tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83499409743232604072024-03-13T17:31:27.585-04:00PotsapaloozaLife on the Mountain, in the Studio and around the HouseKari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.comBlogger173125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-9299979804390549112012-07-10T20:35:00.000-04:002012-07-10T20:35:07.910-04:00No More Moving TargetIn my next life, I think I will make paper. Or beaded jewelry. That way, I won't need months of chiropractic adjustments to ease the back pain from moving my studio equipment, not once, not twice, but three times in less than 12 months.<br />
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No one wants to hear the sordid details. The issue has been resolved and this artist is back in the saddle for real this time. My new space is at the same place where I moved the Bailey last year. It's divine to have everything all at one location.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David built a shelving system like the one I had before.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I am sharing the space with my fiance, luthier David A Wiseman. Building mountain dulcimers creates a lot of sawdust. I'm considering a raku kiln in the future.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David's side of the studio. The Bailey is straight out the door behind him.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Lots more is going on in my life, but having a place to call home for my art has given me some peace after a very tumultuous year.Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-402462089773403222011-11-14T05:51:00.001-05:002011-11-14T06:28:46.588-05:00Guess Who is Firing Again?In case you have been wondering, I do still exist on the planet. My life is beyond crazy busy now and dial-up sucks. I usually run out of patience before blogs can load, and I'm too busy at work to take the time to read. If the Universe would create, just for me, an extra day or two, maybe a week, I could catch up on gallery paperwork and take the time to breathe. And read blogs.<br />
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In the meantime, I've moved my gas kiln and am 95% finished with the shed. I'm calling a friend for back-up before I cut a hole in the roof for the chimney, but after we do that, it's a "go". Propane is scheduled for hook-up on the 22nd, and I'm hoping to have her loaded and ready to fire on Thanksgiving Day. It's been a year since I've fired, and I'm sure I am forgetting how much work I have to do to get ready, especially since the pots are at the gallery, the glazes all need to be re-sieved and the pots, glazes and kiln are all in three different places.<br />
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And I have been making work like crazy. I have enough bisqueware for 2 maybe even 3 glaze loads, all cone 6R. I have 4 or 5 cone 6 R glazes I am happy with and 1 or 2 that need some tweaking. I am still stuck on 2 or 3 cone 10 glazes that I love, but eventually would love to do away with the cone 10 altogether in the name of saving time, money and the planet. Not that I have much time for testing, but I just can't seem to help myself, but does anyone have cone 6R glaze recipes that they would like to share? I seem to recall someone (maybe Tracey) who has a cone 6 R black recipe? <br />
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So back to busy again. And if the Universe sees fit to comply with my modest request, I can post pictures of the new work in the coming weeks.Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-5599199137504662562011-09-07T10:04:00.000-04:002011-09-07T10:04:40.568-04:00Blogging on Dial-UpI had a sincere request this week from a dear friend to update my blog. So much has happened over the past few months, some good, some bad. I'm going to give this a go. Stick around. I'm getting my groove back.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After 3 months of living in my car, my business partner's basement and my gallery, I moved into a sweet rental house just down the road from my kids' school. The rent is unbelievable and perfect for the starving artist that I currently am. I have been here for nearly 2 months, finally have a landline and, hold on to your hats, dial-up internet service. I live in a "holler" which means I am rural enough that the phone company doesn't offer dsl here. Satellite internet is too costly, so the obvious alternative is to go back in time to the 1990's.<br />
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<br />I moved my electric wheel, slab roller and electric kiln to my gallery where there is a small space for a studio. The Bailey now resides at the Mushroom Factory, a former shitake mushroom factory turned artist studios. I still need to put a roof over the kiln and hook up the gas, not to mention make enough work to fill her up. However, the coup de grace is my kick wheel on my front porch.<br />
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<br />In other news, <a href="http://www.carpenterpottery.com/">Kyle Carpenter</a> included me in <a href="http://www.mudfire.com/asheville-in-atlanta-2011.htm">Mudfire's Asheville in Atlanta</a> exhibit, opening later this month. I am so excited about this exhibit, especially since I haven't done much clay work since last fall. <br />
Still trying to honor his requests for privacy, I won't talk too much about my estranged husband. He and I are on civil speaking terms. The kids live with me during the school week and stay with him on the weekends. They seem to be adjusting pretty well. Kids are more adaptable than we think. By the time I was my daughter's age, I had been through hell and back, so in all honesty, they have it pretty easy.<br />
