The Breaking Light

Images like this put things in perspective. 

I had surgery over a week ago and it's put me out of pottery commission for a while.  I thought I wouldn't be as sore as I have been.  I'm looking forward to feeling like myself again -soon!  In the meantime, I've been watching entirely too much TV.  The images coming out of Japan are so heartbreaking and unimaginable, I find that I have to stop watching to get a mental break from it.

I love music.  If you find me in my studio, I'm usually listening to an NPR Podcast, music from my iPod,  my favorite radio station (KMTT - The Mountain) - especially their Audio Vault Live in the Music Lounge Sessions or an audiobook (a great way to multi-task).  I enjoy the music of Vienna Teng and have seen her live a few times.  Most recently it was a few years back when she played a show in Seattle with Alex Wong.  They came out with this song to help raise money for Japan.  When I saw them at the Triple Door  (imho- one of the coolest venues in Seattle), I loved how they interacted with the audience and incorporated interesting sounds.  The song they wrote, The Breaking Light, is a beautiful example of those things.  Enjoy and buy the song for a good cause... and be reminded of all the good things in your life.

Blue Moon, You Saw Me Standing Alone

One of my blue mugs is featured in a Blue Moon Treasury.  I saw the theme and immediately started singing "Blue Moon" in my head.  I grew up in the '70s and fell in love with the movie Grease.  I bought the sound track (on vinyl, of course) and played it constantly.  Blue Moon was one of the songs on the soundtrack, so I hear the Sha Na Na version of the song and the mooners when I think of it (this is a Youtube video with dubbed Spanish at the end of it, which was unexpected when I listened to it).  My 12 year old mind back then thought the mooning was hilarious, of course. 

Recently I watched the movie again with my kids.  I was surprised at all the things that must have completely went over my head when I was 12.  I just loved the singing, dancing and visual appeal of it.  I saw the movie about 10 times with my friends in 1978 - pre VCR and DVD days - so you could only see it in a theater.  My kids have no idea of that concept.  They look at me with a confused look when I explain that we had only 5 or 6 TV channels, a black and white TV with no remote control and how we'd look forward to the airings of the Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, The Grinch and the Charlie Brown Specials.  Kids today have so many media choices at their fingertips.  I can't imagine what that would have been like for me when I was a kid.  I think it might have been a little overwhelming.  I remember when we got our color TV and what a big deal that was.  Funny how things change.

Japanese Relief Effort Etsy Treasuries

One of the sake sets for the Japanese Relief Effort has been featured in two treasuries with relief effort themes.
Hope for Japan

Tsunami Relief in Japan

Japanese Relief Effort

I'm donating 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the Sake Sets in my Etsy shop to the Red Cross to help with the relief efforts for Earthquake & Tsunami Victims in Japan.  I'm planning on making up some more sets to add to these soon.

Metallic Black and Brown Set

Green with Rust Rim Set

The Tuesday Night Pottery Club

We go through life and meet so many people over the years.  Some people come and go and others stay with you always because of the impact they have made on your life.  I just got off the phone with my dear friend, former teacher and mentor, Linnell Barnhart.  She just celebrated her 79th birthday in February.  She is such an inspiration to me. 

A sweet little vase made by Linnell

I met Linnell shortly after Bill and I moved to Sacramento in 1998.  I had been taking ceramics classes at a community college in the Seattle area before we moved and was interested in continuing with potting in Sacramento.  I had a hard time finding similar classes and ended up discovering Linnell's studio through a local ceramics supply store in Sacramento.  Over the years I took weekly classes with Linnell and learned so much about throwing pots - and about life.  She is an amazingly patient instructor who really taught me all I know about wheel throwing - among many other life lessons.  I can't thank her enough for everything she's shared with me.  I can still hear her words in my head when I throw ("strengthen your rim", "1 down and 499 to go").  She ended up being like my second mom in many ways - and ironically is only 5 days older than my mom and also has five kids. 

I loved going to Linnell's studio on Tuesday nights.  It was wonderful to get to know other potters who were taking the classes as well.  We shared  the ups and downs of our lives over the spinning of those potters wheels over the years.  When I was pregnant with the twins, I threw as long as I physically could - until my belly was too big to have the leverage I needed to throw.  After the babies were born, I took some time off but returned as soon as I could.  Fortunately, Sisu Bill had a friend come over every Tuesday night to help him with the babies, so I could get a night off and get out of the house.  Linnell's studio really became respite for me during that time.  It was a highlight of my week! 

I was really sad to leave Linnell's studio when we moved back to the Pacific Northwest.  Fortunately I had learned so much that it inspired me to start something of my own here in Woodinville.  It was fun to catch up with Linnell today to tell her all about what I've been up to and hear all her news.  She's always so supportive and positive.  She's a true role model - continuing to teach classes at her studio, teaching ceramics at a local college, taking workshops, working on her website and still having her annual holiday sale.  I only hope I can be as active and inspiring as her when I'm her age.  What a blessing she's been in my life.