Sunset in Toronto

While in Toronto I stayed with my very good friend Disa.  We went to Art school together and since that time (11 years ago now!!) she has moved to Toronto, back to Vancouver, and now to Toronto again last year.  So the first time I visited her, and my very first time in Toronto, she lived near Liberty Village in a beautiful condo just over the tracks from their place now.  They just moved into this new condo and I couldn't help thinking their summer is going to be great.  I loved the proximity to Queens Street West, along with the restaurants and shops near by.

I have a few new pieces available online along with some new work that I dropped off at the Gallery of BC Ceramics yesterday.  I'm taking the afternoons off this week so not a lot will happen in the studio until next week, when I will be back to filling wholesale orders.  It's been a really good break just to focus on the show, making new work and new designs, but I do need to get back to some regular work again. There's also a studio move in the works for me for mid-July, with a few renos needing to take place before I move in.  It's only up the hall from where I am now, but I'll finally, after 5 years of being in this space, have a window.  Yes, a small, little window. 

A little glimpse

I took a few photos in Toronto with my iphone- something I purchased before I left for TO.  Actually, Dean got the new iphone 4 and I took his iphone 3.  I didn't feel like I needed all the extra bells and whistles but had kind of wanted one for a while. Anyhoo, I had a great trip and will post 'real' pics this week.  For now, a little sample of my visit with Disa and the sights around Toronto, which is a city that mixes old with new quite well.

A Weekend in Toronto

Well I'm off to Toronto tomorrow for a quick weekend trip- just me, on my own.  It's going to be a great trip and a hard trip all in one.  First off, it's a trip that's been in the works for years.  The whole reason behind the trip is that I am going to visit my great-aunt.  She was a potter for over 30 years, until about 9 years ago when a terrible illness took her zest, her vitality, and her passion from her.  It would be really sad to say that the illness just took her ability to do pottery away, but the illness also took her ability to walk and think and do away as well.  
The last time I saw my Aunt Nettie, she taught me how to throw a really large pot.  She gave me glaze recipes and wedged clay with me in my college clay class.  A few years later she shipped a second-hand wheel to me, along with a bunch of pottery books and a ton of tools. To this day I still use many of the things she sent me- tools that still have her name on them.
Recently my Aunt Nettie has been asking that I come and visit her on the same weekend as her old potter's guild show and sale.  So this coming weekend I'll be attending the Spring Sale at the Waterloo Potter's Guild on behalf of my great-aunt, who can't go herself.  I'll be staying with my dad's cousin and visiting my great-aunt for a couple of days.  It's one of those trips that will be hard and good all at the same time.
On the way to Kitchener, I'll be visiting my good friend Disa in Toronto for a couple of days!  Disa moved to Toronto last spring, and we are really looking forward to catching up.  There are a few studio-related visits and meetings going on while I'm there, so I should have lots to share when I get back.
In the meantime, thank you to those of you who have taken advantage of 15% off my Etsy shop (code SPRING SALE)! The sale is until the end of April: I have a nearly full selection of striped bottle vases in stock if you are interested in those for Mother's Day or Easter!  I'll be shipping all orders that I receive this week out when I get back on Monday, April 18.