Hi Friends,
I hope you’ve had a good year. It was exactly one year ago today that Andy and I set off to find a home in the desert. Arizona is truly my home now. I can’t explain the emotional pull the desert has on me. It’s overwhelmingly, hauntingly beautiful and inspiring. I’m now an accomplished grower and propagator of cacti in the landscape, and I’m enjoying decorating our two acres with found desert objects. Crazy cool cholla skeletons are everywhere, and I “harvest” and clean them for art, leaving some for the critters, of course. I created a labyrinth for meditation. Maurice Connolly came for a too quick visit and installed a tiny moon for us.
2021 was both incredibly wonderful and incredibly sad. We lost a good cat, young Zoey. We lost dear friends and Andy’s father.
If you’ve been around to read my stories since 2011, you may remember my attempt to get into ceramics. At age 4, and until I wanted to be a teacher (I’d be the worst teacher) I said I wanted to be a potter. I’ve taken some classes in the past, but was too busy with work and then the shop. Everything happens when it’s meant to happen. I took another class and quickly became obsessed. Not with the classes, but once I purchased my own clay and began hand building at home, outside and in my new studio in this niche in the garage that was designed as a workshop and couldn’t be more perfect. We put A/C in this summer so it is comfortable, and there is a large window with a great view. I don’t have a plan, I just see what emerges. I got my own kiln, because I’m a control freak and nothing is better than your own kiln unloading. I’m happy to say that my firings so far have been 100% successful. My first pieces are my babies and I’m so proud! Soon there will be a shop with available wall hangings, vessels, spoons and whatever comes out of my head on any given day. I’m also planning an event in the courtyard where you can buy anything you see. I don’t know if it’s cocky to think that I can sell my work when I’m not very experienced and mostly self trained, but I’ve been an artist all of my life. I’ve sold other artists’ work, and as a designer, I know my wares will lo
ok great in a home. I also know treasures, and can see these pieces being treasured. Pottery is tactile, and timeless, and fragile, and strong, and interesting, and useful, and I’m just so happy when I’m making.
My last post in February hinted that I’m burned out on interior design. The house I helped design and decorate over four years for my wonderful clients is done, I think it’s a masterpiece and I have no desire to do it again. I’m still doing color consulting, many remotely, which is working out great. I now can’t imagine living without the view of the mountains, deer peeking in the window, bunnies, quail and other birds, and always the cats sleeping on the corner of my desk and it’s a dream. This chapter of my life is incredible and I’m so very grateful. Andy loves to see me so happy and has been lovely through this transition.
We are making friends, those of you who wrote and told me I’d find my people were right. It has been pretty difficult during the pandemic, we definitely don’t want to go into a restaurant and sit at the bar. Luckily it’s warm enough that we can eat outside.
Speaking of our home, if we have a connection and you think a visit would be healing or magical or just fun for you, please write and let’s talk. We LOVE to share the desert with visitors, and I’d love to get to know you better.
Things I miss about the old house but still have no desire to move back:
Avocados, citrus, strawberries, fresh cut roses, herbs and yummy smelling plants right outside my door. I could grow them here but it seems like an overwhelming task to get them through the summer, maybe next fall…
Making my own liquors, oils and tinctures from those things.
Sitting outside with the cats, they hate it when they can’t join us although they have two catios.
We miss our beautiful parties with incredible friends (although again, Covid wouldn’t allow that anyway).
If you’re into clay and want to know more about specifics: I enjoy working with aardvark obsidian clay, and Nara 5 porcelain. I have a few commercial glazes that I use sparingly, but I don’t like to rely on them. I’m making my own textured tools from things I find in nature, my favorite tools are my hands and one shiny pebble. I love to burnish, even though at cone 5 the burnishing doesn’t show so I’m considering low fire clays for strictly art pieces. I am interested in cold finishes. I just love the look of raw clay and look forward to experimenting with waxes and other coatings.
Thanks for still being here to let me ramble, and reaching out when I do. I appreciate you and hope you’re doing well.
Love,
Scarlett
