Since becoming a mother (nearly a year ago), I feel as though my blogging has taken a hit.  I once averaged three posts a week.  Now, I feel fortunate if I do one a week.  My time with my son is precious to me and I don’t want it spent on the computer, the phone, the iPad, a book, etc.  When he is awake, I love playing with him, going on walks, reading books together and just being with him.  Nap time is truly a gift to mother’s, aside from the fact that babies need the rest anyways.  When Noah is napping, that is my “go time”!  I have a to-do list a mile long that always involves cleaning.  Sometimes I can be incredibly productive while Noah naps and I feel like I have truly accomplished things like, cleaning, devotions, blogging, answering my business e-mails, planning out my work schedule, prepping for dinner, etc.  Other days I find I get nothing done and I am asking myself, “what in the world happened today” as I take a look around my apartment and wonder when the bomb went off and where was I when it happened?  Those days, I have to just laugh and move on.  I have a lot that I am responsible for and have some pretty significant roles to fulfill in my life as a wife, mother and artist.  I love each of those roles that God has graciously blessed me with, even when they prove to be a challenge.

I just celebrated my first Mother’s Day last week and it was amazing!  I didn’t do anything particularly special, other than using the blanket excuse “it’s Mother’s Day” and watching Downtown Abbey with my Mother-in-law, but it was truly a special day.  I shared the day with my husband, son, and in-laws.  There was a lot of eating, laughing, and playing with Noah.  It was so special to look as Noah and think about all that has happened in this past year and how incredible it has been to watch him grow and explore.  I thought about his future and the hopes I have for him and also thought about what future children the Lord may bless us with.  For now it is just Noah and he is one incredible little boy, my baby.

Balancing being a wife and an artist was easy (for the most part).  Add motherhood to the mix and it changes things…a lot!  I want to raise Noah myself.  I always knew that I wanted to be a stay-at-home-mom.  I love it!  I love that I am able to do so.  I am still pursuing my artistic goals, but at a slower pace.  I now work in the studio two mornings a week and if I am lucky perhaps a third time.  In a lot of ways I feel I work harder on those two days and am even more productive in the studio than I was before becoming a mom.  I don’t have plans to quit being a potter any time soon (hopefully never).  My studio time will always come after my baby time.  So I hope those of you who follow me will keep encouraging me.  If you don’t see me on here over a course of days…I am still here.  I am still working and producing – sharing on the blog just has to wait sometimes.  A lot of sacrifice happens during my day and it is totally worth it.  A tremendous thank you to my mom and all that she sacrificed to raise me and my brothers and love us so richly.  I hope to follow in your amazing example.  A belated Happy Mother’s Day to all of you moms out there!

I wish I could share some images of the show actually happening, but I only have images of the set-up.  At least you will get to see the house before everyone arrived and get a feel for the night.  It was a lot of fun.  I loved catching up with old friends and sharing my work with everyone and answering some questions about my work too.  Luke McFadden did a great job and everyone was very impressed with his work.  Big thanks to Mike of Colden Coffee for supplying his delicious roasted coffee.  Thanks, Luke McFadden, for being a part of the show!  Melissa Ellen’s Loft was a hit too, thank for being a part of the show!  Hope to do this again next year!

]]> http://www.arrynvoganpottery.com/2013/04/27/spring-show-success/feed/ 1 http://www.arrynvoganpottery.com/2013/04/19/artist-spotlight-luke-mcfadden/ http://www.arrynvoganpottery.com/2013/04/19/artist-spotlight-luke-mcfadden/#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:02:03 +0000 admin http://www.arrynvoganpottery.com/?p=2601 Luke contacted me about a month or so ago asking if I was having a MD show coming up.  I was, in fact, and told him I would send him an invite.  I remember Luke came to my first MD show in the fall of 2011.  Luke is a rather talented artist himself!  He asked me if it would be OK to exhibit some of his own work at my spring show this year.  I was surprised and impressed that he asked.  I was familiar with some of the work that he had done through images I had seen posted on Facebook.  Luke is a sculptor and a very talented one too!  I asked him to send along some images of his recent work and what he was hoping to exhibit.  I loved what I saw.  He has a keen eye to detail and skilled hands for sculpting.  I am sure he is gifted in other creative areas as well, but clay is the focus (which of course I love)!  Luke’s work has impressed his teachers at school and have won awards.