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The gallery keeps me very busy. And, no, we do not have our website up and running yet. Being the detail-oriented Capricorn that I am, I am by default, the bookkeeper. I like getting the numbers to balance, but it's challenging and very time consuming. And now, I am being trained to use Quickbooks, which is not going so quickly at all. Business was booming this summer, has slowed this month, but we expect it to pick up as soon as the leaves start turning. We get a lot of tourist traffic. This month we are catching our breath and catching up.<br />
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I'm relearning the simple life and am quite content and happy. I live a little close to the edge sometimes, but I have never felt this free and relaxed. Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-21246716927946957712011-05-14T06:17:00.000-04:002011-05-14T06:17:37.599-04:00Where Do I Start?I would start at the beginning, but you'd just get bored and quit reading. I haven't posted in such a long time because just about everything in my life is changing. Shall I give you the good news or the bad first?<br />
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About 8 weeks ago, while trying to decide about starting a cooperative, two other artists and I stumbled onto a business opportunity too good to pass up. We are now the proud owners of One Of A Kind Art Gallery in Micaville, NC. We opened our doors for business on April 1st, had a smashing grand opening reception last Friday and are so excited about this new venture.<br />
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I have to be careful about how I talk about the other major change in my life. But being careful and cautious has led to some misunderstandings, so I'm just going to lay it out. I have made the difficult decision to leave my marriage of nearly 18 years. I have moved out, but still see my children almost daily. I have moved my wheel, slab roller and bisque kiln to the gallery, where there is studio space. I'm moving the gas kiln to a space about a mile down the road. Some folks will consider my divorce bad news. Ever the optimist, I consider it a chance for a richer life.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBK8el2Sr0I/Tc5Vq_ZXnrI/AAAAAAAAA9U/t30ZzmoQl4k/s1600/4sale.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBK8el2Sr0I/Tc5Vq_ZXnrI/AAAAAAAAA9U/t30ZzmoQl4k/s320/4sale.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Most likely, I will get some grief for posting about this. My estranged husband is intensely private and once he hears that I have written this for public consumption, there will be some fallout. However, not blogging for the past few months has left me feeling disconnected from all of my potter-blogger friends. Here is my attempt to reconnect.Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-59964868491606509362011-02-26T15:38:00.000-05:002011-02-26T15:38:51.725-05:00New Ideas<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">2011 has been a little unsettling for me so far. I'm unsure about what direction my life is taking. Up until I had my children, and we decided that I would stay home with them, I had always been fiercely, obnoxiously independent. I'm not sure why it's taken me almost 13 years to recognize that I am about as far from independent as I can get, at least financially independence. My pottery does not support itself and barely adds anything to the household income.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I decided to look for a job, part-time and related to my art. Penland had a part-time sales job in the supply store. I applied, interviewed (well, I think), but they hired someone else. I was sad for a moment or two, before I realized that it meant something better was just around the corner. Boy was I right!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A couple of clay artist friends and I have been discussing ways to promote ourselves and our art community. We toyed around with the idea of organizing a show, but then we stumbled on the idea of starting a co-op. It's too soon to tell whether this will pan out, but I'm taking the bull by the horns. I've registered for a couple of free business seminars over the next couple of weeks, and we're planning regular meetings to see how we can make this a reality. Anyone have any thoughts on starting a co-op or gallery? We're very excited, but I'm not sure we even know the right questions to ask.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Even if the co-op falls through, those business seminars will be helpful in launching my other brilliant idea. Burnsville approved alcohol sales nearly a year ago. We have an ABC store, a wine shop and a couple of restaurants that serve alcohol. How is it that no one has opened a pub?</div>Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-91596134402036125562011-02-01T06:12:00.000-05:002011-02-01T06:12:50.252-05:00Happy Birthday to my Mom<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AQtCldVsjOg?fs=1" width="425"></iframe><br />
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The graphics on this are blurry, but we've all seen it. My Mom turns 64 today!Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-83595414288390116132011-01-31T15:32:00.000-05:002011-01-31T15:32:44.660-05:00Back to Doing What I do BestI know I said I was going to throw some cups. And I know that I should stick to my word. But, let's face it, when there are potters out there who are making gorgeous cups, is it really necessary for me to do make cups too? After seeing these cups on Meredith's <a href="http://whynotpotteryblog.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, I decided to leave the cup making to the pros. At least for now.<br />
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</div>Besides, the cups I threw were taking forever to dry, and I nearly forgot about them. I had left way to much clay at the base so they requited an inordinate amount of trimming. And then the kitties decided to take a tap dance on the ware board, gouging several cups and moving the plastic so that they dried too fast. Plus, it's really cold in the studio. Wah.<br />
