It's late right now. I just got home from a good friend's home where we ate pizza and brownies, watched Pride and Prejudice (my first time), and played with her new kitten, Bingley. Yes, that Bingley. I turned on some good tunes (Avett Brothers), and checked my email because there were a few online entries from the site requesting information on special orders. I shot off some responses and thought I'd check the site itself since I haven't been over here in a while only to discover . . . I haven't posted anything this year! And 2018 is 3 1/2 months away! So, I'm going to dump some words here . . . and probably some crappy, fluorescent lit photos because I like to look back at what I've been doing. You read that right, this is all for me. Unless you enjoy it, then it's definitely for you. For example, the latest firing results: 

Last August I went to Peter's Valley for a ceramics workshop. I had the time of my life, discovered chiggers, humidity, and that New Jersey has a national park. I also fired 30+ pieces of pottery while experiencing a degree of involvement I had not yet known and met a round of people who were just as curious and passionate about the art form as I am. There were many interpretations of form and function that presented themselves in everyone's work, and I came back with a new fervor for the art.
My kiln arrived shortly after my homecoming, and I promptly quit my job. While I am young enough to be able to afford the joy of risk, that did not mean that forgoing health insurance, a 401k contribution, and general daily security came without a sense of fear for the indeterminate amount of time that I would be going without. Part of the prompt for quitting was to pursue all of this, but a larger part came from another pursuit. I decided in 2015 to begin my Master's in Education so that I could become an English teacher, and I had, at the time of quitting my job, gotten an offer to coach on a high school team; so, I became a substitute teacher and high school swimming coach (and potter, and yoga teacher). This spring I completed my student teaching, continued to coach incessantly, and then in June I finished my degree. Within the week (I hope), I will become a certified teacher, and the head coach of the high school team that I swam for ten years ago.  

During this year, I have met a few other milestones, one of which was a one year inhabitance of my home studio. Again, thanks to all of you, this venture has been a success! One whole year of throwing mud around in my basement much to the dismay of my sister as it involves listening to banjos and fiddles at a decibel which does not allow for her to focus on her schoolwork.
​I also participated in my first art festival of sorts - Funky Junk, hosted by the shop Petuniaz here in Casper (obligatory friend patronage seen above). HUGE hit! I think. I mean, I sold stuff, and had a ton of fun since my tent was the closest to the food trucks, the beer tent, and the stage with the incredible musical stylings of our wonderful local artists. Also, the cake tent was two booths away from me and they had free mini cupcakes so if I'm being honest with myself that's a big win AND the Mad Flatters food truck (aMAYzing) was smart enough to send one of their own out to take orders so I never really had to leave the comfort of my shaded space. 

I guess the last bit would be to point out to myself that I got to get a little more creative this year. There were so many similar orders to fill during the holidays that there was little time leftover for experimentation outside of figuring out glazes and firings. Now I have a Devil's Tower mug, a European Mount, some nifty combos of several ideas, and I'm exploring other shapes in between. I'm also, at the moment, teaching clay classes at Artisan Alley which is offering me countless opportunities to look at problems in new and previously unpondered ways. I have many people to thank, and I hope they know who they are because there are far too many to list, but the point is I would not be where I am now without the help. It's hard to believe where I was a year ago today (somewhere between New Jersey and Gina's bachelorette party) and that the journey has taken such ridiculous twists and turns. Seriously. I don't know why I bother planning anything. So many new people, adventures, and changes, but I would not change a single step. Thank you for believing in me.

​More art below :)

And a special gift if you've made it this far into the posting. Here is me trying to figure out how to video myself in my classroom before I started student teaching. Needless to say, I failed and made a series of faces at my phone which I then unknowingly captured in digital form forever. Hence, I now know the face of defeat:

In any case, thank you. Without you, I wouldn't be doing what I love each and every day. A huge shout out to my parents who have helped me through the financial details, my sister who helps field some of my orders, my boyfriend who interns, my accountant who will have to deal with me in a few months, and my supporters :) you all mean the world to me. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! My gift to you, if you've read this far, is a sneak peak at the next mug: bears and layered glazes.

 Here's the deal. I think many of you who are interested in those pretty buffalo are also eyeballing these trout. I won't pre-sell these so you won't be required to pay in advance, but I will take pre-orders. Kiln still isn't here, but I'm still grinding mugs out for all of you.

Oh! And keep those orders coming! There is no limit on the pre-sale, so I will make as many as you ask for. Just know that every purchase going forward goes towards more materials to make these awesome mugs for each of you! If you want some and haven't seen the form yet, you can fill it out here.

But you know what? I love you guys! And I love pottery, so I'm going to jump in feet first and see how this goes. In fact, I've been doing some math (and if you know me at all you know my figures are probably off - oh well, close enough) but to get myself off the ground and get all of you some mugs to drink your coffee (wine) out of I'm just going to go ahead and get all of the equipment right now. ​

Here's the important part. You can tell it's important because I bolded it for you. I need your help and patience. So many of you have expressed interest in the buffalo herd that I've decided to self-crowdfund this project. It's going to take around $3,500 to get me off of the ground between getting the kiln, repairing some electrical issues, and setting up all of the chemical components of the glazes (plus some other minor things). I'm not asking for donations or for you to fund it for me. I'm simply offering you the opportunity to buy your mug in advance and then patiently wait for me to get everything set up and running.
And I want you to know where your money is going. I plan to purchase a Skutt 1027 ceramic kiln, a furniture kit (little pieces that go into the kiln), a ventilation system so I don't blow up my house, and an upgrade to my electrical panel so I don't burn my house down. All of the equipment is being purchased from a local shop out of Riverton, WY.
For this to happen, I've decided to pre-sell 175 buffalo mugs. 

Each mug is $20 and one step closer to me achieving my home studio and you getting your morning coffee (wine) with a buffalo. They are one-of-a-kind works of art, functional for your day to day life, and guaranteed to be made with love and only some minor cursing when I mess up. 
If you are reading this and still interested, PLEASE fill out the form below or get in touch with me and I will get you on the very detailed, heavily guarded waiting list. From there, we will do a $$$ transfer and talk about how cool buffaloes and Wyoming are.

Photo credit: Emily Collett is my hero. See her stunning blog and phenomenal artistic vision here.