Hollyworld: bowls

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

The Artistry of Life

I'm back in my ceramics class and working at learning to throw on a wheel. It's not easy. Not easy at all. I can't tell you how many pieces have gone caliwumpus (that's a technical term...LOL). But I sit back down at the wheel and try again. And again. And again. I'm not sure if it's a passion for pottery or just plain stubbornness. But there I am, clay splattered and trying.

The school will have an Empty Bowl fundraiser in the spring and I signed on to make 50 bowls. Yesterday, I trimmed the bottom of ten...so now I'm at 32/50. And I'm learning about finishing, too. A finished bowl has a foot on it. It's not just decorative. It thins out the bottom of the bowl so it fires better, and it helps keep glaze on the bowl, not on the bottom of the kiln. Real potters will pick up a piece and check the bottom to see how it's finished. I guess the true mark of artistry is making something no one sees beautiful.

I like that thought.

Artistry can be something no one else really sees.

It's a nice thought that applies to real life. I think we should all strive to be an artist at life. Doing kind things no one else will ever see or notice. I like to think kindness is contagious. So while I'm working at getting better at pottery (my goal is to have my professor pick up a bowl and say, I'd use this) I think I'll try to get better at the artistry of life. Doing small acts of kindness (maybe large acts of kindness LOL) and spewing kindness like I try to spew glee. The world can always use a bit more kindness and glee!

Those 50 bowls I've promised to make turned into 51. So many people have asked for my pottery, I thought giving one away would be fun. The problem with that is how to draw one name. I've been doing more of my giveaways through my email list. So if you want a chance at a bowl, all you have to do to have your name in the hat (not a real hat LOL) is be signed up for my newsletter. You can do that here. I'll draw in November.

As we all go out today, let's try to be artists of life and spread some kindness and glee!!

Holly

PS

Monday's newest Trippin' with Holly and Susan.

If you've missed episodes, you can find them here.

PPS

Polished Off

Don't forget my new release Polished Off: A Maid in LA Mystery is out! Check out Quincy's newest adventure!

Then go back to school with three PTA Moms. There's a bonus short story included! Check out the PTA Mom Collection!!

Able to Love Again...There's a new episode out today!

PTA Moms: the Collection

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Monday, August 27, 2018

Setting Goals: My Novel Freshman Experience

Setting Goals.

When I first started writing, I treated my attempts like work. I set a goal and did everything I could to meet it. I treated my writing like a business before it was a business. And that commitment worked for me and my vocation.

So as I'm starting my pottery avocation, I'm doing the same thing. My big goal for the term is to get better. I want to throw better (and better than not good should be doable. LOL) and I want to get better at the things I'm already happy with (my Santas and log mugs). And I want to learn more studio skills.

But I wanted a bigger goal. There's a group at school that does Empty Bowls Dinner in the spring...it raises money to fill empty stomachs. Guests have a simple meal of soup and bread...and you get to keep a handcrafted pottery bowl. They need a lot of bowls. So I said...I'll do fifty. Since I am so new to throwing, this is a hefty goal. But I'm hoping it improves my throwing and glazin. I'm hoping to learn to throw a shape and size consistently. And I need to find a design I like. And I like the idea of all that learning ultimately feeding people in need.

I made three smaller, wider bowls (on the left). They weren't bad, but I tried a taller, deeper bowl. I think that's a better design. I made three of those, then tried one a bit taller.

So seven. I'm seven bowls into my goal.

Now, along the way I threw a very small, bad bowl. But rather than let it go to waste, I tried my underglazing on it again. Another poppy. It'll make an acceptable change or key bowl.

Goals. They're a way of moving forward in a vocation or avocation. They SHOW you what you can do. Uh, yeah that was a lead-in to today's Trippin' with Holly and Susan. We're talking about Show Don't Tell. Yes, it's kind of a writerly topic, but even as a reader, understanding how a book goes together can enhance your reading experience. So check it out...

A viewer (how cool is that to say or write?) wanted us to talk about Show Don't Tell—so here it is. And we discover Susan gets "tangry" and Holly might be a bit of a smart a$$. LOL Hope it gives you Monday Glee!
Holly

PS There's a new episode of Able to Love Again out on Radish today. What's Radish? An app for your phone so you never run out of books to read. You can check out The Moments for free there as well!

PSS

Polished Off

Don't forget my new release Polished Off: A Maid in LA Mystery is out! Check out Quincy's newest adventure!

And there's a salespalooza this month. Check out:
Just One Thing
Hold Her Heart
Everything But...series

Don't want to miss any new releases in the future? Subscribe to my Newsletter!! I'll keep you up-to-date and I frequently have something special for subscribers!

Find my books at: