-
Firing in the Rain
On firing in rainstorms with the Olympic Updraft 2831G I was able to get all the raku vases, cups, and bowls dried enough to fire. I loaded them all into the updraft kilns and started warming them up. As I … Read the rest
-
Wandering Off the Trail
Thoughts on distraction and back again. Somehow I got lost in some dark wood. I lost track of time and reading, and here I am somewhat behind on work for the fall shows, a few custom orders, and the end … Read the rest
-
Dad’s Stories
On reading, family, and storytelling. It was a nice day being with my dad. He went back to work part time after the passing of my mother. My Dad was a farmer, did logging, foundry work, then finished another 30 … Read the rest
-
The Accidental Stoic
On messing up philosophy, intentional discomfort, and counting the paper factory as a practice. I might have messed up being a Stoic. As a Stoic, I might accidentally do some practices that Stoics might do that make me a Stoic. … Read the rest
-
Write Your Own Story
On the difference between participating in someone else’s plot and writing your own. There are two kinds of work in my life. One of them has a story that someone else wrote, and I show up and participate in it. … Read the rest
-
Act in the Face of Fear
The work that gets done while you’re still terrified. I have been afraid more times than I can count. Waiting until I felt ready to open the kiln. Waiting until I felt confident enough to price the work higher. Waiting … Read the rest
-
Testing Grace
On being late, farm rules, cry piles, and the freedom to mess up enough. Maybe I am late a little at times. Maybe I wait too long to get things done. A few times I have missed the ride being … Read the rest
-
Back on the Kiln
On restacking brick, asking for help, and teaching A.I. to read handwritten firing notes. It felt good to go work on the wood kiln yesterday. I spent the time taking down the brick arch that I had dry stacked over … Read the rest
-
Do the Opposite
On breaking patterns, trying what doesn’t make sense, and finding out what happens Sometimes the answer is to do the opposite of what you have been doing. I don’t mean that in a dramatic way. I mean it practically. If … Read the rest
-
Being Calm
On panic, patience, and what Neil Armstrong’s heart rate can teach us about firing kilns It might seem impossible, but attempting to remain calm while there is chaos all around could not only benefit yourself but also others around you … Read the rest
