Showing posts with label teaching pottery classes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teaching pottery classes. Show all posts

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Mornings with the Ladies Of the Mud

























Wednesdays are my "mornings with the ladies of the mud".



During 2007, I started my odyssey in the realm of pottery by walking into a local community studio and buying a bag of clay. Miss Amber was in charge of the studio at that point. She is a lovely person, a wonderfully patient teacher, and was a tremendous source of information as I began my adventure into clay.



Along with Miss Amber there were Mary, Mary, Mary, Barbara and Trixie, as well as many other interesting and talented hobby artists who came in and out of the studio.



The studio was a wonderful refuge for me and I continually looked forward to going and being with the "Ladies of the Mud".



Well times have moved on and several of the ladies have also gone on to other adventures including new babies, new travels, and new hobbies.



True to form, I was probably the most rambunctious of the crew and always pushed that envelop! But everyone was so patient with my eccentricities and my need for perfection.



The studio closed for renovations and due to budget problems remained closed for much longer than we thought. It finally reopened and I decided to give being "in charge" a try. So, I was hired and trained by the local jurisdiction and put on the payroll as a part time teacher/employee.



So, as I like to say "the monkey is now running this zoo!"



When the registration level for the independent study group fell and there weren't enough to go forward and pay my "salary", I jumped at the chance to do it for free. So here I am each Wednesday (family obligations permitting) in the basement of the old school gym chit chatting with the Ladies and enjoying sharing our journey in the mud.



Local community studios are a wonderful resource for the public to give the medium a try, and who knows you might even make a few new friends along the way!



Thanks to my Ladies for their patience with me, I really enjoy our Wednesdays. See you all next week!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Spring


Well, it seems to be official around here. Spring has arrived. The daffodils are blooming, the crocuses have come and gone, the tulips are popping up, the forsythia are in full glory, and you can hear the chirping of birds in the woods.

Some of my trusty perennials have popped back up and I am already using their leaves for some Spring pieces.

This was my first "chip and dip" piece, and it flew off the shelf at my last show. Happily it landed in the possession of a new and great friend. Happy dipping! You know who you are :).

Spring is a calmer time around here. The real mad dash comes in the fall. So for now, I am enjoying the relative calm.

Some self imposed stress, I have agreed to begin teaching! FUN! I am starting in June with 2 classes. One for 5-8 year olds who will be doing some hand building; and one with 13-15 year olds as we explore just how muddy we can get on the wheel! I am gathering ideas and supplies for both these classes and am trying to find some great summer ideas for us to work on.

PLEASE, send in some suggestions for projects for these age groups. I have several, but I hope to have a handy "idea book" and am always interested in adding new projects.

If all goes well, teaching will become a new addition to the Big Dog Pots studio as I hope to continue to teach a few different classes in the fall.

Check out the class listings, and if the schedule works for you please sign up. Watch for upcoming classes here: http://www.fauquiercounty.gov/government/departments/parksrec/

Enjoy the arrival of Spring. Soak in all that GREEN.