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After tossing the cups into the reclaim bucket, I sat down and threw some small cylinders. No pictures since you all know what they look like. I'm going to try making some small baskets. One of the ideas someone floated at our last Clay Club was the Orton cone box thing. I wonder if I can go that small. I think it's harder than it looks.Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-29210360403925507852011-01-24T19:58:00.000-05:002011-01-24T19:58:12.934-05:00Media Whore<iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/t1HCeTF6Wak?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-37562062299116029092011-01-20T08:42:00.006-05:002011-01-20T09:20:36.934-05:00Giving GIMP A Try<div align="left">I have really missed blogging. Our computer sits in our dining room, and with the kids home snow day after snow day, there is simply too much competition for computer time. I gave up. Alas, we have had two good weather days, so I have been catching up with old blogging friends over a nice cup of tea. I decided to figure out how to put some photos with this post.<br /></div>We had our January Clay Club meeting last night at <a href="http://silverwingsstudio.com/">Elizabeth Westveer</a>'s studio. We discussed ideas for this year's meetings and John Britt videoed a few demos (including mine). He'll post them to the <a href="http://ncclayclub.blogspot.com/">Clay Club blog </a>and You Tube later in the week.<br /><br />One demonstrator was <a href="http://www.pattybilbrofoxfirepottery.com/">Patty Bilbro</a>. She demonstrated centering two large lumps of clay one on top of the other, rather than trying to center one huge lump. I took a few photos.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564265278080841874" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TTg9yigMeJI/AAAAAAAAA9A/-_HMRaxGz3g/s320/01202011.JPG" /><br /><br /><br />Hooray! We have a photo!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564269511339353282" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TThBo8nrJMI/AAAAAAAAA9I/F23sfPC736o/s320/01202011a.JPG" /><br />The other demonstrator was <a href="http://www.leicestervalleyclay.com/docsbio.html">Doc Welty</a>, who showed us how to create raised surfaces with shellac resist.<br /><br />I needed Brian's blog post as well as GIMP's online tutorial to walk me through how to resize the images for the web. I ran into a snag after finishing and saving the picture of Patty. The second photo I tried to resize was instead "layered' onto the first, as well as cropped to show only Doc's face. The only way I could figure out how to get rid of the first image and bring up the second one without the cropping was to close GIMP and restart it.<br /><br />It seems that GIMP offers a lot more then I need in a photo program. I don't manipulate images or even really crop them much. I don't change anything in the photos of my pottery except sizing. And since the forecast is calling for snow tonight, I'm going to congratulate myself on this baby GIMP step, and turn the computer over to the kids again.<br /><br />I can always tackle GIMP in the spring.Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-34551849568783030012011-01-04T20:10:00.002-05:002011-01-04T20:23:43.895-05:00MIA For Too LongHappy New Year! Our computer survived its ordeal last month. I'm not sure I did though. Or my family for that matter. Blogging is an outlet for me. Without it...well, let's just say, I've had a lot to say.<div><br /></div><div>One thing that didn't survive was my photo software, you know the one: an archaic version of HP Photo Something-Or-Other, origins unknown. Not sure if it was a good or not, but I knew how to use it. Quite some time ago, I posted about trying to use Piknik or something for Call for Entry. <a href="http://www.brianfieldspottery.com/">Brian Fields</a> was kind enough to email me about Gimp, so I am finally going to try it. </div><div><br /></div><div>For now my photos are safe on CDs, and I've been taking more and more. We've had some beautiful snow up here and are expecting more in the next day or so. </div><div><br /></div><div>Since having the kids in school is tenuous this time of year, I am racing to catch up on household chores, so I can get back into the studio by next week. I was unhappy with two of my cone 6 R glazes this last firing, so I need to make some work and loads of test tiles.</div>Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-26390048671101006022010-12-19T08:25:00.003-05:002010-12-19T08:30:42.140-05:00$4.95 Etsy Shipping SaleWe still don't have our new modem, so I'm typing at light speed since my connection could drop at any moment. UPS hasn't been able to deliver because of "Emergency Conditions" which I think means the trucks couldn't get around at the beginning of the week, so they are so overloaded and behind schedule that they can't get to us residential customers.<br /><br />Due to those same weather conditions, which by the way have not been all that bad, local sales have been dreadfully slow. So, I'm having a shipping sale until Tuesday December 21st. It's a win-win-win. I sell some pottery, you save on shipping, and my local Postmaster gets more business which he desperately wants!<br /><br />Happy Holidays!Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-64438755435645612642010-12-09T14:34:00.002-05:002010-12-09T17:36:29.827-05:00All Systems DownUgh...last week we started noticing a lot of static on our phone line. Jay diagnosed the trouble back to our modem. We're still waiting for the new one to arrive.<br /><br />In the meantime, Jay thought it would be an ideal time to clean up our computer. The speed has been ever-so-slowly decreasing over the past few months. After attempting to reboot upon finding two viruses and various other computer meanies, the old girl refused to boot up.