Studio Update

A lot has happened in the past few months! Here are the highlights…

We got a new electric kiln! It’s big, heavy, and awkward, so getting it off of Sam’s truck was an undertaking. We moved it into the studio using Ancient Egyptian engineering - rolling the kiln and pallet on scrap metal rollers. This was actually pretty fun and of course we took a few minutes to Walk Like an Egyptian and to sing that song too…

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Still need to hook it up, but the kiln is now in its new home with the other kilns (they all need names.) The space is a bit unsettled for the moment, but everything will find a place soon.

Speaking of finding a place, we’ve been in need of shelving to keep our drying or ready to be fired pottery. Sam welded us a cart…

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Up next, this is probably the most important (or at this point, luxurious) item… a studio sink! Complete with clay trap and on-demand water heater. I promise it will never be this clean again. Ever.

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Or maybe this is the most important? A tiny bathroom, complete with a sliding barn door (with a handle Sam made once in a blacksmithing class) and a vintage porcelain towel rack (scavenged by my dad)

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We had our first ever open studio and pottery sale this weekend, it was a good start for events to come! Plus we got help with the final lift of the new kiln and a few suggestions on future bathroom colors…

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Not to be left out, Studio Cat Merlin is hard at work overseeing the Shipping Department (located in the house.) We will be introducing Merlin back to his job in the studio very soon, we just need to finish building things and make sure he has some comfy perches he can observe from. He’s resting up in preparation.

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New Studios

We knew we would be taking on a huge project with this plan of moving to a new state and building a studio. The thought of both being full time potters and artists has kept our spirits high though!

While each day feels as though not much has been accomplished, that’s not really the case. We started a big huge list / flow chart of what needs to be done, adding to it as we go. The visual helps - it helps to see tasks added - small and large - and to check them off. Tree removal, marking property lines, building design, business license… it’s a start!

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While we work though the realities of building, and projects around the house, Sam and I have started using studio space in Fayetteville at the Community Creative Center. I’ve been making work for Workshop in Jackson, it does feel a bit strange to make mugs that say “Jackson Hole” when I’m nowhere near Jackson… but I do love making these mugs and I am happy to be part of stores that I absolutely love (and miss shopping in!) More on what Sam has been making later!

But what about Studio Cat Merlin? He still has a job, we have a room in the house that we are using for studio storage and sometimes do a little work in there too. He keeps a close eye on decorating (in this case - ring cones) and also oversees the packing of online orders.