Pottery Putterings

Hello world!

I have not posted much on here in the last several months in regards to pottery. I believe the last thing I posted was that we had just installed a new wheel in our studio. The past several months have been a dance of two partners: joy and frustration.

I have been overjoyed at the proximity of creating with clay. It is amazing to be able to go out to our front porch and spend time creating with clay. I have a whole list of different shapes I want to develop and have been able to make several of them 'successfully.' For me, success is usually not measured only by having a finished product. For me, success is when I have fun, work peacefully, know when to take breaks and learn from the experience. Some of the pieces I have been working on have been: 'French' butter dishes aka butterbells, a pinch pot (to left), a bowl with a handle, a garlic jar (below right) and a honey jar. See pictures for some of the unfired pieces. We are hoping to do a firing in early February.

The frustration has come from a 'handful' of things. I am still having difficulties with my wrists and hands. This definitely affects my ability to throw pottery. So far I have been taking it very easy and throwing only small pieces every once and a while. I go see a specialist tomorrow and hope to get some answers and direction. It has also been frustrating balancing family, work and pottery. Also, the fact that it is winter has been challenging as well.

Overall, it is really wonderful to have the ability to create. The studio is very much a shared space and I am excited for the possibilities that this space holds. I will be posting soon to let you know how the first firing goes. We are going to be mixing on our glazes from the raw ingredients and I will let you know how that goes as well.

Some of the books I have been looking at for inspiration and learning are: Val Cushing's Handbook, The Potter's Manual by Kenneth Clark, and Wheel-Thrown Pottery by Bill Van Gilder.

Stay tuned!

A New Year's Homily

Every 2 weeks I lead a service at Sholom Home where I work. For the last one I posted the homily that I did for the Christmas service. I have since decided I might as well post each homily that I deliver to encourage, provoke thought and just to have some consistent to share on here.
Who knows, I may even try to do something like a podcast some day. But for now, here is the New Year's homily. Enjoy. Be blessed.

The texts, which I encourage you to read are: Jeremiah 31:7-14, Psalm 147:12-20, Ephesians 1:3-14 and John 1:10-18.

"These Scriptures reveal God's heart for us, his children. They reveal his abundant goodness. Jeremiah speaks of a time when God will gather all his children and they will gorge on his lavish gifts. Paul says it was Father's pleasure to bless us with all spiritual blessings and to adopt us. John proclaims a God who is so good and loving that he becomes one of us and through him we have all received one gift replacing another.

Wow!

God is abundantly good. He is the perfect Father giving every good and perfect gift. I believe gifts are intended to be received. I believe this year God wants us to receive his lavish gifts. We need to focus on being his children and receiving his love rather than doing better or making resolutions to try harder. Paul says 'he chose us in Christ before the world was made' and that adopting us was 'his good pleasure.' We do not earn his love. We receive it freely.

Father, you are abudantly good. Help us receive your good gifts this new year. Amen.

Christmas homily

The following is a homily I shared at a beautiful Christmas service I co-led at my work, Sholom Home. The other leaders were some brothers and sisters who follow Christ through Catholicism. The resident spiritual 'pastor' Rabbi Bell was also present and shared thoughts, songs and blessings. It was a unique experience.

The readings were from Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96 and Luke 2:1-20.

"Christmas celebrates, rightfully so, with much joy, gathering of family and giving of gifts. As we take a few moments to reflect on this gift of Christ let us never forget the surprising way the gift was given.

An eternal Father bestows his son as a helpless child born to scared parents in a tiny stable. He then sends his mighty messengers to a group of despised shepherds announcing the arrival of the King and his Kingdom. They are told the sign...a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger...WHAT?!!

Have they dreamt, is it an illusion? There is only one way to know. They go stable by stable until they find Joseph, Mary and Jesus. God as a helpless baby. They return changed, praising God. Mary ponders these things in her heart.