<br /><br />Jay was able to find another operating system, and so I have temporary and fleeting internet access until the weekend, when we'll have time to recover all of our necessary files and wipe the hard drive. What a pain in the ass.<br /><br />On the positive side, I received my Generosity Chain box from Tracey (thanks Tracey! I'll thank you properly with photos next week!), and at last night's Clay Club meeting, I got a Michael Kline mug in the holiday swap.<br /><br />Hopefully, I'll be back online next week. So until then, I'm really not ignoring you.Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-67494264410557210602010-12-03T12:08:00.010-05:002010-12-03T13:43:40.908-05:00Latest Cone 6 Firing and TRAC Studio Tour<div><div><div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546517060724301746" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TPkv4Ukdn7I/AAAAAAAAA8k/jqxiCUHRYt0/s320/12032010c.jpg" /> Occasionally I can find myself feeling a bit smug when my carefully laid plans fall into place. I scheduled a cone 6 firing the week of Thanksgiving so that if anything went wrong (or I had too much work), I would have time to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">refire</span> before the <a href="http://www.toeriverarts.org/studiotour.shtml"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">TRAC</span> Studio Tour</a>.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 289px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546526520254852482" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TPk4e8ES7YI/AAAAAAAAA80/WQHMzeuNLeQ/s320/12032010a.jpg" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546517265477257794" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TPkwEPVXykI/AAAAAAAAA8s/4Cn6CHBx9GY/s320/12032010b.jpg" />The kiln was packed tight and towards the end of the firing I found cone 7 flat on the bottom, but 6 barely budging on top. I was playing around with the damper when I noticed that my right burner was OUT! I couldn't get the pilot to stay lit, and after realizing that the remaining burner couldn't do the job, I just shut the whole thing down, grateful that I had left <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">myself</span> enough time to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">refire</span>.<br /><div></div><br /><div>To my delight and surprise, when I opened the kiln the next day (and remember with cone 6 you can open sooner), the pots which I had feared <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">underfired</span> looked quite nice. In fact, my yellow glaze looked marvelous. I believe the kiln gods were sending me a message: you're <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">overfiring</span>!</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 305px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546516781734730498" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TPkvoFQKmwI/AAAAAAAAA8c/cz-AEFuCqvg/s320/12032010e.jpg" />Jump to this week, home from our annual Thanksgiving trek to the Outer Banks, and it was time to spruce up the gallery for the Studio Tour. I had all these new pots to visit with, shelves to move and, ahem, a bit more glaze clean up to do. Two sick children wiped my smug grin off of my face in a hurry, one kid at the start of the week, the other coming down with the same bug yesterday. Then my phone line is full of static and the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">internet</span> keeps going out. I had several phone conversations yesterday outside at the phone box. Fortunately, the dryer vent empties right there and kept my feet warm.<br /><div></div><br /><div><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">All's</span> well that ends well though. I managed most of my "to do" list. I had the good sense to recognize my own limitations though, put away the butter and flour, and called Jay to buy cookies on his way home. They're pretty tasty, too. I did make some <a href="http://www.oprah.com/food/Amber-Ale-Cheddar-Cheese-Spread">Amber Ale Cheese spread</a>.</div><div></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546516561120946162" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TPkvbPZvZ_I/AAAAAAAAA8U/XbW-m7tgdnY/s320/12032010f.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546516336414806690" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TPkvOKTn0qI/AAAAAAAAA8M/B41RF2GU9I8/s320/12032010d.jpg" />If you find yourself in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">WNC</span> mountains this weekend, plan on visiting with some of the world-class artists who live and work up here. Or come to the <a href="http://www.toeriverarts.org/exhibits_sprucepine.shtml">artist reception </a>Friday night 5-8 at the Spruce Pine <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">TRAC</span> Gallery. </div></div></div></div></div>Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-70102135436220567842010-11-19T10:22:00.005-05:002010-11-19T10:45:58.847-05:00What the Heck Are These For?A couple of days ago, I decided I needed to revisit an idea from a customer which required some slab work. I could have used the slab roller, but I need the slabs large and round, so I just used the giant rolling pin. I'm not sure why I was surprised to wake up with a sore shoulder. I've had tendonitis in both of my shoulders at various times in the past. Just another dumbass move.<br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541285683184935346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TOaZ-EkyIbI/AAAAAAAAA8E/97WRSAR09CQ/s320/11192010c.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541285574267933842" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TOaZ3u08lJI/AAAAAAAAA78/spry-1FQ-6w/s320/11192010a.jpg" /></p><p>I know it doesn't look like much yet.