Posts Tagged “blogaversary”

Studio Clean Up

I went into the studio yesterday to work, only I couldn’t find anything I needed including tools, boards, rulers etc. This was a clear sign that my studio space needed to be thoroughly cleaned. I made good progress and hated to stop, but stop I had to in order to make it to my last kid’s clay class of the school year. I loved teaching it - but I am looking forward to more time to make my own work this summer without the extra demands of teaching. Plus, the last 2 kiln loads resulted in exploded pots despite my best efforts of pre-heating the kiln and firing slowly.

The kids always took news of exploded pots stoically, like a badge of honor. Funny thing is, there was one kid in class who always purposely tried to construct his work so that his would explode. When we made rattles, he made a rattle shaped and designed like a grenade. Ironically, it was always the other kid’s work that exploded - not his.

I’m not exactly done teaching for the summer. I’ll be teaching 3 week long kid’s workshops at the Art Student’s League of Denver and 1 kid’s workshop at Anderson Ranch Arts Center this summer - but all 4 will take place at their studios so I won’t be hauling things back and forth to mine.

Many of you know that I don’t have running water in my humble garagio. I need to show my handy father in law photos of the Cink! Not having running water is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it forces me to conserve and a curse because well, running water would make clean up so much easier.

As I started cleaning up my space yesterday, there was no water in my “sink”. My sink is basically a large rubber tub and when the clay sludge gets close to the top of the water line, it’s time to start fresh. I spied an empty bag of dog chow and had an aha moment. The bags are water proof and this one even came with a zipper at the top. I emptied the sludge into the bag and put it outside where I hope it will dry in the next week so that I can dispose of it.

If you’re a clay person who has no running water, what do you do with your sludge? I do recycle my clay - but this stuff is all residue from cleaning up, glazing, sanding and contains both low, mid and high fire ingredients.

Milestones

On Monday, my husband and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary. Hard to believe that it’s been that long. I met him in high school in Stuttgart, Germany where both of our fathers were stationed at the time. We got married when I was 23 in 1989. In a sense, we have sort of grown up together which is a cool thing. There’s not a lot I don’t know about him.

On April 28th, I missed my blog’s 2 year anniversary. How did that happen? Last year, I celebrated in grand style and did a giveaway. There’s always next year! I’ve enjoyed blogging tremendously over the past 2 years. It’s become a part of my routine to both write posts and to read other people’s blogs. I love how the network of blogs allows for the possibility of new connections and interests by simply clicking on another’s links. What did I do before I discovered blogs? Well, I had more time for one - but I wouldn’t trade more time in exchange for giving up blogging. I enjoy it.

That’s all for this morning,

~Cynthia

P.S. I have exciting news about a possible new gallery - stay tuned…

Tags: blogaversary, blogging, ceramics, pottery, studio clean up

The fabulous, talented, always witty and the winnner of my blogaversary giveaway, Dinahmow (who hails from Australia) wearing one of my porcelain pendants.
Last week, I was pleased to receive an email and photograph from Dinahmow, aka, Idle Thought of an Idle Woman blog author. Last April, she won my blogaverary give-away and promised me a photograph. Months later with cobwebs filling my brain, I was surprised and delighted to hear from her and to place a face to her “name”. She gave me permission to share her photograph provided I keep her true identity a secret!

Meanwhile I was looking forward to having a day in the studio, but was instead enveloped with Steele Elementary School Auction Planning meetings and misc. time fillers. I’ve been a little out of sorts today, and then realized what was bothering me late into the day.

Today is the anniversary of the horrific events of 9/11/01. I didn’t realize it until I clicked on the TV and saw an Oprah special. It may not be popular, but I had recently decided to act as if today is normal. Sometimes, I think the best tribute is to carry on with a sort of joie de vivre; a je ne sais quoi life goes on kind of attitude. But… a part of me knows inherently that 6 years ago today, my life changed irrevocably for the better and worse. Better, because I am doing something new, exciting a fulfilling - worse because so many people died a senseless death. If that day hadn’t happened, I might still be asking you what you wanted to drink on some airplane bound for God knows where and telling you buh-bye as you stepped off at your destination.

I’ll simply reference my post from last year if you care to read about it.

~Cynthia

Blog
Website

Tags: 9/11, blogaversary

Happy Birthday to my 1 year old blog. Wow, I’ve sure come along way baby! I hopped on the blog bandwagon or should that read “blog bandwidth” last year in 2006. I wasn’t quite sure what to write about or how to start, but after reading plenty of buzz about blogs on Wetcanvas, I just knew that I HAD to have one. I originally set one up on MSN Spaces, which was horrible and then after visiting multiple blogs, decided that Blogger is a better platform for mine.

After being completely frustrated at my lack of computer technology, I took HTML classes online, figured out new widgets and how to navigate the whozits and wazzits. Before this, I could basically surf the net. It’s exciting now: people email me for how to information. I never could have imagined that happening. Before I forget, I would like to thank everyone who is currently linked to me!

As to wondering what I could possibly have to say week in and week out, I have the problem of having too much to say. Compare my 1st post below to my last post or even this one.

My first post:

Friday, April 28, 2006
I’m moving over to blogger from MSN Spaces!

Posted by Cynthia at 12:07 PM

My blog was originally meant to be this marketing vehicle for my art. I suppose in some ways it still is. But, Colorado Art Studio has evolved into much more than that for me. It’s been a great way to network virtually with other artists, make connections and also a way to chart my growth as an artist. Those of you who have been reading my blog since the beginning can attest to that. I’ve gone from painting, ceramics, painting aceos, fiber art back to ceramics. I feel like I’ve grown so much this past year, so thank you for following along!

What’s next for me?

• Keep blogging
• Produce prodigious amounts of work
• Make several gallery quality pieces of art
• Pony up the money and have the above pieces professionally photographed
• Start a ceramic blogring
• Be a ceramic blog superstar - don’t laugh
• Become the next Jonathan Adler of ceramics - again, don’t laugh
• Apply to at least 1 juried show every month (at the very minimum)
• Make a unique portfolio to present to galleries using Adobe InDesign, along with accompanying CD Rom with digital images - have it printed and bound
• Keep making friends on the ‘net
• Continue marketing research on better ways to get my work out there

I could probably add to this list ad infinitum, but will stop here. Next year, same day, I can assess how it’s working for me.

In other news, I subscribe to the The Get Known Now Blog’s newsletter and recently listened to a podcast on how to become a top 4000 blogger. This was geared more towards more traditional entrepreneurs, but much of what the host was talking about applies to creative types such as ourselves. If it works for a traditional business model, why not for artists? In the podcast, Suzanne Falter-Barns quoted a Columbia School of Journalism study that shows how traditional media is being turned on its head. (I was searching high and low for a link for you, but couldn’t find it.) Anyway, the study mentioned that somewhere around 80% of media outlets find their story ideas, experts etc. from blogs! Can you believe those figures? Why can’t it be your story or mine? Think about it.

If you want to read further, I did find another interesting article on why you should blog and the future of blogging/news compilation on Business Week’s blog.

Congratulations goes to Dinahmow who lives in Australia. Thanks so much for participating everyone!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Tags: blogaversary, business week, colorado art studio, getknownnowblog