How to De-Suckify your J.O.B.

Pottery Verve mug o'  SHINE! 

We all have days or nights when we claim to "hate my job". The thing is, for many of us, without a J.O.B. there are a lot of things we would not have access to.  
I personally enjoy the freedom I have to be able to pay for things without having to worry about how I'm going to pay the rent. I came to Fort McMurray for the simple reason that I believed it was a good way to fund my career as an artist.

Leonie Dawson

Eckhart Tolle 

My J.O.B. is not only a good source of artistic funding! I am also paid in "days off time"! There are many things I have to be grateful for with my J.O.B. even though sometimes my attitude is all negative and hangry and I think I hate it.

(me sometimes. in the morning. mostly every morning)

A while ago I asked myself what I really wanted and then devised a plan to help me keep a strong, positive attitude at my J.O.B. 

Tiffany Han

My J.O.B. experience has improved exponentially! I still have freak outs and scowl, so it is an ongoing practice. Being aware of your attitude is the first step! Taking responsibility is the next. Then the three golden habits I practice the most are acceptance, tolerance and surrender. I compiled a checklist for my self, that I wrote out by hand. And there are tasks on the list that I do every shift, some I only occasionally do, and two that are not negotiable.

Here are the two things that are integral to accepting J.O.B. These are non-negotiable habits that will help you set your attitude for the day!

1. At the beginning of your day, write down 5 things you are grateful for. 

Writing down what you are grateful for sets in motion, with very little effort, a very positive vibe. When you express gratitude you can only feel love. I often refer to my gratitude list through the shift as a reminder of "why I'm here". I truly believe when we are expressing gratitude, and therefor love, we are in the moment. And when we are in the moment we realize we are exactly where we need to be right now. 

2. Eat healthy, nurture your body and drink water. Non-negotiable. I have another blog dedicated to this!

The following list of options are for different times during your day. Eventually you will create a habit of doing these things as part of your day. You will become aware of how easily your day goes.

1. Meditate for 5 minutes

2. Do 20 jumping jacks in the bathroom or lunchroom.

3. Sing. It is absolutely, positively, impossible to be contrary if you are belting out the lyrics to Footloose. Not kidding. Old version or new version. (Ok try whatever song gets you singing and emotional. That's the point here dude.)

4. Make a small prayer for the people who are negative to you. When you ask the universe to pay attention to another you are creating positive energy for that person. Even if you are particularly unfond of the person. In fact it is essential that you share positive energy with people you are unfond of. This is a universal truth. When you do this it is possible that with time that person will not behave negatively to others because they won't have a reason to. They will feel positive. This works. I have tested it. 

5. Read positive and inspiring books. PM me for a list. You could even

start with Oprah's list.

6. Forgive yourself for freaking out. Let's be honest. We all freak out. It is ok. It is part of the process. Notice the energy you expelled when you freaked out. How did it make you feel? Was it worth it? Did it help you? Then imagine yourself asking for forgiveness either from the situation, the person, the phone, your shoes, the upside down or empty toilet paper holder, the rock you tripped on. Whatever it was that you believe made you freak out, ask for forgiveness. You deserve it.

7. Thank the universe by taking 10 minutes to be aware of the beauty around you. 

Even in the dirtiest haul truck with the most worn out struts on the roughest haul road in the ruttiest, shovel pit going to the softest dump and getting stuck, there is beauty all around. The berms covered in snow in the sunlight have a wondrous paisley type pattern on them that makes them look like upholstered furnishings. I have come to love the color of dirty Cat yellow. When the dusty haul road gets a sprinkle of water that collects it reflects the blue of the sky and reminds me of my glaze called "Denim Blues". The sun shining after a fresh blanket of snow is the most bedazzled sight. Sun dogs. Ravens. Coyotes. Trees. Coffee. Smiling faces. If you simply look without judgement these things are the inherent beauty all around you. 

8. Learn one new thing by asking someone. This is a form of surrender. All too often we have this expectation of ourselves that we are required to be perfect at all times. This is bullshit. We are not perfect. It is ok to not be perfect. Ignore your inner perfectionist and ask someone, maybe someone you are not so fond of, a question. 

9. Journal 

I always have an assortment of colored pens, markers, pencils and a journal or sketchbook. Actually, I have giant ziploc bag with all of the above and then some. I journal. I have idea days (that's how I made this list!) I make lists. I make lists of lists. I draw. I collect stuff off the ground. I write plans. I write down songs I hear. I write down things I want to google later. I scribbledoodle. Putting your mind's eye down on a permanent record makes you get shit done. Not joking. I promise it will change your life. 

