. Several sculptors from the Karen Lynne Gallery — including Dow — will have their works shown at the historic art museum in Paris as part of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts exhibition.

"Having something shown at the Louvre is about as good as you can get," said Dow, who lives in Los Angeles, "especially when it's a juried show like this where there's a panel of judges who pick the pieces to be in the exhibition. I'm a little humbled by the whole thing but grateful nonetheless."

Dow, who has also worked as a director and visual effects producer on several TV shows, has been painting and sculpting since he was a teenager. The 63-year-old artist's sculpture that will be shown at the Louvre from Dec. 11 to Dec. 14 is titled "Unarmed Warrior," and is a bronze figure of a woman holding a shield.

"Of course, I'm really proud of 'Leave It to Beaver' and my directing career in television," said Dow. "Those are great accomplishments. I'm really proud of them, but this is interesting because I don't think they know anything about that at the Louvre."

See I told you there was hope in America! Wally!

Why I am a Unitarian.

At All Souls we have a wide variety of believers and skeptics, but every week we agree on three things:

To dwell together in peace,

To seek the truth in love,

And to help one another.

That statement is repeated often in my church and I found this in a published sermon. Check out All Souls Unitarian Church Tulsa on google and you can see more about how it works and how we try to live up to these ideas. I think the world would be a lovely place if more people thought like this and actually lived this way. We are imperfect but have ideals. I guess that is the best we can do.

Oops, Got away from Pottery ideas again

My life is my art is my life or something like that.

Oh dear. I am supposed to creating a pottery blog that is like a website and working hard to show you all about my pottery world and then I get off on religion and politics. Sorry.

It is just like real life. Life and art, hand in hand. I will try and remember the title of this blog is LindaCowardPottery.

No more naval gazing. Back to art.

Christmas Krap

Barbie Mariposa hits the target shelves. Barbie has been through a lot since I was a little girl. Yet, she keeps her girlish figure. Is she a butterfly migrating in Mexico as well?

A wonderful hot dog warmer for only $44.99

List Price:

OK-is this an age thing or a stuff thing? All my friends think we have enough or too much now.

John and I were having lunch at home this Sunday afternoon and there on the table are the Sunday ads from the local newspaper. I gravitate toward Target and Walgreens and sometimes Office Depot, searching basically for nothing or something I have not heard of and don't know I need or maybe toilet paper and paper towels coupons although I don't really buy them there. And then, John spots Gordman's. I know their lettering but I cannot remember where they are. Next to Target? Across from the Promenade? I don't know.
Anyway, John shows me the Gordman's add across the table and shows me the Christmas Krap they are selling and I felt my pulse begin to race. He says, "They are going to go bankrupt! Look at this crap from China." Oh it makes my heart sink.
What does a person from China think an all American Christmas snowman looks like? It looks cheap. Very very cheap and almost cute.

This kind of thing, added with a glass of wine, makes me wonder about the taste of American people. I hope people, if they spend less this year, will use discretion.

A potter I went to grad school with used to price his pots at Christmas according to how people purchased for relatives and friends. He said they had a group they looked for $15 gifts and then there was also the $35 relatives. His theory was they did not care what it was, just so they spent equal amounts of certain relatives.

I am working on gifts I hope people like this year. I will start my angels this week and I want to make candlesticks as well. I will make small ones for not so expensive gifts and a few large ones for that special person. I like the way we celebrate with candles.

I sold several leaf pots at the Garden Deva Show. I gathered the leaves to press into clay from the Katy Trail. I pressed leaves into bowls, plates and made leaf shaped plates as well. With encouragement from some students and made and sold several little tea bowls as well.

The next show for me is at All Souls Unitarian Church. I will show a few pots at the Christmas Casia Walk and then I will have a small open house at my shop. That with a few regular customers stopping by should keep me busy enough.

Please don't buy ugly useless crap from big box stores. Avoid Christmas Krap.

Great Party and Sale Garden Deva

What a beautiful and fun show. The 9th Annual Garden Show just happened this weekend. It was a delightful and rewarding show to be in. Thanks for asking me to join in. I wanted to do it last year and was over obligated to heaven knows what. The joys of scaling down the shop make it fun to be active in local events again. And, as most of my friends know, the shop was weighing heavily on my shoulders and I was getting mentally and physically exhausted. Not now! I am back in the saddle again.

It was a pleasure to see so many friends again and sell some stuff as well. I was glazing frantically the last couple of days before the show but it paid off. Mikey Coy, Claudia Doyle and I shared a booth and I also asked my friend and student Kelly Kroh to bring a few pots as well. We sat and visited and listened to a great group of musicians as well. A few local restaurants furnished food and it was a hit as well. The food was delicious and people were commenting and saying they would visit the restaurants as well. That is what I like to see. Effective networking. The cream of the crop of artists were in the show.
Did we get rich? Well...we all made a little money and had a great time. I heard the jewelers did really well. Those ladies will really pay to decorate their bodies.

Rebecca Ungerman's choir performed, the Farm Couple, and Leslie Brown had a lot of drumming going on. That is just a few of the musicians.

Lisa had done a fine job growing her business. It makes the entrepreneur come out in me but I am trying to keep that under control. I like to create businesses and looking at what she has done to her building and all the character she has put into it makes me want to do it too, if I were 10 years younger. And Lisa is exactly 10 years younger than I am to the day!

I am being encouraged by several people to get a group together and make the Church Street Studio into an art center and I am thinking about it. I am trying to control my ambitions and enjoy life and not get in over my head. Yet, I know how to do it and make it happen. Hmm.
But, I want the Keep it Simple approach to life now and I want to make good art, travel and enjoy time with my friends. That does not sound like it includes building an art center. Isn't it time for the younger crowd to do that and I just rent studio space from them? But... but.

It almost felt like we were somewhere else, in some other town that really supports the arts in fine style at Garden Deva's show. I wish we had more shows and places like her place. And. of course, I really like her and appreciate seeing such a successful business woman in action. Good work Garden Deva.

Please Vote for Karen Keith!

OK, I am begging all my friends no matter what your political persuasion is to vote for Karen Keith. I have never met anyone as generous with her community spirit, intelligence and able to make things happen. It does not matter if you are conservative or liberal, you will like what she does for you and the community. She is progressive and will make Tulsa a better and more interesting place to live. Please vote for her.