</p><p>So while I nurse my shoulder for another day, I'm mixing some test glazes. Before I can do that, I have to organize and label the test tiles from last fall so as not to retest something. I would have labelled them sooner, but I've been engrossed in a book about procrastination. If anyone has any cone 6 reduction recipes, please share. I'm also going to try Val Cushing's method of converting a cone 10 glaze to cone 6. Has anyone had any luck with this?</p><br /><div>As you know, my studio came equipped with lots of extras, including glaze ingredients. I have <a href="http://ceramicartsdaily.org/glossary/ilmenite/">Ilmenite</a>, Granular Rutile and <a href="http://ceramicartsdaily.org/glossary/iron-chromate/">Iron Chromate</a>. Does anyone have a recipe that uses any of these? Would you just sprinkle the granular rutile on the shoulder of a pot? </div><br /><div>I also have a small blue trash can with little baggies of a white material. I know what you're thinking. I suppose the studio would be a grand hiding place, but who would leave something so valuable behind? Anyway, John Britt did a cone 10 melt test for me, but couldn't determine what it was. It looked like it melted, but then balled back up into little bits. I'm going to do a cone 6 melt test.</div><div></div><div>Meanwhile, the bisque is firing, and I'm set to load a cone 6 load Sunday.</div>Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-40194607688577244042010-11-18T09:51:00.006-05:002010-11-18T10:17:04.386-05:00Probably Not the Brightest Thing I've Done<div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540908217914896962" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TOVCqs3cMkI/AAAAAAAAA7s/BpaCPyaohUA/s320/11182010c.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540908339267247202" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TOVCxw8GHGI/AAAAAAAAA70/KfzjBq1t8nI/s320/11182010d.jpg" />Deadlines suck! Just when you think you've got it all under control, you remember the piece someone wanted you to try making, or a cat jumps on a bowl and forces you to alter it, or you find yourself reaching for just one more ball of clay. The result is a fair amount of work that is not bone dry yet. Why can't I exercise the necessary self-control to keep to my schedule?<br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540907742353048722" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TOVCPBQqRJI/AAAAAAAAA7k/0XiK_JbJUas/s320/11182010b.jpg" /><br /><div>The <a href="http://toeriverarts.org/studiotour.shtml">TRAC Studio Tour </a>is in two weeks. I actually have plenty of time to fire everything. However, we are going to the Outer Banks for Thanksgiving, so I'm going to lose some precious work days. And besides, I wanted to take some of the work from this yet-to-happen firing with me. You know the drill: work backwards from a reasonable unloading date and you have your last bisque date. In my case, unload Tuesday means last bisque Saturday.<br /></div><div>But impatient me can't wait. There is so much work to glaze that I'll be dead on my feet if I wait until Sunday. So, I had to make the choice to fire 2 half-full loads, or one full. And although I am a half-full type of gal, I decided to load it all, turn on the lowest element and hopefully the wetter work will dry out. I'm usually very conservative about drying times, but the wet work isn't cut or altered, so I'm hoping I'll be okay.<br /></div><div>I pretty proud of how full the kiln is, considering I still don't have shelves that really fit. In fact, the top two half-shelves are both broken. They come in handy in a pinch though.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540906954415603250" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TOVBhJ9u_jI/AAAAAAAAA7c/gUDCy9kdAno/s320/11182010a.jpg" /></div></div></div></div><br />Now I just have to decide when to actually start firing.Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-25743925937656083732010-11-04T17:19:00.004-04:002010-11-04T20:17:27.228-04:00A Collection of Small MiseriesSeveral weeks ago musing about mud blogger <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.caroleepp.com">Carole Epp</a> <a href="http://musingaboutmud.blogspot.com/2010/08/publication-call-for-helpplus-prize.html">posted</a> about how she was self-publishing a book of her figurines to accompany an exhibit of the same work. She wanted blog readers to comment with their favorites, and from those comments she would choose two readers to receive a free copy of the book. <div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535811433340754834" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TNMnKyvSW5I/AAAAAAAAA7M/LBVAZF1VEX0/s320/11042010a.jpg" /> <a href="http://jimgottuso.wordpress.com/">Jim Gottuso</a> and I were chosen, and I just received my copy of the book today. The book is gorgeous and the work is exquisite and haunting. My favorite is "She wanted to see no more evil".<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535811672534142674" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TNMnYtzbztI/AAAAAAAAA7U/DrcVwvlUZMw/s320/11042010b.jpg" /></div>Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-28341715011346356672010-11-03T17:52:00.003-04:002010-11-03T18:12:17.131-04:00Quick Thoughts on Local PoliticsI do my best and worst thinking while I'm wedging clay. I had loads to wedge and weigh today, and I was nearly in a state of despair when <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0dXZfcw34Q">"Chalkhills and Children"</a> by XTC came on the iPod and saved me.<br /><br />I voted yesterday because I always vote. After the fucked-up stolen election of 2000, I came to realize that one person can make a difference. Our country and perhaps our world would be a vastly different and arguably better place had President Gore been in office when the 9/11 attacks happened. I'll agree with many of you who have had it with attack ads, phone calls, and the sheer stupidity of our government. I still feel it's my right and duty to vote, so I do it.