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It’s so nice when I open the kiln lid and the little faces inside are still in one piece. It’s like a sweet reunion blended with Christmas day.

I think that is one of the things I really appreciate about clay. You can’t fall in love too deeply. You spend time building and you watch for cracks as it dries. And then if you get it safely into a kiln then you hope it survives the firing. And then you have this new shiny piece ready for the next step.

Painting, glazing sanding and polishing.  Oh how I love the process. Just when you get tired of one part, you begin the next. When one chapter closes another opens.

I have been a busy bee, milking my birthday approaching and getting more studio time as a gift. For a good part of the spring and summer I was nursing a thumb that needed a vacation. She still barks a little but I have kept it wrapped up in KT tape. This past week I was so frustrated not using clay.  I bundled her up with tape and told myself it would be either yes or no. I can sculpt or not.

YES!!! I am working with clay. Yahooo! Me and my little orange grocery store knife  have gone a bit bonkers. Tomorrow is my birthday and the best gift to me is: I am loading a kiln. The first one in months.

These are a few of the new pieces based on my summer in northern NY. It was magical. Honestly, it was magical. The wildlife just outside my back door. Deer, fox, coyote, bald eagle, and of course rabbits all sharing their lovely energy with me.  I swear, my little trailer camp home is heaven to me. It’s just far enough outside of town, yet close enough. The deer comes looking for snacks. I can’t tell you how many days I walked out the door and stood within feet of a deer. A stare down and me crying I forgot to bring my phone/camera out the door with me.

This last piece with my orange knife (my favorite tool). I swear it’s basically all I use. The rabbit reminds me of my favorite wild rabbit I call Ginger Bear. (see below) I can call to him and he comes running for food. I am his human, and if other rabbits come asking for snacks… he let’s them know I am his human. I am his Fruit Loop Lady.

This piece is from a series I made last summer. They’re based on sketches I did while watching MSNBC. Political Puppets is this pieces title. Sometimes it feels like the world is run by a group of monsters and dunces. And there was my inspiration.

This piece made me wonder, who speaks for you?

Are your eyes open? Your ears? Your heart?

Who makes decisions about your fertility? Do you control your destiny?

What is a patriot? Is it wearing a pin on your collar? Or is it voting?

I have a really rough time keeping my studio clean. As hard as I try within a day I am stepping on fabric, clay and sometimes popcorn. (I love popcorn) I get really disgusted with myself because I can’t seem to focus if she’s messy. Monday mornings before work I try to tidy and can usually whip it into shape, but by Tuesday it’s like a scene from the movie Twister. Or maybe the Wizard of Oz. Sometimes I wonder how others keep their studios so clean. Any tips would be appreciated.