December Studio Hours

I hope everyone had/is having a lovely holiday, and looking ahead to December (yikes, it's Monday!), here's the studio schedule for the next month.

Of course always subject to change, but I'll try to make sure any adjustments are posted here as they happen, and take note that we will be closed for regular studio use Friday afternoon, December 5, so we can get ready for the big East West Asheville Holiday Art Walk on Saturday!

This is one of the ornaments I'll be featuring in the special 'holiday' wares, and here's a peek at some of the work from the last firing. Still planning one more firing to unload just before the show, so come early to get the first peek and first pick!

these are the small plates...bigger ones to be fired next week!

thankful

Holiday greetings! As much as I've enjoyed many non-traditional holidays in my life, this one will be a new version, as I'm not traveling nor receiving travelers this year. I'll be in the studio, getting as ready as I can for the holiday show next weekend, and yes still looking for a place to live. I'll be joining some friends for dinner later if I get enough done (or I'll enjoy the leftovers after that!), but the work rules the day! And while some may look at me and shake a concerned head for my being 'alone', I certainly don't feel it. I am surrounded, if not in actual proximity, in spirit, by a very large circle of love and support. It frustrates my mom that I can feel 'being there' without actually being there, because, well she'd just rather I be there. But I can - I know it's a holiday and all, but for me the true holidays come whenever I'm with family or friends, so when we see each other it's always a sort of Thanksgiving! But as I've said before, I'm recommitting myself to being thankful every day, and today I am indeed thankful for the nice, quiet day ahead in the studio (anyone who does what I do will pang with envy for that!). And for the leftover mole pumpkin pie from the Chocolate Lounge that's in my fridge. And for all the good energy being sent to me by those I can't be with today (keep it coming till I get that dang housing thing figured out!). There are plenty of challenges ahead, and every day is a day to be grateful for the opportunity to face them anew, and perhaps find some interesting delights along the path. But since today is the official day of Thanksgiving, I'll focus on all my people, my cozy studio awaiting, my big snoring dog that I'll have to drag off the bed then run through the woods with...oh and yes that pie! peace and many thanks to everyone, and a very happy day to you all! xoxo

Happy Thanksgiving from Lissa-the-wonder-dog!

gratitude

I've been thinking about gratitude a lot lately. It's been much easier to stay focused on lack and want, between my own personal challenges and those we all hear about on the news and from everyone facing the current economic realities. In a recent post I mentioned how I finally ran into my more preferred state of 'living in gratitude' and it's been on my mind since then. It's almost been a life-saving mantra, to focus on that rather than the want or lack, and to drive from a place of that energy toward more of a thankful state rather than reacting to a need state. I really believe in the whole 'law of attraction' on many levels, and while I was pondering how to articulate my desire to get back to a full state of living in gratitude, I got one of my regular e-newsletters from Christine Kane. If you don't know who she is, you can find out at a link at the end of this post. As she often does, this articulates my feelings not only beautifully but even more thoroughly than I realized I felt them. The timing is a nice bit, but I do believe this would be a week where perhaps lots of folks are thinking about what makes them thankful. If so, there's a lot of good energy in the air, but for me it's a renewal of how I want to live every day. Here's Christine's article, tomorrow I'll have more to say about my own specific gratitude:

Why Gratitude Makes You Happy and Wealthy

Gratitude is more than being thankful one day a year. Gratitude is a practice. For some, it's a way of life. Why do some people swear by this practice? Why do these people seem to live happier and more abundant lives than everyone else? Because gratitude is about presence. It's about waking up in this moment and being here - really being here - and noticing what's around you. Most people are so busy thinking about the next thing, or about their horrid past, that they don't wake up and look around at their present moment - the only moment there is.

Because gratitude is about honoring your life. Do you ever compare your life with someone else's? Do you ever wish your life were better and more like [Insert Famous Person's Name]? Sometimes we can lose ourselves in wondering how we "measure up" to some standard set by our families or by the media. Comparison is the mind killer. And the antidote is gratitude. Gratitude requires you to validate your own life. (And you really don't have any other life, do you?) It forces you to say YES to the gift that is you. The choices you've made and the changes you've gone through - they have brought you here. Even if here is a place that needs a little adjustment, that's okay. There are always gifts in any present moment.

Because gratitude is about attracting. It's difficult to attract abundance and joy if you are constantly saying "no" to what IS. You say no each time you focus on the future or past, or when you criticize something that is in your present moment. Attraction is about saying Yes. When you say Yes, you shift. Gratitude says, "Yes, I love this!" And then more of this is attracted, because the this is what you're focusing on.

Because gratitude is about choice. How you translate any situation is the situation. What you choose to see is the truth (for you). This isn't proposing that you live in denial or phoniness. It's reminding you that your translation of any life situation is your own choice. We've all heard stories of people who have ignored others' translations of their talent, their projects, their art, their looks, their lives. These people chose their own translations and succeeded. You always have a choice when it comes to how you look at things. Choose to choose gratitude.