<br /><br />We've lived up here in this mountain community for 2 1/2 years now. I've met plenty of locals and lots of folks who have relocated here. It's a gorgeous and inspiring place to live and work. That said, the local politics are strange indeed. Although I REALLY want to, I won't name names, but I've just got to share some stories from this year's election season.<br /><br />As part of the debate team, my daughter had the priviledge of assiting a candidates' forum a few weeks ago. Some of her observations include:<br /><br />One candidate who played solitaire on her phone during the forum.<br /><br />One candidate who quoted the Bible.<br /><br />One candidate who said he wanted to bring real jobs to our county, not pottery making or beading.<br /><br />One candidate who refused to follow the forum rules with regards to how much time he could talk.<br /><br />In addition, Monday night I met a woman who had not voted ever since she had been offered money by a candidate at the polls 40 years ago. For real. In fact, this seems to be a time-honored tradition up here. The alleged perpetrator handed out $20 bills "for your time, not for your vote" and won re-election yesterday.<br /><br />Where is an election official when you need one?Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-40972401363516773182010-10-29T18:35:00.007-04:002010-10-29T18:54:37.648-04:00New Ideas in the Studio<div><div><div><div><div>I'm sure you've been missing me and wondering how my PTO gig went and when I would be making more pottery, to which I answer: just fine and finally this week.</div><div></div><br /><div>I stopped at the Burnsville TRAC gift shop this week to see if I needed to restock any work, and one of the shopkeepers asked me if I had anything specifically holiday related. I don't so I thought I'd go home and try to come up with something. I played around with some ornament ideas.</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 247px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533604140690061138" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TMtPpc12N1I/AAAAAAAAA7E/uXttrTsgHnA/s320/10292010c.jpg" /></div><div>And then had the idea to stack some of these shapes to make some sort of a Christmas Tree.</div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 283px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533603868952735570" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TMtPZoinr1I/AAAAAAAAA68/l3WrCWEenWw/s320/10292010d.jpg" /> <div>Not really doing much for me. </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 244px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533603677838038082" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TMtPOglU1EI/AAAAAAAAA60/mhHgDcBdvMY/s320/10292010e.jpg" />They were much more fun to play around with this way.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 292px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533603458948191778" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TMtPBxJ61iI/AAAAAAAAA6s/2xqzvhimVYQ/s320/10292010f.jpg" />So I attached slab bottoms to a couple, and I think I've got a new form to work with.<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533603114621186834" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TMtOtub9sxI/AAAAAAAAA6k/r_stskXdnOE/s320/10292010g.jpg" /></div></div></div></div></div>Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-83987449755957797442010-10-19T12:21:00.002-04:002010-10-19T12:28:10.248-04:00Teardrop: A Tribute to Massive Attack<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TL3G3xBivGI/AAAAAAAAA6c/nGAduDY984w/s1600/08122010e.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529794578835749986" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TL3G3xBivGI/AAAAAAAAA6c/nGAduDY984w/s320/08122010e.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I've been included in an <a href="http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cbcafa156068eef6412046c/teardrop-a-tribute-to-massive-attack">Etsy Treasury</a>! </div>Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-13587060606554593422010-10-14T08:51:00.009-04:002010-10-14T09:24:08.950-04:00Must...Keep...Blogging...I am definitely suffering from studio withdrawal. I have been unable to carve out any studio time for the last two weeks. Only one more week of preparations for the PTO Fall Festival, and I'm headed down to finish up some work in progress and clean up the mess I left.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527887473536016562" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TLcAXoJyILI/AAAAAAAAA6M/O6HaotPKS-g/s320/10142010e.jpg" />I'm in the middle of a batch of smaller baskets.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 313px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527886998716595378" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TLb_7_UAvLI/AAAAAAAAA58/JkazQ5Vd01c/s320/10142010c.jpg" /><br />I have a ware board of them tightly covered waiting for handles.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527887277070135074" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TLcAMMQqryI/AAAAAAAAA6E/pmwS32EGkEw/s320/10142010d.jpg" /> The reclaim that I spread onto plaster is cracked and getting bone-dry around the edges.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 254px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527886851045607250" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TLb_zZMgR1I/AAAAAAAAA50/WsU4OMdTwPE/s320/10142010b.jpg" /> And even wth so many boxes of Ellen Buff, I really wanted to work with a white body again for a bit. That box of Buncombe White isn't going to carry itself downstairs.