Christmas 2010

Finally gettin the chance to blog again after crazy holidays. Alot has happened in a month or since my last blog. Preperation for Christmas was alot of fun except for the procrastinator drive to the mall two days before christmas. The funny things you do for loved ones. Our boy Rocket made out. His second Christmas in this world and the one to remember. He lucked out having a white Christmas. What a cool thing for a kid...hell anyone to see, especially waking up to it on Christmas morning. We had all our food and drink for the weekend. All the toys were about to be wrapped. Good stuff. Christmas enters the picture in a whole new way when you have a child. Rocket is religous about getting up at 5 am so I knew it to be true for Christmas morning. Coffee was prepped with the baileys(Santa left it) right next to the coffee pot. Mugs out and ready for the early morn. We woke up to daddda.....maammmma. Turned on the coffee, Christmas lights, and watched innocence in its true form. I sware the boy is a truck fanatic. All kinds of trucks. He strutted around in his new camoflauge robe and kermit slippers laughin and playin. It was awsome!! Usually this time Ana and I are really stressin about Jan and Feb. Comin off Chritmas with two more months before our show season starts up again is stressful. We had an awsome fall season. My work is rapidly evolving. So much it gets a little scary. One idea just turns to another and another. Watching Rocket play with his new toys and experience his Christmas made me take a seat and be thankful for what is in front of me. I think rockets curiosity to start exploring and growing is rubbing off on my attitude towards my work. Learning how to tap into the courage to explore my own curiosity has stretched me as an artist. I' wont lie, its taken me out of the comfort zone a little. But more than ever because of watching my son grow, my courage to be curious about my work in clay and explore even more has transformed my whole outlook. What it means to be a potter and an artist. Theres alot more to this last month than im puttin in to this blog, but it was all good. Everyones healthy except for the occasional runny nose. Have been lining workshops for the new year and lots of cool shows. Get to go to New York City for one and really excited about that. I still have pots for sale on my website http://www.shadowpottery.com/ and will have most to all events and workshops up to date on the website as well. Thanks to everyone who helped us through this past year. You've catapulted my little family, my work and need to create. we can't do it without you. Another blog coming soon.

Sittin around the house takin care of my sick little boy. He is experincing his first allergy bomb in his nine months on this earth. Although it does suck and even more for him, I think this is the very best for his little immune system. I think thats why my generation and all those after are always sick. We kept our kids in the ac instead of letting them play in ther dirt and get exposed to the first pollen of each year. This will be good for him in the long run. Even though hes got a runny nose and sneeze he still trucks around like nothing phases him. Rocket can crawl now and sees everything in a new light. Everyday he becomes more and more addictive. Hes really a trip to watch and hang out with. We love em like nothin else. 4 bridges art festival was a little slow on sat but sun turned out to be great. What a great show and great people. I had more friends at this show then I have ever been at. We have some really great artists here in chattanooga and a strong a talented clay movement here and ready to bust wide open. If you havent met Stephanie Stueffer or TJ than you really need to. They were the emerging artists at 4 bridges this year and their work is off the hook. Very cool couple. Now local potter Anderson Bailey who is in my old studio over at loose cannons. His work is incredible and soon to explode chattanooga. Over all the show was great. I was glad to be there representing Chattanooga and my work. I will be in Birmingham AL for the Magic City Art Connection April 23-25. I did finally get my tomatoes in the garden. Theres a nice cool shady place where Rocket chews on his toothbrush and shares with sandy the next door neighbors pug. They love each other and their hygiene.