Changes

This past year has been a big year of changes. Life changes fast with a little one around and then throw in a few changes in your own life and things look nothing like they did a year ago. That is actually encouraging for me- I like changes and my life a year ago was much harder than it is now. Being a new mom is the hardest thing I've ever done and passing the one year mark was a huge hurtle for me. She's slept through the night for almost a week now (yay!!!) and it just makes my outlook so much brighter!

A big change in my life is that since September I've been teaching ceramics four times a week at my Alma Mater, Berry College as an adjunct professor filling in for the professor I studied under while there. To say this is an honor is a massive understatement. Being in the ceramics classes at Berry was the most inspiring, eye opening, self defining thing I've ever experienced. Stepping in as the instructor for this class is a huge responsibility as I know so many have had their life changed by this class. Many many have gone on to have long careers teaching others about hand building, wheel throwing, glazing and more. I have not stopped studying since I began this role. I want to be sure to provide the same awesome experience that I had while there.

I could go on about teaching for a long time but what I came to write about today are changes I'm making in my life, specifically with my pottery business. I'm going to take a break from the business while I'm teaching this Spring. Teaching while prepping for shows, filling orders and teaching private lessons leaves me a lousy mom, wife and homemaker. So, the business is going to go on hiatus until further notice. This means I'm not accepting commissions, the Etsy Shop is closing and I'm not actively creating inventory. Current orders will be filled and a few items remain on hand, but for the most part, the shop is closed.

I didn't really imagine teaching would lead to this but it makes so much sense to me. Since I've stepped into the classroom I've had this huge desire to explore clay. So much of my focus the past year has been on honing in on one look, one process and making a unified line of work to sell at a reasonable price. This is a great business model and has made for the most successful year I've had yet with my business, but by it's nature, that model cuts out exploration. It also cuts out putting in massive amounts of time into one piece- because it's so hard to sell something with 20 hours into it for a reasonable wage. I am actually thrilled to have time to teach and use my home studio time for personal use rather than for work. I'm going to make big pieces and tiny pieces. I'm going to not make pieces when I need to be making dinner (well, I'll try!). I'm going to go away from round and then back to round. I'm not really sure what all I'm going to do but I'm going to focus on making well, making new, and making different.

So, in sum, I need to say thank you. Thank you for supporting my business over the years, for buying pots and sending your kids to camp. Thank you for taking classes from me at Earthworks, coming for private lessons and ordering things from my shop. Thank you for passing my name along and following my story. I'll be back at some point with pots available for the community, but for now, this is my time to learn and grow.

Happy New Year!

-Lisa