Small Things Around The House

Some days I think I may be a little insane.

It is usually when I am loading a glaze kiln and am not in the mood to do it...

The picture above is looking down three rods full of the small earring size pendants that I loaded yesterday. Every piece has to be suspended on these little hooks so that the entire piece  can be glazed without any sharp spots.

As I finished loading the kiln, I quick did a look over to make sure that nothing was touching, and one of these pieces dropped down to the bottom.

This meant that I had to get a small wire and try to fish that one small piece out without knocking any more off. I kept thinking - this is like playing that game "Operation" where you used small tweezers to get out the game pieces without touching the sides to avoid that annoying buzzing sound...

I did manage to get that single piece without much issue. But I can't help but to think there is a much better way to load and fire kilns - especially the smaller pieces. So my brain is in that mode to come up with something that I can load small pieces fast and easy (not quite so easy when you consider all the parameters: the rods/wire sag at a certain temp. Weight and space is also a factor). 

And of course, after a trying few hours of loading kilns - I've got my little helper around to get the house stuff done (although, she usually makes more of a mess than she cleans...).

It's these small things around the house that keep me going day to day...

Small Things Around The House

Some days I think I may be a little insane.

It is usually when I am loading a glaze kiln and am not in the mood to do it...

The picture above is looking down three rods full of the small earring size pendants that I loaded yesterday. Every piece has to be suspended on these little hooks so that the entire piece  can be glazed without any sharp spots.

As I finished loading the kiln, I quick did a look over to make sure that nothing was touching, and one of these pieces dropped down to the bottom.

This meant that I had to get a small wire and try to fish that one small piece out without knocking any more off. I kept thinking - this is like playing that game "Operation" where you used small tweezers to get out the game pieces without touching the sides to avoid that annoying buzzing sound...

I did manage to get that single piece without much issue. But I can't help but to think there is a much better way to load and fire kilns - especially the smaller pieces. So my brain is in that mode to come up with something that I can load small pieces fast and easy (not quite so easy when you consider all the parameters: the rods/wire sag at a certain temp. Weight and space is also a factor). 

And of course, after a trying few hours of loading kilns - I've got my little helper around to get the house stuff done (although, she usually makes more of a mess than she cleans...).

It's these small things around the house that keep me going day to day...

Buridan's Ass: decisions actually...

Ok, thinking a bit more about Burdain's Ass brings me to the conclusion that I won't "starve" because my life will be fulfilled with being a mom, being a wife, being an artist (of sorts), being a friend, and all the other things that I want in my life...

I have decided and without really realizing it... Now I just have to be conscious about the decisions I make and how they affect my being a wife and mom. I have taken certain steps in my life to get to this point and I am very satisfied with them. I don't live through regrets or second guesses. 

I welcome the realizations that come with making mistakes (may not like the consequences though).

So my choice is to put efforts forth to make sure that I don't overwhelm myself and by putting my small family unit before all else as often as possible. And with that, it is time for me to get into the studio and start to work on pendants & orders so I can have time later to dedicate myself to Chloe & visiting with family and not worrying about all the "business" stuff I need to do.

Thanks for reading my venting... Motivation is here, and along with some coffee and sunshine outside - is here to stay for the next few hours...

Buridan's Ass: decisions actually...

Ok, thinking a bit more about Burdain's Ass brings me to the conclusion that I won't "starve" because my life will be fulfilled with being a mom, being a wife, being an artist (of sorts), being a friend, and all the other things that I want in my life...

I have decided and without really realizing it... Now I just have to be conscious about the decisions I make and how they affect my being a wife and mom. I have taken certain steps in my life to get to this point and I am very satisfied with them. I don't live through regrets or second guesses. 

I welcome the realizations that come with making mistakes (may not like the consequences though).

So my choice is to put efforts forth to make sure that I don't overwhelm myself and by putting my small family unit before all else as often as possible. And with that, it is time for me to get into the studio and start to work on pendants & orders so I can have time later to dedicate myself to Chloe & visiting with family and not worrying about all the "business" stuff I need to do.

