Friday, December 3, 2010

Little fish, Really big pond

I re shot these two vases because they looked like crap in the last photos I posted of them and I really like them. I should do more of this, but it's a tough sale, these craggy, smoky pots. My barns are so time consuming but sell really well so I focus more energy there, there's just never enough time for making all I want to make.
I had to go to the mall this afternoon, ick, ick, ick!!! What an overload that place is. I am totally anonymous at the mall, I never see anyone I know, and tonight as I walked around there, I felt sort of lonely. The larger department stores make my head swim, and I get this sort of aura, like you get right before a migraine, and then I sort of feel claustrophobic and then I have to go outside and get air. How many white dress shirts can one store stock, or navy ties, or gray sweaters..... I went in the bookstore, so many books, music store, so much music. It got me to thinking, there are probably more people trying to be writers and musicians than there are people trying to be potters, and everyone seems to be finding their niche. Recently, I have felt overwhelmed by all of the really good potters there are out there, especially those pulling those beautiful salt glazed pots out of those long fired wood kilns, and I feel like I am such a tiny fish in a great big river. But I have found a little eddy, and so I'll just hang out there and see what happens. I'll never be one of the potters Mark Hewitt keeps turning out, but I have my own little place that I am happy with. I also don't seem to fit in with the "in" crowd of potters here in Chapel Hill. I feel like I don't get invited to the party, if you know what I mean. Pretty much the story of my life. I hear such a different drummer and I keep going off by myself to take the difficult path. Oh well, someone has to go down that road, might as well be me.
On another note, I have made some people happy this week and so that's good. Remember the generosity chain that Barbara Chadwick Bland started? Well, I started with Tig and then I decided that everyone should get their prize for the holidays, so they are all en route to the winners. A couple already have theirs, and the last of them went out today. It has felt really good to do this and I hope the winners keep up the chain, it's a very cool thing to do!!!!

10 comments:

cookingwithgas said...

you-are a bright spot!
step away so you can see your self like we do.
I think many of us feel this way and yet we keep swimming.
PS---stay the heck out of malls-nothing good can come of that!

Tracey Broome said...

I know, I know! I had to go to the mall for a gift that had to be got there. It always puts me in a funk, so much consumption of really unnecessary things.
I've done pretty good though, all the family is getting an iphoto book that I made of our Christmases together since 1986. What a blast that was to make :)

DK said...

oh goodness, I love these
gorgeous colors and textures
and I agree completely with cookingwithgas, you are a bright spot and I love seeing the beautiful and generous things you're making and doing

Mr. Young said...

I think your little eddy - as you put it, fills in a hole in the overall pottery view of your area. You produce a product that moves people in a way the other potters don't. Your work stirs something in their soul in a unique way. Unique is good.

Peter said...

Your pots and sculptures have warmth and humanity which is something that is precious and very special, and they wouldn't have turned out that way without a warm, thoughtful and very special person making them. So there!

PS... I also hate shopping malls and all that stuff.... I go to pieces just choosing toothpaste some times!... well, quite often!.

Hollis Engley said...

Tracey, as I think you know, you're invited to our party any damn time. And not just because you know where to find the best grits.

cindy shake said...

I just came from a large retailer because I saw this TOTAL SCORE on an item for Gus we have been wanting and the best part was they opened at 7am -just me and a few other thrifty, time efficient moms shopping! That's the time to go. Seems like your singing the tune of the Holiday Artist!! What is it with us?! BTW you could have made ME REALLY HAPPY if I could have bought that sheep FIRST ;o) Just sayin' ...

ang design said...

yey for iphoto books!! woohoo...keep swimmin trace you wouldn't be happy any other way...and gorgeous pics ab fab lighting..

Tracey Broome said...

Hey, thanks everyone for the cheer up!
Cindy, Cindy, Cindy.... :))

Kathleen Gwinnett said...

Nice blog site. I hope everyone will come to Saxapahaw this weekend.