10. Ask yourself to be kind. To yourself. To Others.

11. Focus on your breath. 

Yoga can be done any where, any time. Because it is all about the breath. Take a long, deep breath in and exhale as slowly as possible 3 times. Especially when you are starting to feel exhausted or anxious or like you might punch someone in the throat. You will feel better. It will also give you time and space to find calm and think clearly about your next action. This is a form of surrender.

12. Investigate what it is you are learning during an adverse situation. You have manifested your reality. What is it you are about to learn? How are you growing in the moment with the lesson you are being presented. You may not get an answer. You may have an a-ha moment. Most important is that you create an awareness about the moment.

When you accept that you are exactly where you need to be right now, your attitude about J.O.B. will be positive.

Glitterbombed Energization List! (no need to call the Power Rangers)

Pottery Verve

Today's blog comes to you from the front porch,                      

                in the shiny sunlight,                                               

                                           beside my best companion!

Things That Get Me Energized! 

"My Relationship With Nature"

Walks 

Hikes 

Beaches 

Sunshine 

Biking

 

BEST FRIEND VISITS!

Cafés

Good books:

"Wave" by Sonali Deraniyagala and "Ru" by Kim Thùy

"Idea day" (another post)

                    Music

Good conversations!

Art galleries

Artists talks

Workshops

Yoga

NEW!! Swimming

     Self guided retreats                 Art supply stores                     Hardware stores

My "How to DeSuckify my J.O.B." list (a separate post!)

Things that de-energize me:

The extreme heat and humidity during the last half of my Ontario trip knocked me on my ass and but for a few hours I was sick in bed. 
To turn this negativity around I:

1) Finished my novels
2) Made idea day lists, read favourite blogs and Pin bombed 
3) Had facetime with my partner and my dog 
4) Ate my mom's homecooked meals. She makes the world's best butter tarts. Not exaggerating!
5) Booked the airport shuttle to make the commute easy, swift and air conditioned
6) Called my partner's parents to pick me up at YEG as I boarded my plane at YYZ with a migraine
7) Slept in luxury at the 'rents rather than my original idea of driving all night back to YMM
8) Expressed gratitude to all of my family and friends who were both a part of and not a part of my wonderful vacation

I have been practicing the fine arts of surrender, acceptance and tolerance. I have discovered that in most situations one if not all three of these character traits are very useful!

PROCESS

Blog Soundtrack #1-Max Tailor "Ungodly Fruit"

Today's blog is brought to you by the word:

PROCESS

Last night I brought my Shimpo VL Whisper to my camp room. It is set up so that tonight I can use my short change to throw some cups. Long overdue special order cups for a very lovely and patient friend. 

After all that was in my room I realized I had not packed my pottery tool box. I hunted through the paraphernalia in the van for "make my own" tools. I came up with a spoon, a plastic pallet knife and a lace from my hiker. These three objects represent my basic throwing tools: The Wire Tool, The Metal Rib and The Wooden Trimming Tool. 

Blog Soundtrack #2- Beat Pharmacy "Velocity"

This morning, because I set my intentions to Shine, I was rewarded with an abundant Idea Day. I wrote out my ideas and lists, journaled and day dreamed. An idea for another wire tool came to me. Earplugs on a string! The next visit to the wash car had me treasure hunting along my walk. 

Blog Soundtrack #3- Tricky "Aftermath"

Here are the discarded and environmental rubbish items I found and gleened to "make my own" tools with: a leather glove, a piece of stake, a hunk of rope, a zip tie, a knotty root, a piece of lumber. I will post an informative video when I repurpose them. No earplugs on a string though. The discarded ones grossed me out. I'll find a fresh pack tomorrow. 

Here's me worshipping the sun while I was waiting for the shuttle last set. And chugging free coffee.

Blog Soundtrack #4- Com Truise "Brokendate"

Reglaze project!

Here are a few photos from the refire I performed yesterday. I do believe by soaking the kiln at the highest temp it achieves that the glaze had time to mature. Also, I do believe I would have more crystals in these finished glazes had I cooled the kiln slower. There are a couple of pieces I will be putting in the next glaze load to smooth out the bubbles.
Here are some photos!

Non GMO snacks and ceramic glaze tutorial

http://digitalfire.com/4sight/troubleshooting/ceramic_troubleshooting_glaze_crawling.html

This morning I opened my little kiln lid after firing its last batch of wares. In there I envisioned bowls and cups with my new glaze combination "Harvest", new Skully goblets and a few pendants. I knew this load was not fired all the way to cone 6, so I was expecting a glitch or two. What I found was an underfired-by-a-lot load and a lot of crawled glaze.

