Tunnel vision…

Current view: Trimming a plate. Stacked plates readying for perfect trimming consistency. Using styrofoam to keep the rims from curling inward (which is their personal goal.) Lots of Plainsman M390 in the reclaim bucket.

As I finish up the last of the large bowls and plates for this order, the studio becomes a fine balance of final throwing, trimming, continued drying, moving to the drying room, waxing and glazing and more second firings on bisqued work. From there I can start packing things up and giving space for moving more project work through.

My already small studio feels as though it is shrinking. I need more shelving. I need more levelled surfaces. (Kids, don’t use the top of your kiln as a drying space.) And yet I don’t need more shelving, because as soon as this project is complete, the shelving I have is perfect.

This is just that space that happens near the end of a project where things back up a bit. We should give it a name. It has a sound though. When I walk into my studio I say/think “oof.” I begin reminding myself to just keep working. I turn on music - using search terms - happy energetic songs to empower women. Nothing too specific. The music begins. I choose to work rather than dance, but sometimes dancing happens too.