Friday, December 19, 2008

Waiting

I am waiting...waiting for the house to sell, waiting for Joel's flight to get in, waiting to know our future. It is easy to get frustrated but I know it is all for a reason and I have to find joy in the process. I just received a wonderful Christmas letter reminding me of a few important things..."that although our family [and country] has had enormous change in 2008 both exciting and unsettling at the same time; that it is comforting to view our shifts as manageable relative to the rise and fall of kingdoms, the discovery of new worlds , and the brutishness of prior epochs."

It is important to see the joy in every day, every change, and every minute of this waiting!

smart guy, that Roy Dunbar, CEO Network Solutions, LLC

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Friday, November 21, 2008

"When one door closes..."


I just found out that my piece titled "When one door closes..." was chosen as the gift for the honored guests of the RAIN When One Door Closes" art exhibit /auction hosted at Myers Park Baptist Church. Around 120 people came to view the film "For The Bible Tells Me So" and participate in the silent auction. They raised over $2700 for the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN)!

My friend Charley wrote, "the Welcoming and Affirming Fellowship chose to honor Fran and George Kerr for their decades of advocacy for LGBT justice issues by dedicating the evening to them AND presenting them with your beautiful piece. The WAF chose your piece because it spoke so poignantly to their work of opening doors. So we collected donations from members and presented ever $150 to RAIN for the piece with more to come in."

I am so honored!!!

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Moving to Virginia

Ok its a done deal...We are moving to Northern Virginia! House is on the market, trying to find replacements for my teaching gigs and I am fairly excited! The girls are on board and Joel is so happy with his new opportunity. The area we are looking at is Louden County Virginia and we really like the town of Leesburg, VA. We shall see. The area is big time Vineyard and Horse country and is just beautiful. I am hopeful to find a home with some land and "studio" space. Wish us luck, I will keep our progress posted.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Could it be nearing the end of summer already?


I am getting ready for my fall classes and a workshop that I will be giving at the Levine Jewish Community Center in September. I am going to teach the seniors group at the JCC and I believe 2 handbuilding classes. I am also booked to do a Menorah workshop as well in November up in Davidson at the Creative Art Exchange. Busy, Busy... I have decided not to do the Fall Barn Sales this year. It was a hard decision... It is always so much fun and a great way to catch up with friends, but I just don't have enough inventory - bottom line.
We just got home from a great weekend in the mountains and we are all refreshed. We are going to head up to Ohio next weekend for my Grandmother's funeral. She went very quickly and will be missed by her entire family. It will be great to see everyone in Ohio and introduce the girls to my distant cousins. Then we have one short week before school starts! HOOO HAAA! The girls are excited and I am almost ready as well... I enjoy my summers with the girls so much, but can tell they are ready to get back to friends and to more of a set schedule. I am ready as well to get my new teaching schedule going! Ahh, the end of summer is upon us...there is a cool crisp tinge to the air this morning and it does make one start thinking of cooler days and crisper mornings and all those wonderfully colored leaves!!!

Monday, June 23, 2008

summer summer summer

I taught my first kids class last week at Charlotte Country Day School and it was a blast! I had 10 great kids and the time just flew by. This week is vacation bible school and the kick off was today. The girls are having a wonderful time and I am teaching the art component. I cannot wait for a week with "nothing" to do! We are full swing into swim meet season and the girls are doing great and I am itching to get back to the wheel... Just a couple more days... I have been sketching and I have my glaze recipes and ideas for fall down pat!

On a sad note, my grandmother is failing...she is at home in Florida with hospice coming several times a week. She has lived a wonderful 92 years and we are sad, but also hoping she will not have to suffer. It all happened very quickly and she has had a great year of travelling from Ohio, South Carolina and Florida visiting great grandchildren and others who love her so much. The girls in their ever optimistic outlook, were not sad just excited that she was going to see Great Grandpa Skidmore soon in heaven.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Summer

OK...I am truly mortified...I apparently wrote down the wrong time for my meeting at the JCC. I showed up 10 minutes "early" to find the group already in progress... if they only knew how obsessed I am about being on time. I am sure I turned 3 shades of red. eeekk! It was so great to see Fran and get her insight on her classes. She has a great file folder that she is going to copy and have available for all of the instructors. I am sad to see her go. She is going to be missed by so many people.


Maggie had swim team today, and Kate and I went hiking while she swam. We had a great discussion about sun beams and frogs. Afterward we all went on to church to work on some VBS decorations. THEN.... we took Maggie to Occupational Therapy...what a day! She listened to Carulli and was wired for sound when she came out. Apparently, the music is very rhythmical and structured and very predictable. It is supposed to help her attention, and organize the body through time. It is helpful for those who seem unconneted to their body and have difficulty with midline organization and integration of their R/L sides of the body...whoah... I am going to journal her activities tomorrow and note any differences. I need to listen to this when I throw clay! I will report back.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

It's Hot

Last day of school for the girls. My kiln load partially worked...I got the surface finish I was looking for. Just a few more tweaks and I am ready to roll! I am meeting with Fran Brown tomorrow at the JCC for a quick training session about the studio. I ran some errands (those best done without the girls) and I am ready to go for summer. We are going to have so much fun and I can't wait for the down time. If you call teaching clay camp and VBS for the next two weeks down time! It will still be a nice change of pace from school! YIPEE!

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Teapots Across America: A Juried Exhibition - Red Sky Gallery Exhibitions

Teapots Across America: A Juried Exhibition - Red Sky Gallery Exhibitions


I almost forgot!!! June 13 - August 13 2008

I have a miniature porcelain teapot that was selected!

Summer

I am going to have to get better at this.....since I last posted things have been very busy. I have interviewed for some teaching positions at the JCC and am very excited to teach some workshops over there this summer. I can not wait for school to finish for the girls on Tuesday and get into our summer routine ( ie. NO ROUTINE)! I have a kiln firing right now as I write and it is a test batch for a new glaze I am trying out. Wish me luck!!! I have a million ideas percolating....I just need some time to get working on them. We have been spending our evenings at the pool for swim team practice and the girls are making their way slowly but surely. I am very proud of them as this is not an easy task...especially for Ms. Maggie. It is actually much like an OT session... very challenging. She is my new hero, I must say. She is the last one out of the pool most times and she doesn't let it get her down...she just gets right back at it. She is VERY tough and has an amazing way of not comparing herself to the other kids her age and of not getting discouraged. She has set some personal goals and that is all she is focusing on... I pray this lasts. She is truly a special child.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Sunday, May 18, 2008

I am rocking this tech thing! Check out....
thedb.com/amymansonpottery
TalentDatabase.com

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Ok...so not getting much work done, however the tan is looking good. I went to the pool with some girlfriends. Just got home and hopped on the bike, I got halfway out of the neighborhood and the tire popped. So I can say that I worked out today... walking the bike home. Bummer. I did load the plaques into the kiln for bisque firing. I am supposed to go to my friend Mike's house and drink some wine and watch the race, but first I have to go take some pics of the girls babysitter...its prom night. AGHHH! I vaguely (and I do mean vaguely) remember those days!
Peace.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Here she goes!

Whoa! I have a blog...That was relatively painless! Now what?

The kids and joel are heading out today for an Indian Princess camping trip. I will have the whole weekend to work and play! I have been drying plaques that I am making for Sharon Elementary Storytelling Festival. They will be given in the thank you gift baskets to each of the storytellers. I will post a picture when I am further along in the process! Good day.