Our response must be that of the shepherds-go and see, then glorify and praise God. Our response must also be that of Mary-ponder these things in our hearts. God has come. We are his children through the way of his Son. Today, with joy, let us receive Jesus, the greatest gift.

Child
by poetree

God became not just a man,
but a fetus.
A child they say will lead us.
This creates quite a fuss,
for those of us who are wise.
Thus we must learn to despise
The pride that is our demise
And we must realize
Humility is the only prize."

Merry Christmas (even though Jesus was not born December 25th or anytime near December. What shepherds would be keeping watch outside in winter?! Nonetheless, God has become one of us to make us one of his. WOW!!!)

Introducing......November Project!!

Well folks, it is finished! I just published the November Project poetree book. I am really excited to share this and for the possibilities of future creations. Click on the picture to check it out at your leisure and give me some feedback. Hopefully I will be able to do more of this soon.
Be sure to look through both Book I and Book II. I decided to break it up into two books, each with 15 poems. Also, make sure you do not miss the Bonus Track. It is a sneak preview of a poetree book that is yet to be released. The link is www.wix.com/mplspoetree/book. Thanks!

Pottery Studio and Poetree Book

Pottery Studio

Well, after months of waiting and construction our front porch pottery studio is 'finished.' Truthfully, we have trimming, painting and other things to finish but it is done enough. This week we went to Continental Clay and purchased a Skutt Prodigy wheel and lots of accessories. Wednesday night we had a little house party where everyone got to throw something in the new studio on the new wheel!

We have a small kiln that we hope to get installed and firing in the new year. Needless to say we are very excited for the possibilities. I am excited to see what kind of rhythm happens with family, work and pottery. The next month I am working a lot because of the holidays but hopefully in January-March I will have lots of time to throw.

Poetree Book

As previously mentioned, I am writing a poem every day for the month of November. This, November Project, has been a great creative challenge for me. The other night, with assistance from Tanner, I began work on the online book that November Project is becoming. In early December I will post a link on here to the website where you can flip through the book. Not too be arrogant, but it is really awesome! I hope you like it; I think you will. Stay tuned!!!

Here is another sneak preview of the book.

XVI.

Dust, sweep, clean

As I prepare

A place for creativity

May you prepare

A place for re-creation

Within me.

Introducing......

The November Project by poetree!!!!!

Hey everyone out there in cyberspace. I know you all check my blog several times a week and wonder, 'why is it called poetree if he doesn't write poetry and rambles randomly about pottery?'

Okay, none of you check this and few of you wonder the above question. Nonetheless, I have recently felt inspired to write poetry again. Since I have a busy life with family and work, I felt I needed something more structured. So, I decided to write at least one poem each day of the month of November! The poems will be based on observations of everyday life. Some will have words that rhyme and some will not. I might even write a haiku!

I have a few ideas of what I will do with these poems. I may simply post them on here. I may create an online poetry book that you can flip through, I may make a papercopy poetry book to share or I may do none of the above. Ha!

Anyway, just wanted to let you know. Give me your feedback on what you would like. Here is a free sampling of 'The November Project.'

V.

The last few leaves

fall from the trees

in this cool autumn breeze.

pottery update

hello everyone!

Some of you, like myself, may be wondering what is happening with me and my pottery adventure. Though it has been a slower season I am still very much excited about pottery. For the last few months we have slowly been building a pottery studio on our front porch. We hope to finish it sometime in October.

As of right now we have a small Skutt electric kiln, which needs to be installed, and a mostly finished studio space (see pictures on this post). Once the studio is complete we plan on purchasing a Skutt Prodigy wheel. Then the fun continues! I am working pretty much full time right now but anticipating that my hours will go down to more part-time in the winter. This will allow me to spend time with the family as well as practicing pottery. In the 'off' season I have been sketching, thinking and watching potters on youtube.

Stay tuned for more on the adventure. One bummer is that I have developed carpal tunnel in both wrists. Please pray that it will decrease so I can work and do pottery. Thanks. Also look for some writings to be posted soon. Shalom!