<br /><br /><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527886721276698402" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TLb_r1xL3yI/AAAAAAAAA5s/5HDE3REaC4k/s320/10142010a.jpg" />Ooh! You can see a glimpse of my new-to-me Subaru Outback in the background. I have my own car for the first time in nearly 10 months. I can't promise not to bitch about the Ford anymore (that's way too much fun), but not today. </div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527890997628144626" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TLcDkwa0i_I/AAAAAAAAA6U/_h4Bo6c_36c/s320/10142010f.jpg" />In fact today is a celebration! My "baby" turns 10 today. </div>Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-4756536127245078402010-10-10T19:17:00.005-04:002010-10-10T19:50:42.117-04:00A Tupperware Party of an Art & Craft Show<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 162px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526566325510063810" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TLJOysOpxsI/AAAAAAAAA5c/KLvox2wrowY/s320/10102010c.jpg" />Back when Allison was a baby, and I had to take out an ad in the local newpaper to find a playgroup, one of the Moms who answered the ad sold Tupperware. She convinced me to host a Tupperware Party. Considering I met <em>her</em> through a classified ad, I objected that I really didn't know anyone to invite. This was back in the days when I didn't know how to say "no", so the party proceeded despite my protestation. No one came. Not a single solitary person. <div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526566173779914002" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TLJOp2_XbRI/AAAAAAAAA5U/huGJO9yjgKU/s320/10102010a.jpg" />I've just got to say this, and I really don't care who I piss off. The Art & Craft Show at the Old English Inn this weekend was the most colossal waste of my time since that Tupperware Party. I had gone to this show for the past two years as a spectator, and it looked like a good show with nice pottery, jewelry and fiber arts. When the show organizer who also owns the building called me two weeks before the show and asked if I could do the show for no booth fee, only 15% of sales, I agreed.<br /><br /><div>The Old English Inn is really an interesting building. It's the oldest, largest log structure in the South, was part of the Underground Railroad and is rumored to be haunted. However, no matter how interesting the building is nor how talented the artists are, the public won't come to a show that is not advertised. </div><br /><div>There were two other functions in Spruce Pine this weekend: the Heritage Festival and the Spruce Pine Potters Market. What traffic we did have was obviously piggy-backed from those events. Folks certainly couldn't have found their way to us by following the directional signs that looked like a third grader printed them on poster board.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526566441552400114" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TLJO5chTTvI/AAAAAAAAA5k/hewM74YemO4/s320/10102010b.jpg" />I've never had a sale go so badly. I had 4 sales, and the check I wrote for my 15% was less than $10. On the positive side, the weather was divine, so I sat on the front porch with some of my fellow artists, and we solved world hunger. </div></div>Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-39786785690069384002010-10-04T09:25:00.007-04:002010-10-04T10:25:56.711-04:00Clay & Blogs and Other HappeningsI'm not sure having a car with a built-in GPS is a good thing. I picked the kids up early from school Friday, loaded them in the car and set off for what I thought would be a 4 hour car ride to the Moore County Arts Council. I must have picked the wrong route because the trip took 5 hours. I didn't arrive in time for the group picture, because I was busy talking to a nice Police Officer in Candor. No ticket, just a warning.<br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524195299689736258" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TKniW0vjqEI/AAAAAAAAA5M/5NmXTiy7KBs/s320/10042010b.jpg" />The kids were great. Allison took loads of photos which I don't have the time to go through until later and ate all the sandwiches that Ben tried and didn't like. I did manage to convince them that it was inappropriate to climb the lovely live oak outside. Attending this reception with me was their penance since the rest of the weekend was party-time for them. Otherwise, I'll bet they would have opted to stay home.</p><p>The reception was great. I wish I lived closer and could spend more time with all of the great work. I am humbled and honored to be included with such a diverse and talented group of potters. I met Superwoman Meredith, Mark, Linda, Tracey, Hollis, Samantha among others whose names escape me, but I will remember when I go through Allison's pictures and catch up on everyone's blogs.</p><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524194133646786738" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TKnhS85QQLI/AAAAAAAAA48/VGOkUFIa0P8/s320/10042010a.jpg" />We left Southern Pines and drove to our old stomping grounds outside of Charlotte to visit old friends. The rest of the weekend is a blur, but unfortunately, Saturday was too busy for me to get to the Atherton Mill to see the Carolina's Got Art! Exhibition. I pinky-promised to come back soon to see my friends so maybe I'll squeeze in a trip before the exhibit comes down.</div>Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-91556326608359018562010-09-23T17:57:00.002-04:002010-09-23T18:17:51.234-04:00Am I Really Cut Out For This?I am the new PTO Chairperson for Ben's school. He's in 5th grade, so this is the last year I'll be able to volunteer in this capacity. I really don't mind volunteering at school. At our charter school in Monroe, I was the Library Volunteer Coordinator as well as Book Fair Chair. I have volunteered for the past two years shelving books for our part-time librarian. What can I say? I love books.<br /><br />So back to this PTO gig. As happy as I am to be involved, I really hope that I am able to take it as seriously as I should. But, how did I get here? I mean, this is the same person who threw a Tupperware Party that no one came to. And when Allison was a baby, I resorted to taking out an ad in the local paper to find a playgroup. And the only Mom who answered the ad turned out to be a bit high strung. Jay thought she was psychotic. We moved.