Time Constraints

I was thinking how having kids changes your life. I am constantly struggeling to keep all the balls in the air, having to keep up with the household, having the kids orderly dressed and teeth brushed and behaving well, entertaining them, feeding them a balanced diet, exercising (or feeling guilty about not doing it), taking time for myself (or not), having a good relationship with my husband, oh yeah, and running a little ceramic business on the side.

We all know this struggle. It makes me no different from anyone else. I can't even imagine how people fare who have full-time jobs to run and need to squeeze the long list of things to do into evening and weekend hours.

It has been a rollercoaster the last 5 years and for most of it I have been driving myself crazy trying to be super mom and perfect. Well, I'm certainly not and fall short on a long list of things. I regularly freak out when I have friends come over who I think do a better job at keeping their house clean and go into a frenzy of last minute cleanup before they show up.
But nevertheless I am proud of keeping a so-so balance of things, spending enough time with my kids and being able to do what I love and even have people interested in it: pottery.

I realize how having very limited time to do that can make you more efficient in getting things done. It's like a strict schedule and I don't think I would fare as well as I do if I didn't have one.
I think having a somewhat OCD personality and playing beat the clock on a regular basis helps.
I have to strictly regulate everything in my plus minus 8 hours of work time per week, so I can accomplish most efficiently what I have to do. Writing lists is a pleasure to me. I always try to plan ahead of what I need to do. One of my big routines that I am unwilling to give up is putting the kids to bed while lying next to them. I know, most people will disagree and tell me it is a bad thing, I am unwilling to cut the cord, yaddy yaddy yackedy, yack.
Well, I love being physically close to them and having the quiet time to thing and map out my future. To make a long story short, it is so easy to complain about never having enough time to do this or that, but it is good to consider that it can be a good thing to have time constraints to make you more efficient.

i'm so excited and just won't hide it!!!

Ok, after years (yes, years) of procrastination here is proof, that i shouldn't any longer.
Maybe the fact, that a friend of mine loaned me a book call "The idiots guide to procrastination"
should have been enough of a hint, but eh...


So, after much ado, here is something I am extremely proud of. Ever since I came to Atlanta
12 years ago, one of my favorite landmarks has been the lions in front of One Marquis Tower.
And now, ok since 2 years ago or so, my art is in one of the big landmarks in Atlanta (the Marquis)!
Guarded by those lions. I am smitten. They have remodeled the Marriott Marquis a while ago
and they have done a great job. It looks fabulous! The furniture and the carpet look awesome
in there. Mind you, it is a huge space and to update it, was probably not an easy undertaking,
but I wouldn't mind staying there. It's swanky. I am so proud and excited. I was a bit uneasy
before going there. I thought I might not be too proud of what I would see.
But damn, I am. Phew.

Grant Park Tree Collection

Here is some new work that I've been working on for a while.
It is the continuation of the treehugger vases. Hoping to pick up some more
hotel commissions. Here are the specs of this series:

Grant Park Tree Collection (imprints of select trees in Grant Park)
Medium: Stoneware, Iron Oxide, Glaze
Measurement: 14"x 6" x .75" and 6" x 6" x .75"

unfinished business...

Here are some pieces on my cabinet at home. they have been sitting here for weeks...
I have been playing with decals for a couple of months now. It has been something
on my list of things to do for a long time. Now that I finally figured out how easy it
is, I am stumped as to what to put on them! The possibilities are endless and I'm
left to be unimaginative... well, at least there's a start, but there's a lot missing.
Wish me luck on figuring it out!


The decal business is super easy: just buy sheets of Lazertran suited for your printer
and start! Then I like to set the decals in the oven at a slow rising temperature for
a few hours and they should be dishwasher and food safe. Ok, the verdict is still out.
Don't quote me on this. Must do research right now!

Happy New Year!

Without any further delay: I'm back. We have had such a nice and relaxing holiday time.
I've slept in for the first time in multiple years and I finally started to exercise again.
Just being more conscious about what I put into my mouth and going out for walks and
taking 30 minutes here and there to exercise on the wii has been making a huge difference
in my spirit. And I checked out a local dance studio that i would love to try out.
Good that everyone has specials out to lure those couch potatos in..


And I have been busy at the studio over the past month, lining all ducks into neat rows.
First of all, our studio is all fixed and everything except for the gallery space has been
put back into place! Yay, yay, yay. It feels good having all the shelves to put things where
they go.