Why I hurt...

A month or two ago my wife and I purchased a short term membership to Crossfit, a local gym.  We have both been putting off actually going thus far (my wife still is).  Yesterday I bit the bullet and attended my first class...it kicked my ass pretty hard.
Crossfit is not your typical gym though.  They have scheduled classes with short, intense workouts.  Yesterday we did squats, kettle bells, pushups, lunges and something called burpees.  Doesn't sound like much, but we were supposed to do as many as we possibly could of each of these exercises in four minutes.  So the total work out only lasted 20-25 minutes, but everyone was laid out on the floor after it was all said and done.  And on top of all that, I chipped my tooth with a weight bar.
I am a strange kind of sore today; my muscles hurt a bit, but they are more tired than anything.  It was good though.  I am going again tomorrow.

On the clay front, I was accepted to a couple art fairs last week, which is cool.  I was kind of worried about getting accepted to shows for a little bit, so getting into even these two shows is a nice little validation of what I am doing.  I still have to apply to shows for later in the year though, so I have yet to see what will happen with those.
The wife and I are also planning a home show type thing in the next month or so.  We have a lot of work to do to get ready for that on top of making enough inventory to cover everything.

And finally, here are a few pictures so this post isn't so dry.  This is all stuff that came out of the last load, I think.  I just haven't put any of them up here yet.  Most of these and more are on my Etsy page.

Skull butter dish.  Someone asked if I could make one of these, so I did.

Bird and magnolia butter dish

The "Baa Baa" cup

Raven wine set

I guess that is all for now.  Until later...

-Rob, Simple Circle Studios

It is snowing sideways

Thus far the winter season has been mild in southern Illinois to say the least.  Today, though, the high temperatures dropped into the low 30's and there has been a stiff breeze blowing.  I know this is no big deal for most folks north of the Mason-Dixon, but I hate cold weather.  Really hate it.  I would move to Hawaii if I could.  Thus, after going to the post office to mail a package (Yeah Etsy!) I am hiding inside while my trusty little propane heater warms up the studio.

In other news, Judy Tavill posted a blog about the benefits of a blog vs. facebook; a topic that has been on my mind lately.  I have always preferred blogging, but lately I have been thinking that one is not necessarily better, they just serve different purposes.

As I have said before, I was always opposed to facebook, despite my wife's insistence that I get an account.  It always seemed like a waste of time.  I never saw the point in dealing with all the inane bs that people put up on facebook.  No one cares what I had for breakfast or how many times I blew my nose today or how much I hate doing dishes; or at least they shouldn't.  Find something more constructive to do with your time.  Long story short, I have a facebook account...and it still seems like a big waste of time, at least for the most part. 

Facebook can, however, reach a large number of people quickly, which makes it a good marketing tool.  As some people have commented on Judy's post, a blog is good for connecting with other potters; facebook is good for connecting with potential customers.  This is the only reason I have not deleted my account yet. 
And even better, my wife got me a fancy ipod for Christmas.  This makes it very easy to snap a picture of whatever I am working on and throw it up on facebook without breaking the flow of my work day too much.  I can easily get my work in front of people and perhaps get them interested in what I am doing. 

I still prefer blogging to get ideas out into the ether.  I can flesh things out, think them through a little more, etc.  It is more like a nice letter to a long distance friend(s).  Facebook may have its place though.

And finally, some pictures of the last stuff out of the kiln.  These actually came out shortly before the new year, but I didn't want to put pictures up as some of them were Christmas presents.

Rooster Crock,  This seems to be a fairly popular design as I have gotten a few requests for similar items

Dandelion Vase

Plant/Vine Plate.  Just glad this one made it through without blowing up!

Surprise Mugs.  Each of my nieces and nephews got a personalized mug for Christmas.  Fun stuff

And some of this stuff is in my Etsy shop if you want to check that out.

Well, the studio is probably warmed up by now, so I probably ought to get to work.  It is handles and trimming and plates for the rest of the day.  If you find me on facebook you might get a quick shot of work in progress!

-Rob, Simple Circle Studios

Pictures of present...if I had pictures.

I am running one more load through the kiln this week trying to get some Christmas presents done.  I don't want to put any pictures up here, even though I am sure the people they are intended for will never read this.  That and I do not have any pictures of them so...you know. 

In getting enough stuff to fill the kiln I was carving a few things this week.

Rooster crock & large mug.  Both for an order...sort of.

Medium-ish plate with branch/vine thing.

  I ran a bisque load yesterday and unloaded this morning.  I had two plates in there again, loaded on top this time, and there were no fatalities.  Yay.  Everything is waiting to to be glazed and fired as I type.  It should get run through tonight, so pictures next week.

And here is a picture of my recent studio visitor.

I saw him running around the garage (aka my studio) on Monday.  He got pretty bold, sneaking out from under my work table and coming up right behind my dog before running away.  I haven't seen him in a couple days, though, so I don't know if the dogs scared him off or what.

And finally, some not very exciting news, but still kind of cool.  I got my first sale on Etsy last week.  Payment received, cup delivered, everything went smoothly.  So...there's that.  Ok, Christmas present and other pictures next week.  Until then.

-Rob, Simple Circle Studios

At home with the Bub

 It looks like Noah might have pink eye, so he had to stay home from the babysitters today.  Not really a big deal, but it means that I will not be able to get into the studio much; maybe during nap time.  I will be able to get some more business type work done, though.
So I guess on the agenda for today is: finish Christmas presents, get contact info for potential retail outlets, call photographers about getting pictures taken for show application and take pictures for posting stuff on Etsy.

Speaking of Etsy (and Chritmas presents, wink wink, nod nod) I finally have a few things in my shop.  Just posted a couple last night, actually.  As I have said before, it is a laborious process (for me at least) but I suppose it has to be done.  Any way, here are a couple shots from the shop.  Click on the pictures to check it out.

Blue and brown whiskey cup

Green and brown mug

Back to child care.  Until later.

-Rob

I got those paper, business, computer work blues

I have been stuck doing paper/computer work for the past two days.  I don't exactly hate it, but it is definitely not my forte.  I have gotten a few things done, though.  Updated my mailing list after the show last weekend (not a bad show!), messed with tax stuff, and unfortunately got signed up on the facebook.

Now the facebook was not really my decision.  My wife was messing on her facebook and the following conversation ensued.
Wife: I'm going to sign you up for facebook.
Me: Don't do that.
Wife: But you need to have a page for your business.
Me: Really, don't do that.
Wife: I'm signing you up.
Me: Ugh.

So now I am on the facebook.  From what I have seen on there so far it is largely just a waste of time.  Perhaps I will be able to utilize it better in the future, but I'm not counting on it.  If you should want to hook up with me on the facebook...well I really don't know how you would do that.  Search for Rob Lorenz or something I guess.  I will probably be on there even less than I am on my blog and such though.

On a more productive note, I finally got some stuff posted on my Etsy page.  I am really just starting to get into this and, as many people have said before, it is quite time consuming.  Taking pictures, editing pictures, writing descriptions, posting, etc.  I only have a few of them up right now; if you want to check them out just click on the pictures below.  I should be getting more stuff up there over the next couple weeks.

For those of you who are more versed in the world of Etsy, how do you work your Etsy inventory?  Do you make stuff specifically for posting on Etsy?  Do you just take the stuff off your Etsy shop when you take it to a show?  Any help or general input on the subject would be much appreciated.

Now to get back to some more tactile work, I actaully get to get back into the studio today.  I'm trying to get another load through before the 18th.  We'll see if that happens.  Until later.

-Rob