<br /><br />I have come to the realization that there isn't much "O"rganization in the PTO. "O" stands for "Oh my goodness" the room just emptied when I asked for some help. "Oh, you schools are looking for another handout from local businesses". "Oh crap, where did I put that memo?"<br /><br />A few individuals do most of the work. I am in charge of pulling off the year's big fundraiser in a few weeks, and I'm feeling a little pressure here. I already have prehypertension, and I'm not sure this is good for my health.<br /><br />You may have noticed that I have a hard enough time organizing and motivating myself, much less trying to rally a parent base that may or may not have the time nor the inclination to get involved. It's a shame because I just heard some study that shows that a child's success in school has a direct correlation to the parents' involvement.<br /><br />So my plan is to enlist a parent in each grade to put together a parent/grandparent contact list for a directory (if the Principal approves) and have said parent contact other parents and assign tasks. We have only one class per grade so this is not a lot of parents, so not a lot of phone calls.<br /><br />I always tell my kids that many hands make light work. Do you think the parents will swallow that line? My kids don't.Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-72267902489756769352010-09-21T19:17:00.004-04:002010-09-21T19:49:14.323-04:00I Really Am a Glass-Half-Full Type of GalI'm not sure what the glass is half full of though. Perhaps it should be half full of prune juice to get things going around here. Or wine, but half a glass of wine is not nearly enough to excuse my lack of time-management skills. Any pictures accompanying this post should be of boxes: you know, the boxes that should have been shipped before now. Instead, here are the larger vases. <div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 216px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 319px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519517029472049954" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TJlDfqFmmyI/AAAAAAAAA40/dDtz5SFr_AA/s320/09212010b.jpg" />I had planned on hand-delivering my basket for the Carolina's Got Art! exhibit, but misread the delivery instructions until Saturday morning: no one available to accept work on Sunday. At least I didn't make the long drive to Charlotte to find this out. However, this did result in a quite expensive packing and shipping charge, and the box still didn't arrive on time.<br /><br /><div></div><div>Then, Michael Kline was going to deliver our pots for the Clay and Blogs: Telling a Story exhibit while he was in Seagrove this past weekend. Only he found himself in the middle of a firing cycle and cancelled the trip. No problem. I hadn't decided on which pieces to send. I still would have had to box everything up, and I don't have enough boxes or packing materials around the house.</div><br /><div>So tomorrow, I head to the Post Office to procure some packing materials, no doubt paying a premium price for my failure to properly plan. Unless there is a shipping store around here. After needing $30 worth of packing peanuts and an $11 outer box (I had the inner box already), perhaps it's worth paying someone to do the whole thing. I don't ship often, and packing up those baskets makes me pretty nervous.<br /></div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 141px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519516819616331266" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TJlDTcUGdgI/AAAAAAAAA4s/6KkTHnowlaA/s320/09212010a.jpg" />My poor planning was evident in the studio today as well. Not only had I run out of suitably soft clay, I drank a cup of caffeinated coffee which rendered me unable to throw anyway. Tomorrow is another day.</div>Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349940974323260407.post-66826429365699212932010-09-16T08:50:00.007-04:002010-09-16T09:04:41.792-04:00Carolina's Got Art!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TJIVd9cjxZI/AAAAAAAAA4k/szvKkOCoXh0/s1600/09142010z.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517496097937016210" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TJIVd9cjxZI/AAAAAAAAA4k/szvKkOCoXh0/s320/09142010z.jpg" /></a>I was notified this week that my blue basket was selected to be in the <a href="http://www.carolinasgotart.com/">Carolina's Got Art! </a>Exhibition sponsored by the <a href="http://www.elderart.com/">Elder Gallery </a>in Charlotte, NC. The show opens October 1, 2010 and will run through October 30, 2010. After that it will be travelling throughout North and South Carolina for the next year. Those locations have not yet been announced. <div><div><br /><div>Unfortunately, I will be unable to make the opening reception on October 1 due to another engagement, notably the opening of <a href="http://www.mooreart.org/programs/visual/clay-n-blogs-telling-a-story/">Clay and Blogs: Telling a Story</a> at the Moore County Arts Council. I'll be able to stop by and see the exhibit Saturday. Never has my social calendar been so full!</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 210px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 319px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517495831817429154" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TJIVOeEtIKI/AAAAAAAAA4c/dESrj1faiVI/s320/mbsignblog.jpg" /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517495573044574674" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4XKhXcbSitk/TJIU_aEcudI/AAAAAAAAA4U/Inal1cFMgDg/s320/newsign.jpg" />In other news, I invested in new signs for the studio. The old signs were fashioned using wood panels that I found lying around and the largest stencils that I could find. After nearly 2 years, it was time for an upgrade. </div></div>Kari Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903445104641842283noreply@blogger.com3