A Day of Beauty—Pottery

 Another day...another day of beauty. This time the pottery edition.

By now, I think most of you know I went back to school last year (my brother assures me that no one can miss my pottery posts and pics on social media). I take one class a term. I'm started my 4th class this week—they've all be ceramics. Since I started taking classes, I've started looking at the world through new eyes. I think I see more. I notice texture and shape. I notice beauty. I really don't have to proclaim a day of beauty. I think most days have some bit of it, if you only stop to look. But when I looked, today was especially beautiful.

I've been talking to a lovely lady about Rob Bernard. I did a report on him and blogged about him last year. I find his art fascinating. As we spoke, I realized what a gift these ceramic classes have been.  The classes have impacted my writing and my day-to-day life.

On the heels of that conversation, I ran up the studio and stopped in at The Cumming's Gallery. There's a great exhibit right now by Thomas Hubert.  I love how he combines wood and ceramics. I love how he plays with unusual forms and some very large forms.

His large teapots are so much fun to study. Teapots were first made in ancient China and while most people just microwave a cup of tea, they're still a classic ceramic form. (I don't microwave cups...I brew pots.) And sometimes, like Hubert's, they're not classic, instead they're unique, bold, big and narrative. my one teapot was definitely more narrative than functional. though I'm planning to make a functional one soon.

Beauty. It's everywhere. It's in an art gallery, but I also find it when I'm walking in the morning, or sitting by the fireplace on a winter evening.  It's in a good book, or...  Well, you get the point!

I hope as you go about your day, you find it's filled with beauty!

Holly

(You can read some of my other Days of Beauty here.)

My Carry Her Heart teapot—Front

My Carry Her Heart teapot—Back.

PS. Check out 2018's releases!!
(And keep an eye out for 2019's! There are a bunch!):

Polished Off

PTA Moms: the Collection

Between the Words

Briar Hill Road

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BAM

PPS.
Have you missed our most recent Trippin' with Holly and Susan? You can catch up with them all on YouTube.

My Novel Freshman Experience, Part Eleven—The Boot

The Boot

Just in case you're wondering, there is absolutely no one awake on a university campus at 7:30 am on a Saturday. (At least not my university...but I suspect I can make that a broad statement.)  I know, you're shocked.  LOL 

I love being in the studio when no one else is around!  I blared Hamilton (well, as blary as an iPhone can be) and worked on my boot.  That last project was done with coils.  This time, we're using soft slabs.  Now, making a boot wasn't a high priority for me, but these projects are valuable lessons.  They're giving me an opportunity to learn what the clay can do. And I'll confess, I'm enjoying the project more than I anticipated.  

I'm doing a workshop for a local senior group in November on Second Acts...talking about that idea of learning something new—finding something you enjoy.  I'll confess, I'm no clay prodigy, but I'm enjoying every moment of this class.  I'm hoping that I can impart some of that sense of wonder and enthusiasm to the workshop participants.  Maybe they'll be inspired to write a biography, something to introduce themselves to future generations.  Or maybe they'll take a pottery class.  Or maybe...  Maybe they'll realize the world is their oyster and pick something unexpected!

I think that's part of why I'm making My Novel Freshman Experience part of my writing blog...I hope it inspires you all to look around for something new to try.  Maybe you'll find yourself out and...wait for it...wait for it...ABOOT.  Out and aboot.  Aboot...Canadian for about.  (I felt I needed to explain, which probably means it's not as funny as I thought it was!  LOL  My kids say that's common!)

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who's started following my blog, or just checked it out!

Holly

PS.

Once Upon a Thanksgiving

If you've missed any Novel Experience posts, you can find them here... Part Ten, Part Nine, Part Eight, Part Seven, Part Six, Part Five, Part Four, Part Three, Part Two, Part One

PPS The first book in my PTA Mom Trilogy is out on September 26th. You can preorder it now!!

Once Upon a Christmas

Once Upon a Valentine's