Inspiration

As artists, we are frequently asked about what inspires us.  We have realized that it is not just one thing or one aspect of our lives that influences our designs. In some ways we are typical artists; always thinking, learning and exploring. In other ways, we are a typical husband and wife raising children, making dinner, paying bills and all the rest. But as to what inspires our art, it is normally a mixture of many things that fall into the cracks of our everyday life.  Our inspirations are nature, art, each other, our kids, dreams, memories, desires, even stress. And the list goes on. However, not all of what inspires us translates literally into our work. Sometimes our ideas come from an inner release from the normalcies of our lives.

Good Morning

We are all sitting around this morning watching cartoons, eating our yogurt and muffins, just enjoying this quiet moment. The last week was filled with Maddi's birthday party and squeezing in all the work we could in preparation for a show next week. Television is a rare occurrence in our house, but we can't help but use it to our advantage once in a while. However, there is never a dull moment around here. Maddi has already found a lightning bug in the house and Simon just turned to me and said that he had a "wee-wee". Looks like my attention needs to be on them.....

Chocolate

We both gave up chocolate for lent.  But since Sandy is not here, I need to only speak for myself on the subject. When we decided, it was a bit whimsical and I must say that my initial thoughts were more about trying to regulate my diet because I have a bit of a sweet tooth. It was only the next day after dinner that my decision hit me. What was I thinking! At night, for me there is a need for that sweet taste of melting chocolate after my meal.  It seems more like a reward for getting through another day. And by that "another day" I mean going through all of the motions and emotions from waking up, to somewhere between just before the kids take a bath or just after they are in bed.  The funniest is when I have sneaked a piece of something and they can smell it on my breath.   I don't need much on most days, just a taste.  It is an instant mood swing...for the better.
I bring this up tonight because it is the eve of Easter Sunday.   I had the job of putting the kids Easter baskets together. We do not give them much candy, but they have been on a few egg hunts this week and their quota of plastic eggs full of chocolate is through the roof!   I realized, as the smell of chocolate was overpowering that Sandy is in bed reading, the kids are in bed asleep; what a perfect opportunity to cheat!  I absolutely did not, and it was not the first time that I could have.  The fact that Sandy and I got in this together really helped curve my temptation.  Maybe because of competition, maybe because "misery loves company." I do know that I have come to terms with a few things about myself. I am honest to a fault on many occasions.  I will never give up chocolate again.

The Kiln Shed

Sandy opening the kiln.

A decent firing with a new piece and many glaze tests.

The glaze turned out beautiful, but it cracked up the side.

The patio.

Our gas kiln and shed is a labor of love.  Sandy built the shed a few years ago and we bought a home made, used kiln from a local camp.  We have continually transformed the kiln from the burners to the chimney, and soon we will be re-doing the top because of a terrible sag. We have had many successful firings and many poor firings.  It's been hard to nail down a red glaze because of the inconsistency of the kiln itself.  We have developed one new glaze pattern, but have not added it to production yet.  The shed sits at the edge of our flat, fenced in area that looks over the woods behind our house.  We created a cozy patio to sit, enjoy and glass of wine and chat while the kiln fires.  There is still a bit of sprucing up that we intend to do like plantings around the base, trim around the windows and to finish the chicken coop. More on the coop later.  We never have a lack of projects around here!