I have been asking too much of my little kiln. It's probably 25 to 30 years old with all original wiring and elements. I myself have fired it at least a hundred times, give or take. It has definitely been dwindling in power. I could go ahead and redo the elements, but the brick is desperately brittle and I think it would cause far too much damage. Also, I would like to turn this kiln into a small raku kiln at some point, new elements would just be a waste.

Yesterday Boyfriend and I agreed it is high time to pick up my new Skutt kiln http://www.skutt.com/products/KM1027.html
from Plainsman Pottery Supply in Edmonton http://plainsmanclays.com/index.php?menupath=Home2

The new kiln will be arriving tomorrow! Weeeeee!

Meanwhile back in my studio:
Today I took a chance with the underfired, way to crawly glaze ware. I figured I had nothing to lose but to go ahead and apply another layer of glaze, load it up and fire!

Here are the steps I took to make it happen:

First I grouped like objects and glaze together. So, all the reds go together, all the Harvest cups, then the Harvest bowls, and the blacks. The Skullys did not need to be included because they were refired in this load. (How I know this whole thing works!) Then I got all the glazes ready by stirring them or refilling their small jar versions.
Next I brought one group at a time, on a baking sheet, into the kitchen. After I made sure Boyfriend wouldn't freak out, "not allowed pottery in the house." I got a pass. :)
The reason I bring everything to the kitchen is that I like to warm up the ware in the oven to apply the wet glaze over the already fired glaze. I find it adheres well (doesn't run off all over my work table/canvas/drywall!). And I don't have to add any nasty weird adhesives or binders to good glaze.
Also I can eat while I wait. More on that later. I do have a piping hot cup of coffee beside me here.
I preheated my oven to 275 degrees F. This is just hot enough to get the glaze to stick. Also helps it dry not to quickly. If the oven is too hot the glaze will just crack and flake off. Not desirable. I put the baking sheet with the ware into the oven and let everything get nice and warm.
I used a wide hake brush to apply the glaze. This application does not need to be as thick as the first time. It only takes enough to create a bond between the first and second layer as well as fill in the bare clay areas.
The red glaze that I use is called Rollie Younger Red.
http://rollieyounger.com/profile.html

Sometimes if this glaze is too thick, or didn't have time to air dry it crawls. Sometimes if it's too thin it doesn't have any violet snowflake. It doesn't stop me. "Just go for it" is really how I live my life why would my studio be any different, as long as its safe right?!
This is the ware that I reglazed first. I used my glazing tongs to grab the pieces from the oven, working on one piece at a time. I rested the tongs on the side of the glaze pail while I apply the glaze because my arms get tired! With the red I glazed the inside first, then the outside because I had the whole pail, and it could drip into the pail while I glazed the outside. Photos will be following. When I finished each piece I placed it back on the tray in the oven. I repeated this process with each group of wares. On these pieces I did not wax the bottoms, so I have a handy metal scraper (spoon) and a sponge to remove any drips from the bottoms.
On the Harvest bowls and mugs I spent a bit more time as each color is applied by brush. These glazes are from Mastering Glazes cone 6

http://www.masteringglazes.com/index.html
I use a version of spearmint, bone and raw sienna. All semi matte to matte. *le sigh

I wanted to make sure I kept the visual feeling of the glazing but still had a good bond. Also, these glazes are in little containers that made them more welcome in the kitchen than four dusty glaze pails!

As I took each group back to the studio I loaded it into the kiln right away. This whole process took me 3 hours.
It's taking longer to compose this blog!

There's a wait time between last piece glazed and dried so I had to make a snack. I try not to eat in my studio, and I keep my water in a sippy cup that has a straw so that I don't ingest something I shouldn't, nor dip a brush into the wrong bottle. I also try to drink my coffee before I go in the studio, but sometimes a mug follows me in all lonely like. By using the kitchen as a temporary studio I try to follow the same rule. Except for coffee... I used a different already-prepared-for-this-situation counter!
Ta-daa! Time for non GMO cereal http://ca-en.naturespath.com/

organic milk (I take the lactaid pill with it because lactose free milk does not come organic for some reason) and

Alberta unpasteurized honey http://www.albertapremiumhoney.com/
It was fantastic!

When everything was finished and put away I wiped down the kitchen and you couldn't even tell I broke the rules!
The kiln was turned off by me at 12:34 my time. At last check the pyrometers measured the bottom peephole at about 1956 degrees Fahrenheit. So I know that firing is too low by 200 degrees about. And it took almost 3 hours longer. Poor old kiln, even the kiln goddess could not see it through. I will post photos of the outcome tomorrow.
Please browse my photos! they may seem out of order. this blog is being published on the iphone app. it does not put the photo where you want, nor does it give you hyper links. not very satisfied is the box I'm checking! I'll use the web version next time.
Hope you have lots of questions....I'll google the answers if I have to!