Studio Recap | 2014

Coffee in hand.  Sitting here thinking: what a year. My first year working with clay.  Creating, making, and selling my work.  A year can seem like forever, but in reality, it flew by.  Bam.  Gone. So much has happened in such a short amount of time, and it’s been amazing.  From my first wholesale orders and stockists (Pine State Flowers + Pigeonhole Home Store) to press and articles with The {well} Studio and Deeply Rooted Magazine.  Then the rush and thrill of my first holiday season.  And can we just take a minute and talk about all of the love and support on Instagram?  You guys.  You blow my mind.  You’re all so inspiring and supportive. It’s been a wild and wonderful first year!  I’m so grateful for the gift of time.  With it I’ve had the space to breathe and to work and develop my style.  To put my ideas into my hands and yours. It’s crazy to think that my original, early work (in February of 2014) was rustic succulent pots and little garden markers.  Sweet, simple little things that I still treasure.  It’s wonderful to look back and see how my style as a potter has changed over the past several months. To close out the year, I wanted to share some of my 2014 work.  Some of my favorites, and your favorites.  I plan to make this a habit moving forward, documenting my growth and change as an artist and potter. (Those espresso colored mugs are making their debut in early 2015  This winter!)

Thank you all for the constant support.  So much of this I owe to so many.  But two in particular have been the most supportive and deserve an extra thank you. My husband.  You gave me this gift of time.  Of freedom to get away from a regular 9-5, away from a desk and computer.  The gift you’ve given me of breathing room, creative space, and the encouragement you’ve given me as an artist has been unspeakable.  Unimaginable.  Unreal.  Thank you.  For the everyday and the extraordinary.   You paved the way that allowed this to happen.  God has used you to do more than you know.  Thank you. My mom.  Early in 2014 you offered your time, your knowledge, your studio, your glaze, and your kilns so that I could explore.  In the fall of 2014 you provided me with my own kiln, and tools for my own studio space.  A kiln vent.  Physical, tangible things I needed, and countless hours on the phone discussing ideas and problems.  And let’s not forget kiln repair.  For my whole life you’ve always made sure I had the tools to create and do.  To make and learn.  To grow and change.  Thank you.  The hours spent learning and celebrating and crying together over broken pots have been the foundation of something I’ll take with me throughout my entire life as a woman and as an artist. I’ve learned so much through this process about letting go.  About living fully, dependently on our Savior.  About coming back to earth each time I feel myself becoming my own little god.  A broken pot can humble you more than a lot of things.  And for all of the frustration that produced perseverance, that produced reliance and trust, that broke through my outer shell of perfectionism, for that I am so thankful to our Lord. “But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8 Thank you all.  My family, my friends, for all of the orders, the feedback, stockists, future stockists, Instagram friends turned real friends, and all of you out there who inspire me to create and make with my hands. What a wonderful 2014, and what a bright, full, exciting year is ahead in 2015! In Him, who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, (from Ephesians 3:20) Anna