The grind.

Well I still have not put together my "making of the Potter Stone" posts. My hours at work have been off the wall busy and erratic.

Here is an example of current balance of work and art.



Crazy huh? Its a picture from work. I came in to start making some cheese and I found these lids (for 40 pound molds) stacked on top of longhorns (which get sliced up to make mini wheels of cheese) stacked on top of more lids on top of a milk jug. No idea how they did not topple. This is how life has felt with balancing life, work, and the art.

OK. it was just an excuse for posting this cool picture, but I thought it was a good metaphor. Anyway some big changes have happened in the cheese world. At first I thought I would be loosing my job due to changes between the two locations that my employer makes cheese. They make cheese in Grafton (where I am a cheese maker) and Brattleboro VT. Bratt (as we call it at work) is way to far. I already travel an hour each way. Bratt, my co-workers have told me, would be an hour 40 minutes each way. That is just crazy. I thought they would let me go since they are moving almost all operations to bratt but they kept me on to make the cave aged cheese (which I was already involved in) and specialty/ contact cheese.

This was great for 2 reasons:

1. I do love making cheese

2. I still bring home the benefits.

Got to do what you got to do.

I am not ready to try full time or quasi full time pottery. So much research and decisions yet to happen. So I will continue making cheese and pottery when it allows. It looks like when my employer makes the move though I will get some more time in the studio. I hope I make the best of it. It is where I want to be.

Talk to you later.
~D.S

The Story...

The Story…

Prologue:

After taking two adult education pottery classes, David developed his first pottery studio in Scituate Massachusetts. The studio initially consisted of one pottery wheel and small tools in a shed in the backyard of his childhood home. When faced with the limitations of firing the pottery without a kiln, he researched ancient methods of firing. After many exploding pots, David developed his technique in alternative firing.

This is David’s first studio. It consisted of one small window and no heat. He also shared this space with lawn equipment, snow blower, chainsaw and other various tools.




When we moved to our house in Vermont in August 2007, David was ecstatic to finally have a bigger space in an actual heated building. David painted the basement and set up shop. However, as you can see, this “studio” quickly became cluttered, small and MESSY.





In July 2009 David moved into his latest (AND LAST!) studio. This studio is a 520 square foot converted garage attached to our house. Since the room was carpeted with plywood underneath, we had a concrete floor poured and sealed. It was important to choose a floor that could withstand dust, water and be easily cleaned. David bought several shelving units to display his work.

We haven’t told our cat Archimedes that this isn’t his playroom yet. He loves the big open space to run around in and the cool floors in the summer.


David now enjoys throwing in a spacious studio. He has three wheels, a large drafting table, and shelving. David also made a chalkboard to draft his creations.



Finally, my favorite part of the room…




We are very lucky this propane fireplace was already in this room. We are planning on setting up a sitting area to relax.

We could not end our first post in 3 years without thanking our friends and neighbors (we use neighbors loosely in Vermont, they are four miles away) at a Dozen Eggs Bake Shoppe for their help, encouragement and inspiration with our blog, (along with the delicious cupcakes and cookies!)

Dave will be right along to post He is making cheese right now.

~ A.S.