Back to Real Life

I'm back! I've actually been back since Saturday, but it's taken me a while to get back into the groove of things. Our fun-in-the-sun vacation turned out to be more of a fun-in-the-cold-and-gray vacation, thanks to a freak streak of cold weather in Florida, but we still had a good time!

While I was in St. Petersburg, Florida, I had the opportunity to check out a bit of the local clay scene. I started off by visiting the St. Petersburg Clay Company, located in the old Seaboard Train Station, built in 1926. This facility is home to about 60 artists. They're unique in that they offer various levels of membership and studio rentals. They have a massive kiln yard that includes gas and raku kilns, as well as an anagama kiln. Throughout the facility, you can view the work of almost everyone, all the way from the artists-in-residence to the some of the original SPCC founders. If you're in St. Pete and into clay, you definitely want to schedule of a tour of this place!

I also got to visit the lovely Craftsman House Gallery, which is housed in a renovated 1918 Craftsman bungalow. I wandered for what seemed like hours through the sunny gallery space, and was delighted to find that the gallery carried work by such pottery greats as Tom and Elaine Coleman and Natalie Blake. I came away with a stunning Tom Coleman bowl, which looks a bit like the one here. Craftsman House owner Stephanie Schorr gave me a tour of the pottery studio, located in the adjacent renovated carriage house, and her kiln building. Craftsman House also has a wonderful cafe where you can get coffee drinks and a great little meal. I had the olive tapenade platter and the mango iced tea and it was fantastic! I can see why this place does such a huge local lunch rush!

After St. Petersburg, we headed to Orlando for a few days of fun at Disney World. This is my third Disney World trip in five years, I love it there so much! My first trip was for a friend's wedding, and I have to say, I was skeptical as to why two adults would want to get married in a place that's obviously for kids. Then I got there, and saw Donald Duck for the first time, and promptly fell under the Disney World spell. I've never had more fun anywhere in my life! The food, the rides, the beautiful gardens and hotels...I could go on and on. If you've never been, you must go at least once in your life. You won't regret it!

So, now I'm home and trying to switch over from vacation mode. I'm firing a glaze kiln next weekend, so look for some new work in the store soon!