The Life+Work Balance

My awesome family that helps make
it possible for me to get in the studio

I've been wondering for a long time how my work/life balance would be maintained and adjusted after the arrival of Annabelle. I've had the luxury since the beginning of 2012 to dedicate the majority of my time fully to my work. I taught class twice a week in the evenings but the day time was my domain to spend time in the studio and work as I pleased.

Now being the primary caretaker of a little one, my schedule is not so free. As I type, she is asleep on my chest and I'm left wondering, can I move her to her crib without waking her up? Or should I stay still and use this time to finish my blog?  Am I wasting a nap time by not being in the studio (or grabbing a shower)? Or will I just wake her up if I move and then not even finish this blog post?

I'll just tell you the decision here is NOT hard. She is completely precious right now and I'm quite enjoying typing to you with her sweet breath on my face. 

Anyhow, at week 4 I decided to get back in the studio Being my own boss, I could have waited to go back, but I needed to go for me. I was relieved as I walked into my very clean shop and felt like I was in a place where I knew what I was doing, that I was actually qualified and skilled in this setting. It helped with the overwhelmed feelings of a new parent of a baby with so many constant needs. What needs you might wonder (skip this next part if you have no interest in my breast feeding saga)? 

This was my life the first four weeks... 

Annabelle and I were learning how to nurse. I'm not sure if it was me or her or both, but it was difficult. I had to learn how to get her in the right position so she could nurse comfortably- both for me and for her. It was hard. I soon dreaded the task due to soreness and fatigue. It was literally painful to feed her. She would get so mad- either because she was really hungry or not wanting to feed- that she would scream and bite me. Anytime she was fussy, we would try to nurse her. Jon would help hold her little hands that would inevitably be in her way, trying to find the breast, and he would help push her head when we finally had a clear shot at a latch. Those first few weeks I did not have enough hands to feed her! I would try about every other hour, for an hour to feed her. Then burp her, change her diaper and have about 20 minutes to eat something myself, run to the bathroom and then do it over again. Sometimes I would work for 30 minutes to get her latched on. It was really hard. But I never really considered another option. It was working enough to know there as a light at the end of the tunnel. When she would finally latch she would nurse for anywhere from 15-60 minutes. So I would read her books, sing along with songs on Youtube, facebook, file her nails, talk on the phone, anything really that you can do in a rocking chair one handed (and eventually two handed!). My light was that at 4 weeks we would introduce a bottle of pumped milk and then someone other than me could take care of feeding her on occasion. She does great with the bottle, thankfully. 

Luv this commercial- for me it is more like "First Month, Second Month"

But breast feeding has gotten really easy- if I'm available to do so-  and its way easier than making a bottle and washing all the parts. I can feed her standing up, laying down, asleep, outdoors, in public, in her sling (kind of), anywhere really except in the car. I have not accomplished the over the car seat position :). Bottles are easier for that. Anyway, that is my breast feeding story. So, at 4 weeks, I was happy to have a break from that stressful learning experience :) and play in my studio.

How I Get To Work
So this is how it works for me. Several kind people have come and helped me take care of Annabelle in the day time. My sisters, mother in law, visiting friends, and a responsible babysitter make up this team of helpers. So then I get to scoot out to the shop for a few hours and throw, trim, slip trail, glaze, load the kiln, recycle clay, whatever. I try and go to the studio everday, no matter the amount of time. So when I don't have help during the day, I typically go in the evening when Jon is home to keep Annabelle. This is the studio all lit up at night. The studio is so bright, it is like a sparkling star on our street! I love all the light :).

Here is my new littler kiln. I had to downsize after the move to a less power sucking kiln to fit the electrical capabilities of my studio. I think I will move my large kiln to the garage, where it can tap into the stronger power source from the house, to have it as an option for firing large loads. But for now, I'm enjoying my new dainty kiln. It came from a friend before I knew I needed it and has been a great addition to my place!

Here are some yarn bowls and oil bottles drying in the studio. The bowls are upside down to help them dry evenly and reduce warping.

My friend also gave me this great plaster trough for drying out reclaimed clay. I dumped almost 5 gallons of slop into the trough about a month ago and it is still in there drying. I think I will try about 3 gallons next time, haha.

I still am loving decorating my pieces with slip trailing. You will see that on almost all of my new pieces now. It is such an outlet for me to draw these curling, flowing lines. I've always worked in curls and swirls into my art. Having this crazy curly hair has certainly shaped my personality and I like that it is now shaping the personality of my pottery. It is a way to put a piece of myself on each form, and I enjoy doing it so much. There is usually no pattern to it, it is free flowing and uninhibited. Yet it works with the other pieces, and naturally fits into a collection.

I have a new outlook on my work now- it is no longer my most important thing I do with my day. And that is good because it helps me relax. It is no fun to be the potter that cries over cracked handles. Well, looks like I finished this just in time for the babysitter to arrive- and on the same day I started it. I'll count that as success. Off to the studio we go!

Tia is always there for me to keep the baby!