Setting Goals

Last year I posted a blog that I was going to set a goal and make X amount of pottery for 2011.  Well I didn't make my goals. Due to the economy sales were down so  I didn't need to make a lot of pottery. God knew that I didn't need a lot of pottery.

I have tried in the past to set goals and it has never worked out. Not only do I not meet them, but it also adds undo stress to my life. Being creative with my pottery also gives me peace, but I didn't do very many creative items last year. 

Years ago someone spoke a  Godly word over me. They said I was called Joyce because my life would be joyful. At the time I was in deep depressions as I used to suffer from bipolar. I also did not know whom God created me to be, as a result I was doing every thing for other people and not what God called me to be. To have my joy I must follow God.

I know that I find my joy in making pottery and God has opened many doors for me.  My goals weren't met last year as God had other plans for me. I was introduced to China paint on porcelain, which also excites me.  I also started taking drum lessons which apparently I am a natural at. I had no idea I would do either of these. They weren't in my goals.

God even impressed on me this fall not to attend our ladies bible study as he'd rather I go out to the world and witness.  It is a good study, but its not what God wants for me.  He doesn't want me to go to any more religious activities that don't enhance my life. The day after I submitted to God and said I wouldn't go to the study I witnessed to 3 people in as many days. This was confirmation that I did what God wanted.

This morning I was reading Ezekiel 29. God is cutting down Egypt due to their sin, but also in verse 16 it says, never again will Israel be tempted to rely on Egypt.  When I read this I realized I relied on setting my goals instead of following God. When I follow God I am content and happy, just like this chick-a dee.

As the old song of the 80's went, Be Happy, Don't Worry. Hopefully this year I'll just follow God and be happy and I'll see where God leads me this new and exciting year.

Who Art Thou

Every year in November our local art gallery The Muskoka Art and Crafts Gallery http://www.muskokaartsandcrafts.com/ has a very interesting fund raiser.

Local artist pick up  8 x 10 canvases from them. We then put on the canvases what ever we want and hand them back to the gallery. The art is hung on the wall without any names as to who has done the work, hence the title. All the art is sold at $45.00 and for one week people flock to the gallery to purchase original art work.  Behind each peace is the photo of the art work along with who created it. Once they have been bought the artist is revealed.

Last year was my first time doing this. I did two pieces last year and also this year.

I create the main theme out of clay and painted in the background. The finished and fired clay piece is glued on after the paint dries.

Last year I was able to go to the opening and my sail boat picture had been sold before I got there. The lady who bought it was standing in line so I was able to introduce myself. 

This year due to a snow storm of the opening night I decided not to go. When I did get there a few days later my mountain goat had been sold. 

All four of my pieces sold.

I recently won some oil paints so I think I will try this technique with oils and sell them.

Peace Be To You

With the Christmas season coming I was compelled to write about peace on the CASTTEAM blog. I thought I'd share it on my blog too.

Ephesians 1:2

"I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ."

We as Christians celebrate Christmas because it is the time God the son left his perfect place in heaven and came to live with us, to die on the cross so we may be saved from the wrath of God who gives us peace on earth.

So in this busy hectic time of preparing for Christmas, how is your peace?

I put up the tree, earlier than normal this year, because the family flies in for holidays early. It took almost all day because I also decorate the house and clean as I go too. About half way through, I thought maybe I won't bother putting it up in future years, if we don’t have the kids here to enjoy it. Then I thought. It takes one day to put it up, one day to take it down. That is 2 days out of 365 days. I can do this, especially for the beauty it brings to our home. It has been up for two weeks. The family has enjoyed, especially the old electric train of my husbands running around it. I enjoy looking at and every evening hubby turns on the lights.

Buying all those Christmas gifts can be another stress factor. I start in October and little by little I get the gifts from my list. It spreads out the money and the time. Then there is the baking and cooking of many foods we only eat once a year.  And sending out cards. Many people now use the email for this. I like cards as decorating and the pictures get used as next year’s tags or for my art. I used to write and annual letter and last year I stopped that. I got a few complaints, oh well. 

We do lots for Christmas to make it special, but how many of our friends and family would complain if every decoration wasn’t in place, every traditional baking wasn’t done, only a few, and tones of present weren’t under the tree? Maybe the last one they might complain.

 Less than one week left before Christmas and two days before we go to our daughters to meet up with the family. As usual the house got decorated, cards were sent, presents bought and wrapped and today the baking will be done. The peace is still here. Our grandson's and my father's birthday stuff is done too as they both fall in the holiday. 

 One reason for my peace is I have cut down on what I used to do. I don't get hung up on the small stuff either.  

We have a choice in life. We can make our lives stressful or stress free. It depends on how much we do and our attitude. I always say things go better in my life if I want to do something instead of have to.

