The work of being a full-time potter is physically taxing on any day. Every so often, I get to have a day like this, when one ton of clay gets delivered onto my driveway. 

Right after taking this photo, I moved all of this clay, one 50 lb box at a time, down a flight of stairs into my basement studio. At least it wasn't up a flight a stairs. My arms and legs feel like jelly. Tomorrow there will be pain.

In my Intermediate Wheel classes, we are trying to will Spring to arrive sooner.

From left to right, the birdhouses were made by: Margaret Lukomska, Jonathan Gordy, Jenny Adams, Margaret again, Kuniko Wallis, me, Judy Goldberg-Strassler, a joint effort by Judy/Quianna Douglas, Jonathan again, Chris Landers, Carolyn Neuendorffer, a joint effort by Judy/Quianna/Melanie Choe, and Kara Duffy. 

Busy working in the background are Judy, Jenny, Jeri, Jonathan, and Melanie. Apologies to Debra Suarez and Lauren Hammer, who also made some lovely birdhouses but I couldn't find them in the studio for the photo shoot (they must've been be in the kiln). 

Yeah, the groundhog let us down, so we're taking matters into our own hands.

I spent the last month finalizing designs for my 2012 wholesale catalog, and these sample pots are now available to the public in my online store. And, for the first time ever, I uttered the words "hey that's cool" regarding Facebook, because my online store is now seamlessly integrated into my Facebook page, with a "Store" link in the left column of the page.

Does your sweetheart like handmade pottery? Buy him/her a vase or tumbler or pitcher, then fill it with a pretty bunch of flowers. This combines the intense vibrancy of live flowers, with the long-lasting beauty of ceramics. You will be so golden. 

Check out all the new work the online store here.