Because gratitude is about wisdom. I think people believe they're being smart if they criticize, complain, and focus on the problems of the world around them. Smart? Maybe. Clever? Sure. But not wise. It is wise to look for and find the knowing place in your heart. It is wise to choose joy. It is wise to honor your riches. It is wise to focus on and grow the blessings of your life.

Because gratitude is about recognition. Use your power of focus to hone in on beauty and on what makes your heart sing. Recognize the spirit in your life. It's all around you waiting to be noticed. In the words of Franz Kafka, "It will roll in ecstasy at your feet."

Because gratitude is about receptivity. Gratitude makes you receptive. It makes you concave. It makes you a vessel, waiting to be filled. I carry a tiny notebook with me everywhere I go. In it, I write down song ideas. I write down quotes I hear. I write down ideas for stage stories. As I do that, I become more receptive, and more ideas and songs come to me. It's a tool that says to my subconscious, "Send more my way!" And the subconscious always responds. Gratitude is the same way. It says, "I am receptive! Send more!" And more arrives.

Because gratitude is about creativity. Creativity is really all about attention. (So is genius.) When I write a song, I build a relationship with that song. I spend time with it. I get to know it. I pay attention to it. Artists do the same thing with drawings. They spend time in rapt attention and the drawing is born. Gratitude is how we Live Creative. It is a creative act to notice and pay attention to the moments of your life. Some days it's an enormous act of creativity to find things for which to be thankful. Start today. And have a Thanksgiving of presence, creativity, and gratitude!


(From Lori: "....what she said!")

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 4,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.

WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Christine's blog - Be Creative. Be Conscious. Be Courageous - at ChristineKane.com/blog.

rally cap

Attitude is everything. It's one of my personal mantras, and it's something I truly believe. And not just 'fake it till you make it', which has its charms and uses. For me, when I have a belief or intention and truly feel it from my core, well then things just seem to happen to make what ever goal I have come closer faster. And when I let those naggy little voices, whether they be from inside or outside my head, put doubts or fears into my attitude, and then THAT's what seems to manifest.

And nowadays you can't turn around without hearing about the tanking economy and how bad it is for everyone. I don't dismiss that, but if that's what I focus on, it's only going to get worse, work won't get done, then things will get worse!

So I've been working hard to keep my own focus and intention on the things I want, not the things I fear or don't want. It's been a lot harder lately, but now I have a new weapon...my rally cap!

My dear friend Heather offered to knit me a hat with ear flaps a while ago - I've always wanted one, and if I wait until I actually learn how to knit I'll always be ear-flap-less (I started to learn about ... six years ago and have a half finished wash cloth to show for it). Well she finished it and even sported it on her own blog, but we didn't meet up for it to land on my head until today. And this is a good time to have ear flaps!

So I love it, it's 'power' purple with a 'crazy green' stripe, beanie top point and braided fringes...and once on, I felt the power of the joy that comes with simple pleasures, and remembered the feeling that comes with the attitude of living without fear and just a whole lot of gratitude. I've decided this is my rally cap for my attitude - I'm going to get all the work done I need for the holiday show, I'm going to find new marketing outlets for studio members and clients, and I'm going to find a place to live. It was all going to happen either way, but my attitude about it all is much stronger now, and I swear in the short time between getting this hat this afternoon and taking a break in glazing to post this, I'm already seeing the results.

Now, back to glazing, happy to have the ear flaps in a cozy but not completely warm garage studio! peace

ps - just had to share these other shots of LissaTheWonderDog in her winter wear. She scoffed when I put this on her, but I think she enjoyed it romping in the slightly frost-crusted park this morning!

work is good

It has been a rather frantic time in Lori-land of late. Rushing to get a kiln fired for the Studio Stroll exhibit with the other Odyssey Residents, losing a good portion of the load to a very silly glaze mixing oversight (but still gleaning some good stuff from it even so), working feverishly to get the studio up on its feet in spite of a lot of financial clenching from clients and students (understandably, but if one more person says to me 'wow you picked quite a time to start a new business!'), and also trying to find a place to live. The last two weeks have been full of it all, and the next couple of weeks include finding the perfect home for me & the wonder dog, filling yet another kiln, getting the studio on stronger ground in its new open studio format, planning the workshops that are gonna rock in the new year and getting more work out so I can have work to show/sell/represent, and of course the much anticipated East West Asheville Holiday Art Walk.

So today it's a quiet day in the studio as far as member activity, and I just realized I must have left my phone at home, which adds to the peace. This morning I did some work on the marketing, did some new home searching and communicating with potential roommates, did some work on new show/grant/client submissions. good. But for the past few hours, I've just been working. Cleaning up the mugs I put handles on yesterday, trimming the platters that finally dried enough (using my new 'WCT' tool and loving it!), finishing up an order for ornaments and getting things ready to load into the bisque. This is the good work that makes everything else worthwhile. Got my music up, the dog is snoring in the corner behind the wheel, until the wind blows and she barks at leaves falling past the window, and there are trim scraps just about everywhere.

having fun with the new trim tool

love it love it love it!

