I chose to make one simple change. I got rid of my mass-produced, machine made mugs. To goodwill they went (save one with a reproduction of Grant Woods’ American Gothic and another with a Greyhound etched on it). Then I began to develop my collection of handmade mugs.

I had purchased artist made mugs here and there. Now I wanted a cupboard full.

Here’s why: every morning I get up and make a pot of coffee. In the past I reached for any old mug I could find. Most were purchased at a “big box” store – one of many from a set, all identical. Now I wanted the first decision of the day (after coffee, of course) to be purposeful. Which mug do I want to drink out of today? Because each handmade mug is a different drinking experience. No more auto-pilot. The Cupboard of Choice awaits.

Here are some of my favorite mugs.

This mug was made by Robin Reynolds in Hebron, North Dakota. She uses native clay that she digs. The outside of the mug is unglazed so it has a unique textural quality that my other mugs do not have. A natural and simple mug with the bison skull on the side.

This mug is one of my most recent acquisitions. Made by Brian R. Jones in Portland, Oregon and purchased on etsy. I’m fascinated by the markings on this mug. Fresh and clean.

This mug is Tama Smith’s Prairie Fire Pottery from Beach, ND. This mug evokes thoughts of North Dakota. The glaze is spectacular – reminds me of the layers in the North Dakota Badlands. If you’re driving through North Dakota on I-94, you must stop at Tama’s shop. Must. Must. Must. Also, this mug keeps the coffee hot like none other. Must be the design? And feels great in the hand.

Sue Tirrell. I covet Sue Tirrell’s work. This one was a gift from a friend. Can you believe it? I was amazed when I opened the box. Like 100 Christmas mornings. Sue also does sculpture of horses and rodeo themes and much more.

Another new mug, Ayumi Horie. Oh do I love this mug. Its the go-to when I’m anticipating a tough day. Holding it makes me happy. I love the bunny on the side. I love the glaze. I love the shape and how it is slightly off of round. The detail in the handle. A beautifully crafted piece of art to begin the day.

And the last mug I’ll show today is this little brown mug, artist unknown. I purchased this mug for $15 at the Spearfish, South Dakota Art in the Park. Its lip is not level so one has to be careful when filling it. Somehow I end of reaching for it anyway.

I’m always on the lookout for new mugs to add to the collection. Of course, I’ve got a Pinterest board devoted to mugs I’ll add someday.

To surround oneself with beauty… To live purposefully…. Good goals.

Okay… thats a bit strong, but I am loving having a place to tag images found while surfing the internets. I can “pin” images from artists that I love, which creates these nifty boards of images. Like bookmarks, only image based. Also things that inspire me. Patterns. Shapes. Historical greyhound photos. Dreams for my studio space.

Really cool. Very addictive. If only they had an iPad app… I’d be in serious trouble.

May I Pet Your Dog? The How-To Guide for Kids Meeting Dogs (and Dogs Meeting Kids) by Stephanie Calmenson is a story about a dachshund named Harry. The illustrations are cute, but more importantly, very clear. Nice story about respect for animals.

Don’t Lick The Dog – Making Friends with Dogs by Wendy Wahman is a rhyming story with bold illustrations. The story is simple but effective. Not as in-depth as the previous title, but a great gift book that is fun, yet informative.

Not Afraid of Dogs by Susanna Pitzer is not an etiquette book but a story about courage and friendship. The story begins with a boy who is “not afraid of dogs, just doesn’t like them.” He has to confront his fear when his aunt’s dog comes to stay. The illustrations are beautiful.

I bought all three for our public library. If you have suggestions about more good children’s picture books about pets, I’ve love to hear them!

How does she do it? I mean… walk her Greyhound with the big, round tuft of fur around the hem of her skirt?

No wonder the Greyhound looks so happy!

(from http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/npcc.13418/)

No? Just me then? Okay…

I’ll attribute it to the blizzard conditions and being cooped up in the house. Or that sometimes he’s so darn cute.

#20 Paula Knight! Email your address to me and I’ll get this smoke fired mask sculpture on its way!

Paula’s answer was Ireland (along with a lot of others!) and that was my answer too. Go figure.

Still, come the end of February the cabin fever hits. Real Cabin Fever. The kind that can only be cured by traveling 500 miles or more from my point of residence.

Not that this little town is a bad place to live. It is rather unvarying. Willie Nelson describes the culture in his hometown of Abbott, Texas as having “two kinds of culture – agriculture and yogurt” – Bowman is kind of like that.

Not a terrible thing. Here’s Main street in 1910ish(?). Sigh… there used the be a Bakery. Alas, no more. The only bread available comes in on a truck. And what *are* the piles in the front of the building?

Here is our town circa 2009 taken from the top of one of the buttes. And we are in one of the parts of North Dakota that isn’t so flat…

If I’m stuck here for a bit, let my artwork go somewhere else. So a giveaway. How about this smoke-fired mask:

This is a large whippet/small greyhound sized mask hand built by me. Smoke fired with all sort of goodies like copper wire, plants from my backyard, cheap dog food, etc – that with the fire gives it a funky mottled surface. Totally one of a kind. Has a copper wire hanger if you’d like to hang it on a wall.

To enter the giveaway, answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post or in the comments or comment on this post on my studio’s page on facebook.

“If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?”

Please, one entry per person. No entries after 9:00 pm Pacific Time Monday, February 21. Winner will be chosen at random. I’ll announce the winner on Tuesday morning.

#30 Ann Sparks! Email your address to me and I’ll get this large Trio tile on its way!

And just because that lunar eclipse was so darn cool last night… let’s pull to more numbers out of the hat:

#53 Joyce Jackson! And #74 Christine Maglione Cavella! -  Email your address to me and I’ll get a 4×4″ Leaping Greyhound tile to you both!

Because even though the sun set at 4:07pm this afternoon, the rest of the day was bright and sunny and beautiful….

Because the Greyhounds slurped up their green tripe with smiles on their faces (almost!) and even though the stuff is so smelly and gross, I was happy to feed it because it makes them so happy….

A little giveaway.

One of my 6″ x 9″ Greyhound trio tiles in antique parchment glaze. Add it to your Greyhound art collection. Use it as a trivet in the kitchen. Hang it on the wall or grout and frame it.

To enter the giveaway, answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post or in the comments or comment on this post on my studio’s page on facebook.

What’s your favorite time of year and why?

Please, one entry per person. No entries after 9:00 pm Pacific Time Monday, December 20. Winner will be chosen at random. I’ll announce the winner on Tuesday morning.

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.” – Martha Graham

No arguing with Martha. Spot-on.

#25 - Carla J Myers! Email your address to me and I’ll get the tile on its way!