you like clay, it's your favorite

Here at Casa de Lanners we’ve been busy. After a long three days at the hospital we were released at 9 pm last night. Mild chaos was our first night but our first full day was great. Our wee one has an elevated billirubin so she’s on a billibed ( a light box ) to help her body process it. Every available oppertunity she’s strapped into a blanket on top of the lights. I can’t help but sing the jingle to Light Brite everytime I peek at her.

It’s a girl! 7pounds 7 oz. Delivered at 6:12 this morning. 9/9/09! Happy Birthday baby Lanners!

It’s been a crazy ride ’round here the last few weeks. I stopped teaching my ceramic classes the first week of August and left two days later for Portland. This show was nerve wracking. I worried I wouldn’t get enough finished in time, I wouldn’t sell enough to make trip worthwhile, and frankly we worried about having a baby in Portland. Unknown quantities are always scary, but especially one three days journey away and while I’m 35 weeks pregnant. All of our worries were unfounded. The husband and I worked very hard to get kilns loaded on schedule and we actually left EARLY. We arrived on Sunday and spent the beginning of the week with old friends and family. On Thursday I transferred to a hotel and the event began. It was a whirlwind of activity. The market place had rather long hours so most of the time I was at the booth meeting many wonderful people. After hours I was able to spend time with old friends and see a little bit of Portland. There were many outings to Voodoo doughnuts. I think I might have consumed my doughnut quota for the year in a matter of days. The event ended on Sunday and my dear husband and wonderful friend packed up the booth while I went off to the luminary panel. It was the perfect end to the event. On Monday we began the long plod home. It took three long days and I’m quite sure I won’t be doing that again soon. Now that we’ve returned I’m trying to get all the special orders finished from the event and get ready for the baby.

Special Note:
If you were at the event and were unable to get one of the limited edition Sock Summit mugs I am taking orders for the second run. The mugs will be slightly different and will be marked as second editions. If you are interested in getting on the list please email me at jennie(at)jenniethepotter(dot)com

Mr Lanners and I left Minneapolis yesterday afternoon for our great roadtrip to Portland. We made it to Jamestown, ND. Mmmm. Nothing says breakfast like a crockpot of gravy.

These little bowls contain hundreds of buttons and stitchmarkers. Today they will be organized and glazed. I’ve arranged for studio help this week so I can throw some last minute pots while these are being finished! Hurrah!

Why hello there blog. How ya been? Me, well I’ve been busy. Head down making pots for a big event in Portland. Lots of the standard designs, some fresh new ones, and even a limited edition for the event. Gotta go. Today’s goal 100# of clay transformed into mugs.

I took a break from the studio and visited a farm near Stillwater for some berry picking with friends. Turns out I’m a mutant magnet, finding triplets and bivalves that look more like an Everlasting Gobstopper than a strawberry. I was trumped by my friend Gretchen who found a mitten.

I’m in Ohio for Knitter’s Connection. My mom travels to the area often for work. She brought me to an outdoor sculpture in Dublin, OH. Built to honor the area’s agricultural background, these concrete ears are over six feet tall. Cool.

Last kiln before Monday’s departure. After they finish the first, bisque, firing I inspect and clean up each pot. I then wash the pots and give them one coat of clear glaze. Now they are ready to go into a kiln that slowly ramps up to approx. 2200 degrees F. Then I sit on my hands and wait for it to cool down to a reasonable temperature to open it and unload. Every kiln is like Christmas morning. I’m hoping to finish glazing and loading quickly so I can go play with the hub!

The new Summer issue of Knitty is out. In addition to all the great patterns and articles you’ll find me! There’s a wonderful little write up about my work with lots of great photos. Check it out! I’m blushing right now . . .
Thanks Knitty!