After all, I decided not to take on my old job in retail again; I don't have enough time and it would require a restructure of all our finances. So, now it's just me and the clay and hours and hours of hard work.

Loving it!

I took part in the local Open Studios recently and I never worked so hard in my life. EVER. It was pretty much studio from 8 am to sometimes 9 or 10 pm, firing every other day in my studio partners kiln. I sold some work, which is always nice, but "just" the ceramic jewellery I've been working a bit on lately. I don't think my other work was right for this particular setting; it's much more gallery type pieces, but it was lovely to get feedback and to chat to so many people about my work and my visions and ideas. We did have hundreds of visitors and it was incredibly busy at times!

I have access to using my studio partners kiln now; she's moved it into the kiln room where our group is based so with her blessing I can pretty much fire whenever I want. Not whatever though, which is still frustrating. I can't do my paper saggars or any combustibles at all now, so a raku kiln with all the trimmings in next on the list of business purchases.

There's no way to explain how much I feel I made the right choice to leave my retail job to run my own business; I had some brilliant work-mates and I did really enjoy talking to customers and the thrill of helping someone pick things for their home (not to mention all the sales experience and patter I learned!), but in the end this is what I was meant to do.

Starting to plan a first exhibition now; I'd rather do it in a group than solo the first time so I'm sounding out if my other ceramics friends are interested. The only thing I worry about it that there's only really one of them I completely trust (well, sort of two, but I'm not sure if the other is still making or interested in making) to chip in and help with all the things that will need done. But as with all other things....

...only time will tell!

Today was my last day of work.

Yep.

I was offered a temp position of 8 hrs a week, at the same store, and I've accepted it, after reviewing the finances and realizing it would make things easier. I'll be starting back there in mid-November. There will be optional overtime available as we head into the Craziness that is X-Mas in Retail-land.

So what am I working on right now in the studio?

Well.

I have 2 main projects I'm working on at the moment, one unnamed one which is based around Swedish/Norse folklore and myth. The 2nd one has the working name 'Thought & Memory' and deals with what I'm referring to as 'inherited memory'; being able to remember things you never experienced and having very strong feelings connected with those 'inherited memories' because they were told to you and permeated your life. At this point I'm working with my own family and stories I was told about other members of my family as I grew up. I've taken some WIP photos, and will be posting them in my scraps soon. I'll give a shout-out and link them when I do.

I bought 4 bags of clay today and can't wait to get stuck in this week!

Short and sweet:

I've handed in my notice at work and from 2nd week of October I will be going for doing my artwork full time.

I'm also, depending on funding, starting an introductory course in teaching 16+, and will most likely be doing some kind of volunteer work in relation to ceramics.

I have been asked if I'm interested to come back as a temp at work for X-mas, so far I have said yes but I really need to think about it now, if I really want to.

This is my leap of faith.

If not now, when?

Still working away, both in the studio and my retail job (the one that's bringing in the bucks at this moment in time). It's funny how both seem to have picked up at just about the same time and I'm quite excited about what's going on with, and at, both of them.

There were some issues with Health & Safety at the studios so the group didn't have access for about 3 weeks while the Fire Dept. looked into things and appropriate Fire H&S equipment was fitted. Then I had to wait to get my H&S induction completed; it was hard to fit in with when I wasn't working in the shop. But I got back in eventually and fired another bisque at end of last week, which I hope went well as I had to leave my things with the girl I share my studio space with, as I was going off to work in the Birmingham branch of the company for 4 days. I just got back last night after an amazing but very challenging and busy time away and as I have a day off from the shop I'll be in the studio for a few hours today working on things.

The biggest issue right now is finding a kiln to fire in for the post-bisque firing. The Symbiosis vessels have salt and seaweed inside the paper saggars and since salt corrodes kiln elements in an electric kiln I'm having problems locating someone with a kiln that will let me fire in it... What I really need is access to a gas kiln! Also, firing combustibles obviously creates smoke and people don't want that in their workshops either, so again, need to find someone with a kiln who won't mind... My first stop to check will be the arts department of the local college to see if they a) have a gas kiln and b) would let me use it. I'm really hoping so! Next step if that falls through would be to put up a notice at one of the arts centres for a kiln share with a local potter.

I'm still feeling very positive about things and positively buzzing with energy from the Birmingham trip. I really, really, REALLY hope going back to "my" shop on Friday won't be a downer...

I've now had my studio space for almost a month. I don't have as much time there as I would like, but that may change before too long. Not going to give any more details so I don't jinx it.

Today I made 3 small pinch pots; the first things I've really made in the studio! I've been going back and working on some old unfinished pieces as well, but it's nice to feel the clay in/on my hands again. It's damn brilliant actually!

I wish I had more time to get to know the other people in the group. Most of them seem nice, some stop and chat for a while when I bump into them, some merely say "hi" and disappear to their own space. Still feeling a bit like the new kid in class.

I'm currently working or planning a few different projects at the same time; I'm still looking to engage with the 'Symbiosis' project that is so dear to my heart, as well as a tea set (that one is going to be interesting!) and 2 projects that incorporate graphics/transfers. The group has an outdoors exhibition in mid-August so if not before then I will be exhibiting some of my work locally with the rest of the bunch.