#aroma's

I'm not sure how I found out about a Jeff Whyman slide lecture at Clayworks in Omaha but was I ever happy I went! It was a great reminder of how wonderful the ceramics community is. It was here that I connected me with some new friends. YAY!

Ceramics potlucks are also the best! Mini cupcakes, pasta salad, miscellaneous unidentified foods and cheese and crackers, amazing! It's always wonderful to eat and chat in a ceramics studio environment.

And another potluck! Look at that spread and all the wonderful people! 

Meat-free success!

And there's usually some jamming in the ceramics studios I've been in!

Another potluck after Jim Leedy's lecture.

Tom and Jim chatting it up! “Somebody’s going to imitate you if you’re breaking ground…imitators are good. They’re skilled artists. That’s what they’re good at,” Leedy says. “Sometimes, there’s someone like Picasso who’s skilled at creativity and their art.” Creativity, originality more, is the backbone of his art. Creativity, to him, is when “your spirit won’t allow you to be safe.” His beloved art instructor Theresa Pollak taught him that “skills are not what it takes to be an artist. Imagination and inventiveness make great art.” Check out the rest of the article for more inspiration http://presentmagazine.com/full_content.php?article_id=3102&full=yes&pbr=1!

And another in conjunction with the collaborative workshop.

So many happy faces!

Collaboration at its finest! Leedy says, “I consider myself no more important than the material I’m working in. Dirt speaks, iron speaks, paint speaks. I listen with my eyes, my spirit, (and) my soul.” A lot can be learned from Mr. Leedy!

Ayala, Kevin and I were invited to Dan Toberer's house for a grill out. It was a great night of talking, relaxing and eating. His house was amazing, a ceramicists dream! Ayala and I really went to town on the cheese dip but overall everything was really delicious. 

It was to Zio's for lunch before heading to Clayworks.

Ayala, Kevin and I went to Aroma's and had a lovely afternoon chatting about everything from art to marriage to politics and everything in between. Hot apple cider and a cookie treated me well :).

Clayworks spring open house offered this masterpiece of a cookie, what's not to love?

And a smorgasbord of finger foods!

What a beautiful setup! The best part of ceramic events is that when there's food involved it's arranged in fine pieces of handmade pottery! I found a poster in one of the studios that said, "It is art that makes life, makes importance and I know of no substitute for the force and beauty of its process." Indeed!

Mom and I also went to Hot Shops for their spring open house. Dan Touberer's large vases are a marvel! 

I love these sewn animals! Adorable!

I could spend hours in the Crystal Forge watching the glass blowing process. Fascinating!

Mom and I made it to Clean Plate for Sunday Brunch, with the highlight being waffles. What a splendid array of colors and delicious food!

I enjoyed the open house so much that I took mom again on Sunday and found these adorable owls! Oh how I love owls!

I really enjoyed watching this guy in the forge!

At one of the Second Friday events, I met a guy who was making paper and informed me of a firing happening outside Carson at Pottery by the Creek. I showed up at 9 or 10 pm and ended up staying up much later than I expected to! Good thing it wasn't a Sunday work weekend! I think I ended up getting home at 6 am or so. It was great to be part of a wood firing after 3-4 years!

I even scored some pie in the process!

This gal and I burned the midnight oil trying to get the kiln up to temperature with only moderate results. We had a great chat though and did all that we could to keep the temperature up!

Mom and I volunteered at the Summer of the Arts Festival and we were lucky enough to work the artists breakfast and scored some grub!

After we were done hung out with Tom from Clayworks in his booth. 

Since we helped hand out fliers and such he bought us some fresh squeezed lemonade :).

We then went to Tazza di Caffe for ice cream! I remember She & Him coming on the speakers and knowing I liked the place with it's great tunes, ice cream and comfy chairs!

Potluck at Clayworks! I made this healthy and flavorful vegetable medley of produce from the farmer's market!

I love meeting clay folks! I met Emerick on this occasion and we discussed school, traveling and our hopes of a change of scenery! This all occurred while I indulged in this glorious feast :).

So good it warranted two rounds :D.

After the potluck I headed to Slowdown for The Poison Control Center, It's True and Noah's Ark was a Spaceship. I wasn't in the mood to be out all night, especially with non one to help entertain me so I didn't make it through the whole show. The music was good though, sometimes you just don't feel like being out and about!

So I went to Hy-Vee for snacks on my way home :).