Morning T and Slicers,

Last night I rushed through a Slice.  I didn’t even clean it up with a second viewing. It’s  so important for me to have deadlines but I need to take another stab at reflecting on my 8th week of pottery at Rockland Center for the Arts.

I knew I would be almost a blank slate back on the wheel with a new blob of clay and I was! It’s been a few weeks since I made something out of a blob of fresh clay.

I tried to remember  and move through the steps, moving the clay up and down with my arms and hands and fingers in the right place at the right time.  It was quiet in the and our numbers were small again this week.  I’m feeling comfortable with the group and not feeling stressed about what I don’t know. I am not intimidated by the other students.  Everyone feels the creative challenge of throwing pots.

Michael was working with other students, working on his own pots but I’m sure he had a eye out to the rest of us in the circle. I could have called out for help at any time but I tried to get comfortable again with the clay, with the process of keeping my hands clean and keeping the wheel clear but  finally I called out, politely for help and when Michael came to work with me one-on-one we started again with a fresh piece of clay.   Slowly, he helped me move the new blob down and up and down again on the wheel, moving my fingers into places they were still not comfortable with.  I am still fuzzy with this process, but I am happy to be learning something new and exciting.

I am not beating myself up.  I am new to this challenge but I’m in, I’m invested and next week I’ll be registering for the next set of classes.

Patience …. After more than 10 years with classical guitar, my fingers are finally feeling really comfortable on their strings and frets.

And hey, I did add two more pieces to my collection and today its feeling like spring!

Bonnie S.