Harvest 2011!

Well, harvest is over.  It didn't last nearly as long as it had in the past, but we also had very few (I think zero) rain days.  My time book shows we started on September 28th and yesterday was our last day.  22 days of trucking, and I'll tell ya.. I loved every minute of it, but I am TIRED and ready to get back in the studio.  The holiday show season is coming up and there are pots to be made!... but more on that later.  Here are a few photos I took of the truck at the elevator.  I couldn't tell you why I don't have photos of everyone else and the big machinery, but Laura (sister of my cousin's wife) came out and took some super awesome photos of us and if I heard it on the radio correctly, one of them is going to be in a John Deere publication. :)

These first four are mine, taken at the Heartland Co-op in Avon, pit #3 at sundown. 

These next five photos were taken by Laura Richardson.  Awesome, huh?  Probably the best photos we have of the equipment and crew.  Thanks, Laura! :)

 

(From left to right: Matt, Calvin, Dale, Me, and Toby the Brown Dog)

Not pictured were the behind-the-scenes people that make the work easier: Mary Beth, Ashley, Abby, Russ, Janet, and everyone else that helped move equipment, give rides, and lended a hand in various important ways.  Thank you!!!... and especially a big thanks to Mary Beth who every year invites me to crash at their house instead of driving the extra 45 minutes to my house, which is the best thing ever after 12 hours of work. :)  Also, we had no accidents, no injuries, and minimal/minor equipment breakdowns.  It was a great harvest!.... and now... on with the pottery!

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I took today off, can you blame me?  Brian had the day off as well and we went to Des Moines to pick up the remaining materials for my loafing shed.  Roger the Mailman/Loafing Shed Builder came out today and we marked off the spot for the shed.  He's going to be back to start putting it up on Thursday.  :)

One of the nice things about harvest is that it gives me time to think about my pottery.  Unless you own a creative business, it's kind of hard to wrap your mind around how it works.  I went into this business without a clue as to what I was doing.  I thought 'I'll make pots and sell them!'.  Seriously, I thought it would be that simple.  It's not.  Not even a little bit.  It's one thing to make them, but then after a while it becomes obvious that certain pots sell, some glazes are more popular than others, and some pots that I thought were so very awesome have been sitting on the shelves for months.  Right now, all I have is 'smalls' in the showroom.  Little pots that are priced at $25 or under.  I was thinking that with the economy and people wanting to save more money, the 'smalls' would go faster and all I would have is big expensive pieces..........  

Boy, was I wrong!  People might be saving their money on large items (cars, TV's, a timeshare in the Keys), but it appears as though they still want big pots!  Of course I won't be making ALL big pots, but I think I'll make a few more for inventory than I usually do for this coming holiday season.  Speaking of, it's coming right up!  Christmas is a mere 2 months away, and my schedule shows a whoppin' SEVEN events!  That's a lot of chances to get your mitts on some locally handmade pottery for gifts this year.  Below is the list where you can find me, which can also be seen on my website Here or the Show Schedule tab up above.

November 12th & 13th, Art on the Prairie, Perry Iowa (website)  

November 20th, Sample Sunday, Prairieland Herbs, Woodward, Iowa (website)

November 25th, Black Friday Market Day (pending), Des Moines, Iowa (website)

November 26th & 27th Holiday Home Show, Willow Avenue Pottery Studio, Panora, Iowa (directions)

December 3rd & 4th, Holiday Home Show, Willow Avenue Pottery Studio, Panora, Iowa (directions)

December 11th, Sample Sunday, Prairieland Herbs, Woodward, Iowa (website)

December 18th, Sample Sunday, Prairieland Herbs, Woodward, Iowa (website)

That's about all I have for right now...  Tomorrow morning I'll be back in the mud! Yay! :)