I asked Luke to share a little about himself, his work, and what he hopes to pursue after graduation:

I live in Pasadena Maryland with my mom and step dad and 2 sisters.  I go to Chesapeake high school as a junior.  The way I got into the arts was, when I was a freshman I got mistakenly put in a sophomore 3D art class and started to do the projects. The teacher thought I was good, so he let me stay in his class even though I was a year behind the rest of the class.  The hardest part of art and sculpture for me is trying to come up with things to create and making things look real, and also the glazing.  I won 2nd place in the Anne Arundel County (Senior) art show this year (but I’m a junior)!  When I get out of high school I want to be a commercial waterman on the Chesapeake Bay and maybe do art in the off season (winter).

Luke will be showing some of his awesome sculptures at my spring show, tomorrow!  Come support Luke and see his work in person!  As a reminder the show will be from 4:30-9:30, tomorrow April 20, at the Prince Residence.  256 Catalina Circle, Severna Park, MD 21146.

See what I mean?  Beautiful.  Most of the things you will find here she has done herself.  Definitely check out her blog.  I am also really excited to share that this year, Melissa will be selling some of her leather cuff bracelets at my Spring show down in Maryland.  I have expanded my own work, by making jewelry this year. I was really excited to see Melissa’s cuff jewelry and right away was thinking how great it would be to mix in some of her pieces with my own.  I hope you will get to see some things that you love here and be looking for them at my show this weekend.  I wanted to ask Melissa a few questions for you readers to have a snapshot of her life, home and work as an artist.  Even after reading this short bit, I think you will get an idea of how fun and sweet she is!

1)  Basics:  Where do you live, with whom, how long have you been married, what college did you attend, etc.
My husband Jesse and I live in Grove City, PA currently. We have been married 3 years this July!:) We met at Houghton College, where we were both psychology majors.  I minored in art while there as well.  We spent our first two years of marriage in western PA, as I was a Resident Director at Thiel College while working on a Masters degree in Higher Education/Student Affairs at Youngstown State University in Ohio.  Jesse was (and is still) working toward his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Slippery Rock University.  After I graduated in May, we moved to Grove City, PA to be closer to Jesse’s school.  We are excited for his graduation this May!:)

2)   When did you get started with your creative business?
Although I have always loved creating, I never saw it as something I would pursue beyond a hobby, but I would say I slowly started moving that direction during my last semester in graduate school.  I didn’t officially get started until this past November when I began my blog, and then soon following, the opening of my etsy shop.

3)  What are your favorite things to create?
I love to create mixed media paintings, jewelry (specifically leather cuff bracelets), I love to re-purpose antiques/trash pile finds, etc., home decorating, cooking meals and trying new recipes/making my own.  So basically, I really love all things creative and am always up for trying new projects!:)

4)  What would you want your business to look like in the next 5 years?
Honestly, that is a tough one for me to answer.  I am not sure.  I think because this is all still so new to me and there is so much in the way of the creating that I just love, I want to be open to whatever this business becomes.  It will probably depend largely on what our lifestyle and family looks like in the next 5 years as well.

I think it is so important to get a glimpse of the person behind the creation.  It encourages a more personal connection beyond just artist and buyer.  I hope you will come out and support Melissa at the show and take home a cuff!  Here is a little preview of some of the cuffs she has done in the past and some that are available on her Etsy Shop right now.

]]> http://www.arrynvoganpottery.com/2013/04/17/artist-spotlight-melissa-ellens-loft/feed/ 2 http://www.arrynvoganpottery.com/2013/04/09/colden-coffee/ http://www.arrynvoganpottery.com/2013/04/09/colden-coffee/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:12:43 +0000 admin http://www.arrynvoganpottery.com/?p=2587 Colden Coffee has partnered up with APV Pottery and will be proudly serving you at my MD spring show on April 20th.  Mike, small business owner of Colden Coffee, has roasted a special blend just for my show.  We have been chatting back and forth over the past few weeks about coffee service at my show and what kind of flavor I would like to serve.  I like my coffee to be rich in flavor and smooth in taste.  I think Mike has come up with a rather delicious roast.  A sample roast of beans came to the house on Saturday and Andrew and I were eager to make a pot and try it out.  The coffee smelled so good as it brewed.  Once it was ready, Andrew served it up in a couple of my mugs (I take mine with cream only) and gave it a taste…so yummy!  It really was a great cup of coffee!  I am excited to partner with Mike of Colden Coffee and share his coffee at the show!  Get Colden – Get Happy. (TM).

Here is a little window into Colden Coffee:

“Colden is a beautiful little town in the Appalachian foothills of New York, and it’s where we roast some of the most delicious coffee we think you’ll ever have.  All of our coffees meet at least one or more of the criteria:  Organic, Fair-Trade, or Farm-Gate sourced.”