It's Been a Minute

Hi friend!And special welcome to new subscribers. It’s been a minute. In broad strokes here are the highlights from my life as a maker and every-day earthling.

January

My solo exhibit at the Zapara School of Business at La Sierra University = Brilliant! People came out for the evening reception. So many people! For friends who prefer daylight driving I hosted an artist walk. This was so popular that I had two more! If you missed the show you can find a write-up about it by clicking HERE.Conversations were had, questions posed, responses received. Bonus: I sold work to a collector 😀Then one of my pastor friends integrated two pieces from my exhibit into a sermon. Thank you, Raewyn! What an honor.

February

Ever a teacher, I was thrilled and challenged by a request to present art to therapists. Their special interest—working with school children who struggle with self-regulation. 

I dove into research and lots of curiosity. On my own I tested (read: played with) a variety of processes. Then I reached out to my favorite occupational therapist and daughter Justin Waring-Crane, who first introduced me to terms like self-regulation, co-regulation, and dysregulation. Her insight enriched the offer I made in the workshop.

The two hour workshop went so well I’ve been asked to return next year. Yay!

March

I’m dreaming of a studio in my garage! Specifically a space to hand-build, fire, and glaze ceramics, but also a place to host maker workshops. So in March I completed an on-line training through the county to establish my own small business: Waring-Crane Studio!!

(Tap the image above for more about the Studio.)

I filled out forms, applied for various permits, and submitted a proposal for a small business grant. More about this in the future.Studio work continued apace because…

April

Saturday, April 1st I presented my first public offering from Waring-Crane Studio with a booth at the Riverside Art Market. This annual event is hosted by the Riverside Art Museum and the Art Alliance. [gallery type="slideshow" size="large" columns="1" ids="9510,9505"]Talk about a perfect day! The sun shone, the crowds came. I am grateful for the many good people I met. Sales went well and I’m thrilled that my dinnerware is out in the world and in use. Yes, dinnerware 😀[gallery type="slideshow" size="large" ids="9474,9472,9471,9469,9468"]More on these lovely dishes in the future.

March into April

I returned to a long-time favorite practice: Lap Swim. I’m so happy I could weep. When the pandemic shut down everything, pools went the way of all public spaces. An unexpected consequence was discovering. I longed to return to the water and a friend shared information for water aerobics classes through Riverside Parks and Rec. Whelp! That was NOT of interest thank you very much! But I showed up (with hopes of just swimming to the side—no luck), loved the workout and the people, and have been an instructor for almost two years![gallery type="slideshow" size="large" ids="9516,9512,9511,9514,9515"]Now, at long last, I glide through the water once more. I do a long, slow mile in joyful meditation two or three days a week. The rhythmic stroke-stroke-breathe of the crawl. The sweeping reach of the backstroke. I commune with the water and the sun in blissful motion.

We’re all caught up!

And here we are. Lots to fill in, but you have an idea of where I am. Where, dear friend, are you on your walk through this gift called life? Let me know. I’d love to hear from you.