100 Thing Challenge

So, it's been a long time since I have even seen my own blog. Roller derby has taken over about 4 nights and every other weekend from my life and although I am blissfully in love with the sport, it has taken away from many other aspects of my life. One being able to spend any time in the pottery studio and the other being able to keep a tidy house.
So, reading over the yahoo news I discovered many people are taking the 100 thing challenge. I have decided to jump on the band wagon as well.
Yesterday I tossed out a 45 gallon bag full of shoes, towels, blankets and miscelaneous clothing. Today I put 2 bar stools out near the curb while I was running my bath, when I left for work they were already gone. Now at work I have a stuffed past capacity bag of yarn that I am going to put on Freecycle. Tonight, the local used book store is getting 2 small boxes of books that I read years ago and for some odd reason was holding on to, and some books that I just never could get past the first chapter.
Although I live alone, I have no closets so all my worldly posessions are out for guests to see. At times, it feels cluttered to me. So, I am going to start downsizing. I have given myself a month to get down to 150 items. We'll see how this goes.
The more gentle form of this I have found is the 365 day challenge. Where you simply give up/get rid of, one personal item a day. I think I am way beyond the one item a day realm. But I am counting some things in groups such as all my bicycle gear (gloves, shoes, helmet, bike, etc).

Any one else out to simplify their lives? Anyone trying the 100 Thing Challenge?? Anyone think I am going mad?

Happy Turkey (Cornish hen) Day

Being as I am a happy singleton and I agreed to dog sit for my friends Dawn and Andy, I thought I would do a bit of update to my poor neglected blog.

Have I ever been busy! Last month I was at the fabulous Twist3.0, tomorrow my studio, The Celadon Studio is having their holiday open house (info on my website http://www.maleaspottery.com/). I was just at the studio getting things set up and 5 of our resident potters had already dropped off work, including some great upcycled crochet bags by Cara Taylor. I have some more work coming out of the kiln in the morning, and my studio assistant Juliet will be there all day to help people with their holiday shopping.

So, what have I been up to? My style has completely changed, I have a passion for each piece that I have not had for a while and I spend much more time working on the surface treatments and I think it shows.

Dahlia Cupcake Stand $48Dahlia Serving Bowl $38

Vine Latte Mug $32

Tall Vine Mug $32 Happy Thanksgiving to all. I wish everyone the best in this holiday season.

Cheers! Malea

I know...i know...

Yes, I have been really slacking on my blogging duties. But I wanted to get this in real quick. This Sunday instead of Saturday...(rain date) will be the Stone Soup Farm Chilifest!

http://stonesoupfarm.googlepages.com/chilifest

I will have a booth there with KILLER PRICES on older stock. Come out and say hi. Or at least try some tasty chili!!!

Here I am at the Mill River Marketplace.

The place goes way back,but I am just doing a quick video of the main room I am in. In the other room there are about 6 more vendors, a coffee and sandwich bar and then there are antique dealers out in what used to be the garage bay.
So this is it...

It is really beyond me why there is a giant canoe in the middle of the room. It is a sample for sale for $2200. You can buy a brand spanking new one for $4500. I think it would crush the stop of my suv in! That thing has got to weigh a ton. The strange hologram man is here again, as well as about 6 new artisans and 2 more farm stands. Lots more veggies this week.

Tonight I am teaching a wheel throwing intensive for the studio on throwing off the hump. And my friend Jim is coming down with his special lady friend and her sister and the sister is going to get a one on one lesson this afternoon after the market.

Big day ahead, but the sun is shining and I have a giant brownie.

Cheers!

Updating the Etsy

So, I posted to my Twitter this week that I was going to put up one pot a day on my Etsy site. So far so good. And My new cloud dome photo kit arrived yesterday in the mail! It made snapping shots of this mornings pot so easy! I had been taking them to work and using their cloud dome kit. But they have them pretty affordable on the web includes lights and the infinity board and it fit ever so nicely into my pantry! I now have a permanent photo studio right in my home and out of sight! So, this weeks Etsy listings have been for:











And I need to give a shout out to my friend Deb who's birthday is today and who just opened her own Etsy Site!!! Deb crochets wire jewelry. Check it out!

All right, time to get in some quick exercise before work today.
Have a wonderful weekend and hope wherever you are it is not as humid and rainy as it is here in New England. Ick!
Cheers!

Malea

A few quick pics

Buttons and such.
Have a great day.

I am so impressed

I do a lot of donating to local schools and charities. Before I owned my studio I primarily gave away pottery to these events. Now I have the luxury of being able to teach from my space and share my love of clay with others. So I give free lessons.

This past weekend I had a lovely young studio guest, meet Lily.

I was blown away that this tiny girl not only could center by herself, but she made 5 pots all over an inch tall to boot! And this was her first time on the potters wheel!! Kudos to Lily! I can't wait to get her pots bisqued and back to her.

If you have ever tried to make pots on the potters wheel, you know how hard this is! I have permission to post these pictures of Lily from her mom. She will be checking in on the blog and it you would like to leave some comments here for her on how fabulous her daughter did...please do!

Cheers!