Many people love heading to malls for shopping but I can’t stand it. My worst nightmare is to be stuck in a mob of insane shoppers during the Christmas holiday. When I was younger it was fun to go and dream of purchasing nice clothing, cool gadgets, and a variety of stuff. Then I grew up & didn’t want to become a typical American consumer. These days I try to make better educated purchases with electronics, use items until they are no longer serviceable, purchase artwork (functional & decorative) from friends & make donations to worthy causes. Holiday gifts? Please don’t make me enter box stores packed full of people! Instead, let me purchase art supplies from local & west coast retailers to make my own gifts. It has it’s pros & cons. It allows me to focus on production and drop some of the worries behind, but also easy to put off since it’s just family. So what will people be receiving this year? How many of XXX do I have to create and not purchase?
Last night I sat down and made a list of close family deserving of a holiday bowl. I discovered the list wasn’t small. 50? Really? Holy cow! This list includes nieces & nephews plus their serious significant others, extended family due to marriage, plus my siblings, beloved uncle & aunt in Eugene, Dave’s siblings, remaining parents…. amazing! I could create one large serving bowl per family, but what’s the fun in that? I’m about individual gifts this year. I must need my head examined since this IS December 14th. 10 days until the local bowl distribution Christmas Eve.
Damn, I knew I should have purchased more clay while in Eugene yesterday!
The bowl size has changed to maximize clay. They are starting out with just over a pound of clay. The first 25# yielded 16 bowls minus 2 flubs, averaging 1.5# starting weight. Now I’m working on my second 25# bag of Georgie’s White Salmon clay which should yield 20 bowls. So far 12 bowls thrown today and plenty more hours ahead before dinner. Or is there? Below image is current batch o’bowls
It is becoming easier to throw and faster. Will I be able to make it through the rest of the bag tonight? Guess it all depends on how many beers get consumed at Block 15!
Sticks, Stones, and Paper Stew Blog 
Good luck… a deadline is great motivation. These look great.
Oh so true!
Thanks Cynthia for your continued support!! 🙂
This is so cool to see Gale. I notice Sean keeps peeking over my shoulder. Could it be you’re rekindling a past passion in him as well???
I sure hope Sean is getting an itchin’ to put his fingers back in mud! That boy has major talent! Wait, it seems like everything he does is incredible. 🙂
Funny how the talent gene pool seems to congregate more in some like you and he, and then completely miss others like, say me. 🙂
You, my dear friend, have many talents neither Sean nor I will ever posses. You have the ability to successfully teach 3rd & 4th grade children! Not everyone can do that!