The Summer Slow-Burn and the Race to Holiday Pottery: A Kiln-Load of Thoughts!

The dog days of summer in St. Cloud are upon us, and while part of me wants to be lounging by a lake (maybe with a nice iced tea!), the reality for a pottery artist in July and August is… planning! Big time planning.

You see, filling a whole kiln isn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. It’s a careful calculation of clay availability, desired pieces, glaze combinations, and, most importantly, upcoming events. And with my schedule often filling up months in advance, the holidays start looming large on my mental whiteboard right about… now.

It’s a funny cycle. I’m still potentially selling summery pieces, but my brain is already buzzing with visions of pumpkins, snowflakes, and everything in between. This year, I’m particularly feeling the pinch of the Halloween season. With only about one show likely on the calendar, I know I’ll have to be strategic about what I create. I’m thinking a very limited run of those classic spooky cuties – maybe a handful of whimsical ceramic cats and some candy corn trinket dishes. Enough to scratch that Halloween itch without overcommitting.

But what I’m really focusing on right now are ornaments. Last year was surprisingly good for these little guys, and I have a theory: more variety equals more sales. So, the goal is to create a veritable forest of ceramic ornaments! Different shapes, colors, glazes, and themes. The challenge, as always, is the selling part. While in-person events are fantastic, they can be limited. This year, I’m determined to put more effort into my online presence and try selling my ornaments through my website or maybe even explore other online platforms. Wish me luck navigating the world of e-commerce! If I’m able to do it.

Then, just as the last ornament finds its home, it’ll be full steam ahead into next year’s inventory. And oh boy, do I have some exciting new projects brewing! I’m itching to tackle some larger statement pieces, things that take more time and require a different kind of focus. It’s going to be a fun challenge pushing my skills and exploring new forms.

Somewhere in the midst of this holiday hustle, I also need to carve out time for my custom order list. I have some truly wonderful commissions lined up – pieces and concepts that honestly make my heart sing because they are just so darn cute! I can’t wait to bring these personalized visions to life.

And if that wasn’t enough to keep my hands happily covered in clay, I’m also feeling a pull towards more raku firing. There’s something so unpredictable and beautiful about the process, and I’m eager to experiment more. Plus, I’ve got a little menagerie of animal ideas bouncing around in my head – a charmingly plump penguin is definitely on the “to-make” list, along with who knows what other critters might emerge from the clay!

So, while the Minnesota summer unfolds outside my studio windows, inside, the clay is being wedged, shaped, and dreamed into future treasures. It’s a marathon, this pottery life, with constant cycles of creating, selling, and planning. But it’s a marathon I wouldn’t trade for anything. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a kiln to fill!