A Plea for the Handmade Object

I turned to my journal the other day to get myself through what seems to be the annual January funk, when I realized that I was on my last page.  I must admit that I immediately went to Amazon to order a new one, but then stopped myself.  Instead I turned to Etsy, a site for handmade and vintage items where I have been selling my pottery.  I found numerous journals available in all shapes and sizes, lined and unlined, fabric and felted.  I chose one that was particularly pleasing and it was promptly mailed to me from an individual artisan right here in the United States.  Inside the cover there was a handwritten note to me, thanking me for my business from the very woman that made the journal.  To me, this whole transaction was very satisfying.  Although I would prefer to buy from a local artisan right here in northern New Mexico, I recognize that any shopping I do will be with three young children in tow.  As much as I would like to traipse through the narrow streets of Santa Fe or attend the regular Artist Markets looking for that something special, it's just not the place that I am in.  Since that is a limiting factor for me, I will turn to places like Etsy to support the individual artisan who is trying to make an honest living.  I will know who made them, have a personal interaction with them, and feel more satisfied in the end.  It will not be from some unknown factory with a logo stamped on it.


This year my stocking was full of such original items:  a high quality hand-cut leather belt made specifically for my waistline, and a wallet and business card holder made by a woman in Alaska.  I can only hope that my customers feel the same satisfaction that I feel when I use these items.  I sold a lot of pottery to locals here in Dixon during the studio tour and the holiday bazaar.  I have had many of them stop to tell me how much they are enjoying their purchases and I find that very gratifying.  I put a great deal of myself into my work, and it is nice to have that appreciated.

In this age of "one-click shopping," it is important to hold on to our personal interactions.  An artisan with an entrepreneurial spirit should be considered before turning to the anonymous factory.  Is this the part where I start waving the American flag and reminding you about our American values?  Not today, but I do encourage you to give it all some thought and support the rugged individual.

Happy New Year

The holidays are over.  I have returned from my travels.  I have cleaned out all of my pottery from the gallery now that the holiday bazaar is over.  Out with the old, in with the new....

The New Year is always a time for reflection.  How did last year go?  What will I do differently this year?  New goals are set, resolutions are made.  In my personal life, it always seems to be the same.  I always resolve to exercise more and I also recognize that I need to step out of my introverted shell a little more often--the side of me that my private studio nurtures so well.  This year I am also thinking about where I am going with my pottery.  I am determined to make a raku kiln this year.  I am fascinated by this firing and love the thought of experimenting with it.  I am also thinking about what new venue I will sell at and how to prepare for that. I don't have an answer for that one yet, but I am setting a goal of finding another venue.

So, I got back to work in the studio this weekend with all of these things in the back of my mind.  I was quickly reminded of how much physical work throwing is after taking quite a bit of time off.  With tired hands and forearms, I put the handles on my teacups and trimmed up my saucers today.  These are all part of a larger special order, my largest commission to date.  Not a bad way to start the new year.