Ceramic Buttons, Fundraisers & an Interview
This past weekend was a busy one! In addition to running on an ING Marathon Relay team, I participated in a small craft fair at my daughter’s school on Sunday afternoon. It was the school’s annual Fall Carnival – one of several annual school fund raising events and the kid’s favorite. It’s normally held outside; however, this year we awoke to freezing rain and temps in the high 30′s. Needless to say the event was held inside which was actually quite fun – though noisy.
I brought my ceramic jewelry and buttons to the event. After running that morning, I had no desire to lug my pottery over to the school. As it turns out, the jewelry was the perfect choice. I sold a little bit, with 20% of the proceeds going back to the school. There were other Moms/crafters selling a variety of items including handmade balms, felted purses, sewn purses and belts, jewelry, cards, kid’s art smocks and little dolls. I sold the buttons (above) to the woman making sewn purses and belts and she ordered 5 more custom buttons to use in her creations. I purchased some organic lip balm from Tulip’s Balms who began making organic creams and balms for her son. It’s fabulous and a product I highly recommend.
Meanwhile, did I mention that I ran the first leg of the Denver Marathon – 6 miles in the freezing rain and cold? I wouldn’t have chosen to run in the rain, but you get what you get on race day. I ran strong (for me), 6 miles in 1:05. While that is a sub 11 minute mile, it’s much faster than my leisurely 12-13 minute miles I run with the ladies in my training group! We’re a chatty group and very social – not hard core running machines. Instead of talking about fartleks, interval training, carbo-loading, favorite sports gels etc., we talk about the newest cupcake shop or Italian restaurant to open. We share stories about work, family, and favorite recipes. It makes those 2 hours Saturday training runs go so much faster! My training season is over now, and I now go into maintenance mode – solo runs 4 days a week. I plug in my iPod and veg out to the latest Craftcast.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos to share right now. I did feel special, however, because I was running with 3 ING executives and got to go in the VIP tent – I even saw some of the elite runners! That’s always amazing. ING is the title sponsor for the next 5 years, so there was quite an ING presence. Our team finished the marathon in 4:03 – not too bad for 3 execs and a middle aged woman. I was the slowest person on the team. Since I was running with the big guys, I had company from the ING New York employee, Chris Solarz and his fiancee, who doubled as official ING marathon photographer. There should be a slide show coming soon to the ING website. I’ll post a link when it becomes available.
Oh, I almost forgot, Nancy Van Blaricom asked if she could interview lil’ ole me for her blog a few weeks ago and you can read about what we talked about on her site. Thanks Nancy!
That’s it for today – I must go tend to my glaze firing now,
~Cynthia
Nancy Van Blaricom
October 17, 2007 at 2:22 pm //
Glad you enjoyed the carnival, good it was indoors this year.
Your buttons are awesome.
I’m impressed with your running .. walking two miles daily is all I can do.
Cynthia
October 17, 2007 at 3:45 pm //
Thanks Nancy!
You’d be surprised at what you can do if you set your mind to it… One of the ladies I run with is 62 and she’s winning races in her age group. Her family thinks she’s nuts for running at her age.
HMBT
October 17, 2007 at 4:09 pm //
Wow! I can’t run anymore because of health reasons…but I am so proud of you! Woot!
Cynthia
October 17, 2007 at 4:14 pm //
My husband can’t run either, Heather, which made him wistful at the event on Sunday. He’s had both his knees scoped after badly injuring them playing soccer in high school. There are other ways to stay healthy, however, the masochist in me likes to see how much I can do.
Jessica Torrant
October 18, 2007 at 4:21 am //
The buttons are beautiful! Glad you enjoyed yourself at the show and congrats on the running. I’m inspired!
Mary Timme
October 18, 2007 at 2:45 pm //
Those are cool buttons! And are you busy! Ye gads! I guess so! I’m trying to think how I could get some of your buttons in the sale, but i can see someone in the standards committee, I’m one of them, (Ugh!) going for it although a lot of members would love to have that choice.
I think it is neat that you run. My feet don’t let me do that anymore and it is very sad, because I loved running and beating asthma everytime. But, I can still walk and that way I have more time to look and that is good too. I admire the 62 year old. Good for her!
Janvangogh
October 18, 2007 at 8:14 pm //
Neat buttons. Do you make them one by one or do you have a way to do them production style?
Nice interview. Wish I could be that free with abstracts like Lethem is.
Congrats on the race.
The Lone Beader
October 18, 2007 at 8:20 pm //
I adore your ceramic buttons. I have a few artist made ones in my collection… Just have to figure out what to use them for… LOL.
Angela
October 18, 2007 at 8:34 pm //
Sounds like you had a great time. I’ve gotta give you credit for the running part. Would totally wipe me out. Tha button’s are absolutely outstanding! *HUGS*
Cynthia
October 19, 2007 at 12:59 am //
Thanks Jessica!
You’re too nice, Mary – I think it’s just important to move your body somehow. Ceramics is such a physical art that I have to keep myself strong so that I’ll be able to do it as long as I live.
Janet, I roll out a slab of clay and then make buttons, earrings and pendants all at the same time. Right now I have about 5 buttons in my test kiln being bisque fired. I guess it just depends on my mood. Richard Lethem is a fantastic artist – I adore him and just got a note from him the other day inviting me to his next show. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to fly out to the east coast.
I need to use some of my buttons, Diana on my own clothing. I haven’t done it yet. I should also give my mom some since she’s into altered books and making cards.
It wipes me out too, Angela – my 41 year old body feels 41 after I run. (Though not my 13 year brain…
)
Lynette
October 19, 2007 at 3:20 am //
Cyn those buttons are just fantastic and I could imagine that those would be a huge seller for so many uses! I really love the feeling of those little bits of glazed porcelain (thinking of my earrings that I bought in your etsy shop, I really love ‘em!)eek the weather has turned cold out your way and it would have to take real dedication to run 6 miles in freezing rain!! I did walk one mile on the treadmill the other night and that’s pretty wimpy LOL but it’s a start!
Cynthia
October 19, 2007 at 12:52 pm //
Ahh, you know the weather in Colorado is fickle this time of year, Lynette. Today it’s supposed to be 74 degrees. I’m so glad you like your earrings!