Hey you. I've moved!

Hello to everyone who follows the blog via blogger. I've moved shop and all my current posts are integrated with the website. Please update your bookmarks and links accordingly! See you there!
www.jenniethepotter.com

Stay Tuned

Once again, this picture has little to do with the text below, just a little Lil eye candy. 

I want to let everyone know I'm transitioning to a new site. The website, in it's previous incarnation, no longer exists. I am changing how I sell my work and the new site will reflect that. Previously, customers placed an order on the website, the site generated an order to me, and I made the order. This process took anywhere from two to four weeks to complete depending on how many orders were pending and proximity to a show. We have a wee little home studio and do not have the space to keep a large stock on hand. This model seemed to work best for those wanting to purchase pots from me. With a new babe around the house my studio work has changed dramatically. Instead of a regular studio schedule where I was in control of my time I now have a little one who dictates our days (and nights). Sometimes the stars are aligned and I can accomplish studio tasks during her brief moments of rest, or when a grandparent offers babysitting. Too often though I feel like I'm drowning in expectation and become overwhelmed when I am unable to get into the studio because my energy and efforts are needed elsewhere.  I love my new role as a mother and needed to find a solution to always feeling behind in the studio, while balancing my desire to spend time with my beautiful daughter.
So, with the help of a dear friend we've decided to implement a different plan for purchasing my work online. The new site will be largely blog based with commerce run through etsy. It's the easiest solution, and hopefully one that gives us more control of the look and feel of the site. (The old site was functional - but did little to reflect my personality) I will continue to make pots and when I have an adequate supply I will post those pots on etsy.  Once ordered they will ship within the week, as the pots will be made and ready to ship. I will give advance notice of this to those who sign up for my email list so you'll know when you can peruse the newest work. I will be posting the update time and details on the blog too. All of this will be accessed through the www.jenniethepotter.com web address. Over time I hope to create a pattern of these "updates" and should be posting where seasonally relevant ie in time for Mother's Day, Christmas etc. Anyone "needing" pots, buttons, jewlery etc for a special occasion (or just 'cause) can contact me directly and we can arrange a special order.  I will continue to make work for shows and will be maintaining a calendar of upcoming events at the site too. Those of you who have purchased work at event know there are many designs and motifs that did not appear on the website but were available in person at shows. Depending on the kiln, there should be more of those pots popping up for sale outside of shows too.
So, be patient as the hub and I dive into this new experience of building our site, and stay tuned as I unveil the new stuff. It's bound to be good!

Thanks 2009

The end of 2009 is here and just like everyone else I'm looking back on what the year has brought. It was a huge year here. Most notably the arrival of our sweet little Lillian. What a joy! She's the apple of our eye and some days our faces hurt from smiling so much!
The year also brought some of the greatest shows ever for the business. I traveled far and wide to attend shows. (Oh, MSP to Portland and back again at 34 weeks of pregnancy how I remember the edema) I am SO fortunate to have some of the best roadies around. You may have run across these folks if you visited me at an event. I really couldn't do what I do without them - especially when I was pregnant with Lil! Here's a shout out to all the roadies. They are some of the most generous, talented and kind-hearted women I know. Go visit their blogs. See how varied and talented they are. Meg, Amy, Heather, Gretchen, Lara, Hannelore, Chris, Lucinda, and Dawn. THANK YOU!!!! I am greateful to have such a supportive "care circle" as my brother in law would say. One of the people who is integral to the business, but who is rarely sighted at shows is the dear husband, as he's at home holding down the fort. Words cannot express how lucky I am to have you by my side on this great journey. ( Insert more mush here, I could go on and on and on . . . )
One of the great joys of doing what I do is meeting the people who purchase my work. I know it has been said before, but it bears repeating. The community of fiber folk is really unparalleled. I am lucky to have found a wacky niche where I am amongst "my people." I love watching new faces discover my work and old faces return.
So, cheers 2009. You were a great year! Bring it 2010!

Muppet Baby

Lil has a new snowsuit. It's so cute I had to share.

Just When I Thought the Finish Line was Near

I received a call from a friend this afternoon. I had four (4!) cups to add handles to, paint and carve for the last of my Christmas season orders. "Hey, did you know you're on the Yarn Harlot's Blog?" Alas, No, I did not. Check it out.
Awwww shucks, she said I'm nice. My Mother's SO proud.
( And would like to remind folks that I custom make my orders and am finally taking my much deserved maternity and holiday break starting Friday. I figure I might as well roll them into one!)

One More Holiday Sale

I'm participating in one more holiday sale. Tomorrow. There will be wonderful prints and lots of great sewn stuff, in addition to a few pots from me. It's a house sale located at 413 Stryker Ave in St. Paul. We'll be selling from 11-4pm. C'mon by and say hello and maybe finish off that holiday shopping list!

No Sleep 'til No Coast!

Ahh the life of a self employed new mom whose husband is in nursing school. Stunning how little can be accomplished these days. Our dear babe is three months old today! She is a great baby in SO many ways. She's smiling and laughing now. She recognizes family and friends and greets them with a stunning gummy smile. Naps are no problem, and sleep has been great. Until Thanksgiving. Seems as though the holiday didn't sit well with her. Might be the food, all the new people, or the interruption of her routine. Whatever it is we're suffering a bit of a post holiday hangover here. We've reverted to the sleep schedule of a newborn with short fits of sleep followed by fussiness. This sleep change has been difficult because it came after a week of nightly 6+ hours of uninterrupted sleep. Having a taste of normalcy makes this all the more bitter. A pow wow with her Dr. and advice from friends and grandparents gave us some ideas to try and fingers crossed we are on our way back to where we were. In the meantime each time I wake in the middle of the night I think to myself. "No. Sleep. 'til No-Coast*"
*want to hear the original?