Spring

There has been much griping, etc. about the delayed spring. But this photo was taken several years ago in a warm corner of my garden-in the last week of March. This spot looks about the same this year, which tells me that spring is more or less on schedule. Last year it was very early. I love daffodils, and have several kinds planted. They can bloom anywhere from January into mid May. Last year spring was "compressed",
so most of my bulbs and flowering trees were "done" by early May.

I prefer this year!

Eleven years ago today, I had just turned on the morning news, and had witnessed what I thought was an old disaster movie. I was on summer break from  my 3 day schedule of  teaching ceramics in Manhattan.
I was really looking forward to the new term, and a fresh start. It had not been an easy summer-I had lost

two people in the previous months-my mother, and my studio partner-both funny strong women. I will always wonder how they might have felt on that day 12 years ago.

I received this book as a gift years ago, when I was deciding to become a potter. I think I read it through, and was very inspired, both by Eva's life an her aesthetic. Thank you, Eva, for all you have given to the world of design.

One hand-Buttons!

Early this summer, while hiking in Maine on a lovely beach,
I lost my footing, fell, and fractured a finger. My finger was put in a
cast, and it was clear that I would not be working on the wheel for
some time-6 long weeks!

Luckily, the finger was not on my "good " hand, so I decided
to see what I could do with that. I did have a ton of bisque
at home to glaze, so I started there; then I moved on to rolling out clay to form small textured plates and cups; finally, I moved on to -BUTTONS!

Early summer

It has been a wonderful spring this year-so many days of

flowering shrubs, leafed-out hostas & ferns, roses and early

lettuces. We ended our spring here with the second Beacon

'Zero-waste" garden tour. Several gardeners shared their

gardens-food and or flower. An amazing beginning for summer in the

Hudson Valley!

ARTIST SHOWCASE


On Saturday, April 30th, I will take part in
an " Artist Showcase " series at the Byrdcliffe
Shop, in Woodstock. I will be there from 12-6,
with a selection of new work.

(If you have not been to Woodstock in a long time, it is still very
lively, with lots of places to visit, restaurants, etc.)

byrdcliffe.org

Potters have a very special connection to Japan;
I came across this image (every potter's nightmare?) on a blog post by Euan Craig, an
Australian potter who makes pots in Japan.
(euancraig.blogspot.com)

(My teacher went to Japan as an American
soldier in the fifties, and returned to the U.S.
inspired to become a potter.)

Euan's recent posts are a moving portrait of one
potter's experience of the recent quake.

I had a small taste of this myself, having been
a pottery student in California, and having lost
quite a few pots in a not very serious quake.

We can all help potters in Japan rebuild,
and several of us have undertaken fund raising
projects.

Starting tomorrow, 3/24, HANDMADE FOR JAPAN will be selling the work of many fine potters
and other artists through an Ebay store.

HEARTS AND HANDS FOR JAPAN, a raffle of donated items from various artisans, organized
by letterpress artist Lynn Russell, is available now at heartsandhandsforjapan.blogspot.com.

On April 8th, ARTS & CRAFTS UNITED FOR JAPAN, will open an auction on Ebay.

Japanese potter Makiko Hastings, who lives in England, is undertaking a project
entitled 1000 BIRDS FOR JAPAN. (makikohastings.blogspot.com).

Finally, the POTTERS COUNCIL is accepting donations to aid potters in Japan; please visit
potterscouncil.org.