In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul is taking about marriage but verse 7 can apply to anything.  ‘God has called us to make the best of it, as peacefully as we can.’

So I’ll ask you again. Is their peace in your heart this year?  Do you fret and worry or have contentment like these birds. 3 John 14  ‘Peace be to you’ 

I Am the Potter: You Are the Clay

We live in a microwave society; but God uses slow cookers.

I’ve been told it takes 12 years to become a good potter. I’ve been at it for 8 years, part time. Be it12 years or 8, pottery is something that I will always be learning to do. Taking a lump of clay and making it into a mug, a sculpture or even a vase is exciting. The best part is I get to decorate it. I feel I have only touched the tip of the iceberg in pottery. Learning to make pottery is a slow cooker process.  I will always be tweaking and improving my pottery.

God works like this in our lives.  “I am the potter and you are the clay.”

The first thing I do when starting a clay project is to take the clay and wedge it, which is similar to kneading bread. This aligns the molecules causing the clay to become smooth.

God some times has to pound at our lives to align us to Him and to mold our self will into His will, smoothing out our rough spots.

Imagine my shock if my clay said to me, ‘make me into the most exquisite vase, not a plain mug’. That would be absurd to think this would happen, but how often do we do this with God, the one who created us and knows us better than we know ourselves?

After I have created bowls, cups, vases, dishes, animals, any thing I like, I place the piece a self under plastic, which allows it to dry slowing, preventing it from cracking. During the drying time, about 2 weeks, I will take a peak at the pottery to see it progress.

In my life with God there have been many times when I feel God has ignored me. Have I been set up on the shelf to dry off slowing after he has worked on me? God has not ignored me, but is checking up on my progress, anxiously waiting for the drying time to end.

When the clay is bone dry, no moisture left in it, I place it in a kiln and fire it to about 1800 degrees F. It takes several hours to fire the clay, then a few days for the clay to cool down before I can take the bisque ware out of the kiln. Now I can give it color and make it unique by painting on glazes and or decorations. Back into the kiln it goes, but up to 2195 degrees. At the end of the day the kiln has finished, but again I have to wait a few days before I can see what the pottery looks like. If I take it out too early, before it has cooled down the shock of the cool air will cause the glaze to crack. It is all in the timing of the clay and I can’t rush it. God knows he can’t rush us or we might crack too.

Sometimes I will put a luster finish of gold, or pearl and it will need another firing in the kiln. Most pottery is only in the kiln twice, but the fancier it is the more times it is fired.  Often the brightest finishes are some of the last to be applied. In some of the high gloss glazes I can see my reflection.  

 

I see each kiln firing as God’s refining fires of tribulation. The more he works on us, and the more heat we endure, the more our lives can shine his glory. People will be able to see the reflection of Jesus our creator in us. It takes patience to do pottery. God takes time and has abundant patience with us, which I am thankful for.  

When we allow God to work on us our true personality comes out into the light.

Clay can be made into almost anything. There is such a wide variety of finishes and uses of pottery; earthenware to matte finishes to high gloss and several in between.  With hand built pottery no two pieces are exactly a like.

 Our beauty of whom God created us to be is unique. No one is the same.

My pray is that each and everyone find out who God has created you to be. May your life reflect the glory of God so we become the kingdom of God’s on earth.   

A God Moment

I love those God moments.

For about a year I have been looking at China painting for pottery. A couple of weeks ago while at the Bohemian Art Gallery and Cafe (bohemiancafeandgallery.com) I was talking to a lady, a Christian. Some how China painting got into the conversation and she said she knew someone who taught it. I signed up for the course in a couple of hours this tile is what I painted. Definitely this is for me. I took to it easily. Can't wait for the other courses, buy my own supplies and make my own porcelain to paint on. 

So little time, so much fun to enjoy!

Sushi Any One

For a potter almost anything can become a tool or a form. Several years ago I found these little dishes. I remembered ones similar to these from my childhood. They were thin metal stamped into designs our mother's used to make fancy jelly molds.

Metal Jello Mold

Since that is not my thing I thought I could use them to make little dishes.

Soya Sauce In the Dish

After I made a few I realized they would be the perfect for dipping soya sauce when serving sushi.

If only I had some sushi.

Soya is not the only thing you can put in them, mustard for ham, salsa for nachos, dips for chips and vegetables. They are the perfect size for single servings.

 

I make them in several colours. 

You can see more on my etsy site. 

 

Follow Jesus

Every second Monday I right a bog on the Christian Street team blog, from Etsy.

The one I wrote this morning was inspired by my previous blog "Its All in Placing of the Hands". I realized that learning to turn pottery the correct way improved my pottery and this is similar to listening to Jesus and doing it his way. It too will help your life go smoother.

You can read the complete blog on http://castteametsy.blogspot.com/