I'll have to go get the phone, get back to work on these submissions, work out some new marketing ideas, get another mailing ready and perhaps even settle on a place to live. It's all gonna happen and keep happening, but this time of actually doing the work that I work so hard to be able to do...I am grateful.

getting lined up for the kiln

getting ready for the Art Walk - give Hand Made!

Crazy Green Studios is gearing up to join others in our little Domino Lane Studios and in the neighborhood for the East West Asheville Holiday Art Walk. The event is one day only, but the holiday festivities will continue through December at my studio with Empty Bowl decorating days, discounts for those who bring canned food for Manna and year-end specials on studio membership and early orders for the new year!

For the Art Walk, I will be hosting fellow West Asheville artists Jennifer Hoolihan and Catherine Shane at Crazy Green Studios. Mimi Strang Design (my studio neighbor) will be hosting Leslie Fay and Simone Wilson/Pleasant Hugh Studio. And that's just us! There's also good eats right across the street, plus everything you need to fulfill your holiday shopping needs, yens and other creative desires. And when you shop the East West Asheville Holiday Art Walk, you're not only supporting hand made artisans, you're also supporting small business owners and for many your neighbors. The creativity and passion of these small businesses is evident when you walk in their doors (even when you walk BY their doors!), and the combination of great art, craft and locally-owned business is what makes Asheville, I think, a place people want to be. Here's your chance to support that and to get some great deals on pottery, tile, ornaments, sculpture, clothing, decorative fixtures, hand made books, holiday cards, prints, unique gifts, great food, personal beautification, home decor, good music...only the tip of the iceberg!

Click the card below to see more information about the whole event and other participants, as well as a very cool map that will help you find us tucked away on Domino Lane (hidden in plain sight, we are!)... and we hope to see you there!

Party Time in the Capitol City!

Ok, first off, I'm so happy and proud to have moved to NC and be able to feel that my presence, my vote did matter in not only making the change we need nationally, but more importantly here where I live. That being said, on watching this I did have major pangs of wanting to be back in DC the night of the call, having lived there through TWO calls for Bush and the ensuing depression and doldrums of being in the city where they all lived and worked, having to skid my bike to a stop every time one of their friggin' motorcades closed off traffic, and worse yet working as an Innkeeper and hosting a house full of high-money Repubs who came for the Inauguration. They were all really nice enough, it just wasn't how I would have chosen to spend that time if I didn't have to work - I had another party in mind.

I tried to see if I could recognize anyone in the crowd shots, but I think they all look like good friends at this party! peace.

A day of YAY!

Well today is a day of celebration, and I was going to add to the multitude of Obama-raising blogs crying out our joy, pride, relief...well I guess I just did. But another part of me is saying 'back to work', even though I was working through the never-ending campaign, I admit it was a growing distraction as election day drew near, and while I'm proud and happy of the volunteering and ready for more, there is this whole issue of actually keeping the lights on, continuing to live indoors, all that good stuff along with my own joy and elation in the making of all things clay. So today was a bit slow moving (as I allow myself to be on my day off, at least in name), but starting to get moving again at a more fierce pace as there's the goal to fire yet one more kiln before the holiday Art Walk early next month, and pack up for this weekend's exhibit fun.

On that note, I want to help celebrate a little extra spotlight on some fellow area potters-extraordinnaire who are on the cover of Mountain Express this week, just in time for the Studio Stroll:

To see a collective of potters on the cover with a really nice spread/interview is thrilling on its own, and even moreso when it's friends and colleagues who are so deserving individually and collectively. And in a world where sometimes you think you're the only one who thinks this is worthy of such shout outs, it's nice to see that others are going to see it too!

So pick up a copy, hit the link on the image and read all about Josh, Kyle, Matt, Melissa, Heather and Eric. And better yet, go check out the studio and all their ware during Studio Stroll this weekend...

...which you'll be coming back to after attending the Stroll Kick-Off Festivities at the Opening Reception for Transitions: An Odyssey Resident Artist Exhibition at Odyssey Studios on Friday night! You see, promotion's not so shameless when you slide it in with some for others!

Congrats to all the great folks at Clay Space and Yay for Clay!

If you're voting tomorrow...

...wear comfortable shoes. Go early. Take a camp chair, a book, something to drink and a poncho or umbrella just in case. Make friends with those around you and enjoy the fact that although you may have to wait in line for a while, you're all a part of something truly historic. I can't wait to see the numbers on just what percentage of the country voted. It's a start - and we've got to keep the momentum of participation going after the election, but for now the focus is on tomorrow.

I could retype everything here, but check out this great post at the Clay Club blog for good information.

And if you have voted, check with people you see tomorrow to make sure they do to! Or check out the political office and/or staging office for your preferred candidate(s) - I'm sure they could use a hand, either getting others to the polls, answering phones, making soup.