Thanks for reading my venting... Motivation is here, and along with some coffee and sunshine outside - is here to stay for the next few hours...

Buridan's Ass

Today my sister April and I were sitting and talking while Chloe was napping and we happened across a book on Philosophical Ideas that you should be familiar with. And Buridan's Ass was one of the ideas that struck a note within me . It describes exactly where I am right now (except that I'm not going to starve...). I have a lot of stuff to do, but can't decide where to start, so nothing is getting done.

Then I think. I am at a crossroads in my life. Being a mom has taken priority for me over making my porcelain pendants. Tucson made me realize this. I love being with my beady friends, but missing out on time with Dave and Chloe made me come to the conclusion that I only have so much time to be a mom. And right now - that is where my heart is.

Don't get me wrong... I still want to make stuff - but I want to take my work past just the technical side of working with clay. I want to combine my passion for working with plants, observing wildlife, and watching Chloe grow and discover into my work. Now I have to discover how to make that happen...

Buridan's Ass

Today my sister April and I were sitting and talking while Chloe was napping and we happened across a book on Philosophical Ideas that you should be familiar with. And Buridan's Ass was one of the ideas that struck a note within me . It describes exactly where I am right now (except that I'm not going to starve...). I have a lot of stuff to do, but can't decide where to start, so nothing is getting done.

Then I think. I am at a crossroads in my life. Being a mom has taken priority for me over making my porcelain pendants. Tucson made me realize this. I love being with my beady friends, but missing out on time with Dave and Chloe made me come to the conclusion that I only have so much time to be a mom. And right now - that is where my heart is.

Don't get me wrong... I still want to make stuff - but I want to take my work past just the technical side of working with clay. I want to combine my passion for working with plants, observing wildlife, and watching Chloe grow and discover into my work. Now I have to discover how to make that happen...

Google takes Internet to villages

I have read this news article - wherein Google takes Internet to the villages in India. They have an Internet enabled bus that will camp in villages and experience the villagers to get a flavor of the Internet...

Once a villager is convinced, and finds the immense potential of the Net, they might just adopt the medium in one form or another...

Hmmm...a nice way to bridge the great Indian 'Digital Divide'... but, reminds me of an old Hindi saying "Rahne ko ghar nahin, sara jahan hamara"

Will these people who struggle with the lack of basic amenities and infrastructure.. find Internet of any use that will change their day to day struggle. What value add would Google search engine give to these people??

Interesting though, I will need to follow this project of Google and see its effectiveness..

For the news article - read here

Cheers

Santosh

Google takes Internet to villages

I have read this news article - wherein Google takes Internet to the villages in India. They have an Internet enabled bus that will camp in villages and experience the villagers to get a flavor of the Internet...

Once a villager is convinced, and finds the immense potential of the Net, they might just adopt the medium in one form or another...

Hmmm...a nice way to bridge the great Indian 'Digital Divide'... but, reminds me of an old Hindi saying "Rahne ko ghar nahin, sara jahan hamara"

Will these people who struggle with the lack of basic amenities and infrastructure.. find Internet of any use that will change their day to day struggle. What value add would Google search engine give to these people??

Interesting though, I will need to follow this project of Google and see its effectiveness..

For the news article - read here

Cheers

Santosh

Google takes Internet to villages

I have read this news article - wherein Google takes Internet to the villages in India. They have an Internet enabled bus that will camp in villages and experience the villagers to get a flavor of the Internet...

Once a villager is convinced, and finds the immense potential of the Net, they might just adopt the medium in one form or another...

Hmmm...a nice way to bridge the great Indian 'Digital Divide'... but, reminds me of an old Hindi saying "Rahne ko ghar nahin, sara jahan hamara"

Will these people who struggle with the lack of basic amenities and infrastructure.. find Internet of any use that will change their day to day struggle. What value add would Google search engine give to these people??

Interesting though, I will need to follow this project of Google and see its effectiveness..

For the news article - read here

Cheers

Santosh