Mudita Monday - 10 June 2013

My Mudita Monday...a day late.  My apologies!

Today, I want to recognize an Etsy seller, who has become a very good friend.  We've never met face to face, though we have conversations as if we've been friends forever and are meeting for a cup of coffee.  We are both planning our weddings, and I am soo happy for her success in her Etsy shop, as well as in her life.  She is kind hearted, friendly, caring, and always goes the extra mile; not only in business relations, but in personal as well.  She is always sending me ideas for my ceramics and offering me inspiration; letting me know that I am on her mind, even if we haven't chatted in the last few days. 

Today, I want to celebrate Mei Ho, of Myoga Craft Cave & Etchy Things.  You can find her Etsy shop HERE.
She is also on Facebook.  You can find her business page HERE.
You can find her website HERE.

THANK YOU Mei, for your friendship, our business partnership, and helping to spread the idea/concept of mudita.  I am blessed to have you as a friend, and wish you nothing but prosperity, happiness, and much success!! 

Fighting Through the Pain

Yesterday I went grocery shopping with my fiance and cousin and discovered what my limit is.  (ALWAYS looking for that silver lining...ha).  My legs started hurting after 30 minutes of walking, pushing the cart and using it as a "walker".  Took us a total of 45 minutes to finish everything.  Needless to say, I was a hurting unit.  Today wasn't a whole lot better.  But I had "work" to do. 

When you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.  :)  My pottery and ceramics allows me to zone out and fight through the pain.  Today was just such a day.  I had a lot of pieces to glaze and forced myself to get it done.  Lots of little trinket plates with various stamped impressions, pendants, and several custom orders.  My cat plate was one of them...they are quite popular!  The display on the shelf changes with each plate, so each one will always be unique. 

Also in the kiln is a lighthouse light/nightlight.  First one I've made and really like how it turned out.  I'm hoping that the glaze job I did with my cousin turns out just as well and highlights the awesomeness of the piece!  hehe 

I have several more custom orders that I need to start working on.  I love custom orders, and made to order items, as they give me something to focus on.  Rather than the stabbing pain in my legs, I instead focus on the creative aspect of my pieces.  The detailed hand painting some of them require.  the hand-built pieces that require extra attention.  When I'm in the middle of the creative process, I zone out.  It can be a nice reprieve from the pain.  But the moment I come out of the zone, the pain is no longer blocked, and it comes back with a vengeance.  Tonight is such a night.  After my glazing marathon, and starting the glaze kiln; I am in my wheelchair.  Ah well.  So is life.  There are good days and bad days....and today is just "one of those days".

I know my posts are kind of all over the place right now.  Thank you for staying with me.  I'm trying to get my mind back into the habit of writing with fluidity.  I used to write quite fluidly without much thought; but now it's more difficult.  I lose my train of thought, have a hard time finding the right word, difficulty explaining certain things...just part of the package I guess.

Anyway...THANKS for all your support.  I love feedback and critiques..so please leave me comments.  I'm open to corrective criticism.  It's the only way I'll get better!

<3

New Traditions

Sitting in the living room alone tonight while my fiance has been in bed for hours, I'm left with late night television and my thoughts.  2012 has been a hard year for a lot of reasons.  I am forever the optimist...always finding the silver lining in every situation.  My fiance and I are looking for a home closer to where my son lives with his father to make things less difficult for my son (Side note - my son lives with his dad due to my health.  long story short.  One of these days I'll get more in depth with the explanation...).  But looking for a house that works with what I need as far as accessibility (need to be able to get around in the wheelchair), and what my fiance wants as far as land, and being in a good school for Caden...and still trying to find something within our price range...HA.  NOT happening...  But then things started getting busier with my business.  Ya know the saying that when one door closes, look for the open window??  Or something along those lines...This may be it.  Patience is not my forte, but I may need to embrace it for this house hunt.  My business is growing in popularity and sales...perhaps the increase in sales and exposure is the window that opened up for us for finding the right home...Silver linings in every situation...  :)

Along those same lines...I was speaking to a friend of mine that made one helluva suggestion.  I am thinking of starting a limited edition ornament for each month, that will only be created during that specified month.  I have a few ideas floating around...but would LOVE your suggestions.  What kind of limited edition ceramic ornaments would YOU like to see??  I was thinking of an edited version of the Mayan Calender for January 2013...We survived the apocalypse!  :-D  Looking forward to your thoughts!

TTFN