Sandy Miller on wed 26 mar 03
I am watching this topic with interest. After banging pots out for 15+ =
years, the enticement has always been; make more pots, make more$$$. =
Well, I'm getting older and I like my clay softer and I'm working a bit =
slower, but having a much better time smelling the roses while I'm =
banging out pots. I talked to a potter down the road last night that =
hires 6 folks in his studio and supplies 40, yes 40 stores and does over =
18 shows a year! (I have been next to them at shows and the sound of the =
Master Card machine never stops.) The husband and wife team are doing =
extruded baskets. The wife has just had to go back to substitue =
teaching after retiring two years ago and they had to lay off 3 workers. =
Bottom line neither one of us had alot of $$ in the bank account. This =
time of the year show fees are due, heating bills are higher and the =
taxes are due. We are both putting in long hours. Difference..... I =
love the pots I make, I am excited to go to the studio and make one of a =
kind pieces. I am slowly getting bigger $$ for commission work. They =
have been making the same pots for 15 years. Same glazes, the wife said =
they had not tested glazes in over 5 years. Everytime I glaze fire I =
have glaze tests in. I have lost my eyebrows peeking in that kiln! =
They have put kids through college, as have I, pots have paid the way =
for each of us. So I guess it's just a matter of what you want to do, =
where is the passion? For me, round is good. (Although I did purchase =
a slabroller after seeing Peter King at the Alabama Clay Conf.!)
Observations from the studio....
Sandy Miller
www.thesiameseconnection.com/sandymiller
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