Just When You Think You're Prepared

Three days before my first official show, Old 280 Boogie in Waverly, Ala., I'm mildly freaking out--on the inside, of course. On a positive note, the business cards arrived today. Does this mean I'm official?

I've been calmly collecting my wares, separating them into piles for the show, the coffee shop,the Market. Today, I assembled the 280 Boogie pile, and I'm dismayed. It's a paltry offering.

 Immediately I think of all the things that could be fired and ready if I controlled the kiln, or had one of my own. Two berry bowls have been languishing for two weeks, along with candle holders, garlic jars, and salt jars I added this week.

There are mugs, but not nearly enough.

A few vases and another random bowl may yet come out of a glaze firing, but I'm not getting my hopes up. They would have had to have been loaded this a.m. in time for me to pick up Friday before 2 p.m. The way timing goes around the studio, I'm not feeling very encouraged right now.

I've decided to make earrings to have another offering. My husband was encouraging by saying that even if the event isn't all I want it to be, it will get the word out.

There are vases and candleholders, but not all that I've made.

There must be a balance to all of this, but I've not figured it out yet. I recently read a blog post where the potter talked about being in that mode of creating and having to make himself stop in order to glaze. Part of my problem, I think, is that I don't have many days where I can just get in that zone and stay there.

There are random bowls and a random sushi set.

There are kitchen items, but more await the kiln.

I'm just going to take a deep yoga breath and let it be.  It will be what it will be.