When I look back on my 5 years of making pottery, I see a thread running through. From the very beginning, my husband of 41 years has been an encourager and supporter of this endeavor. He started out by buying me a potter’s wheel back during Covid (which helped me stay sane, I think!). I was using his grandmother’s old ceramics kiln at the time for firing. Then last year he encouraged me to upgrade to my current Skutt computerized kiln! What a game-changer (and investment).
I was looking at my mug designs and realized that he has been an integral part of helping me make them more user-friendly. The thumb “rests” at the top of the handle are all due to him! He told me that large mugs need something to help you brace them when you’re drinking hot coffee. He has gently told me which mugs are more preferable, more pleasant, more comfortable.
He has been such an encourager–telling me that my work is getting better, that I could charge more, even calling it ART. He encourages me to spend time at it, to go ahead and go down to our basement for hours to work on things, to enter a local festival. (He only balks when I ignore meal times or tell him, “Just five more minutes…”!)
Truly, I wouldn’t be doing this without his loving support and help. What a gift to have a husband who wants me to excel and succeed, who gives me the time and freedom and finances to do so.
Thanks, honey.
