Clay and Glass 2016 and on the move...

Ceramics: Lana Wilson, Jenni Ward, Gregory Roberts, Ashley Kim, Bill Geisinger, Wyatt Amends and (: me :)

Glass: Ellen Blakeley, Candice Gawne,  Reddy Lieb, Nanci Schrieber-Smith, Studio Bel Vetro, Matthew Szösa

My studio is all packed up and heading north. So far, this unpredictable year of the Monkey, has had some crazy days, weeks and months.  It is hard to keep a house in order, work on work and keep calm.  Things (you know, those this 'n that things) kept popping up making confetti of my need to-do lists.  It is surprising how much one can do without little sleep.  Maybe not perfect, maybe not on the mark, but done.  We are selling and moving finally.  This house looks so brand spanking new and clean it makes my eyes water. I mean, shine.  

The lilac I planted 15 years ago finally bloomed.  It never bloomed in all those years.  I never had the heart to take it out. Every year its leaves would unfurl with dark green perfection. It made the nearby butterfly bush's leaves looked very shabby. In all honesty, the leaves were prone to curl and shed. Leaving bare twigs and branches. Looking very unattractive. That said, this butterfly bush without shame and hesitance, shot out huge majestic purple blooms every year. I could not bear to uproot that tattered butterfly bush, not because of its magnificent blooms, but because it reminded me that beauty waits...

I planted that lilac the year a family member took her life. And this year, on the anniversary of her death, I dreamed of her.  We walked down to the beach and she wanted to drink the sea water. I knew she was here for her mother.  I woke and felt uneasy.  Later we got an early morning phone call and knew.  Two days later I noticed the lilac buds.