Check out the City Weekly Article

http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-414-15573-the-house-that-built-me-page-1.html

I don't know what to say...

...so I may ramble a bit for a while until I figure it out. The writing was going very well there for about a week and then I realized how far behind I was in my preparations for Art and Soup, which takes place next week at the Sheridan down town. I also have a one man show opening at the Loge Gallery at the Pioneer Memorial Theater on the U of U campus starting at the end of the month. I am running far behind for everything, so needless to say, the book will not be done in time for Mother's Day this year, but I believe I can complete it by this fall.

That makes me sad to admit that. In some ways, I feel like I have failed, not in any personal goal sense, but in that I know this book will have some power to help lift and inspire, and those that may need it now will have to wait. I don't like that.

I received a phone call this morning from a woman who asked me to come and speak to a youth group in June. I speak to youth groups regularly. She felt like my message might offer hope to the youth of her community who have seen two of their peers end their lives with suicide in the past two weeks. I am saddened by that. I am saddened to think what might cause a young person to put such a permanent end to a likely temporary problem. This woman was the third person in as many days who has spoken to me about loved ones who have recently committed suicide. What a tragic way to deal with the trials of life. I believe the lessons of this book will help those who struggle with such challenges and I know I have to write it, I know I have to push on. I know that sometimes all we need is glimmer of hope to turn our lives around and face the sun.

Three women stopped by today to purchase a gift for a mutual friend of theirs whose twenty-two year old son recently ended his life. They were looking for a journey jar and found one, but when I showed them some of my latest work for the Loge Gallery show, they fell in love with a beautiful bowl and had to take that too. There is a bright sun in the middle and then written around the sun, it says, "Let us pause in Life's trials to stop and face the sun which is always shining for those with open eyes--look, search, discover.

Years ago, while traveling in an airplane, I was struck with the truth that above the clouds, the sun is always shining, and that if we will open our eyes and rise above the clouds, life is always bright and exciting. Depression is a powerful force that seems to use fear to hold us down and suffocate us. I am reminded of one of my favorite scriptures, 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of Fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind." Fear has no place in the things of God. If we could all turn to love and embrace it and spread it around, I am convinced our world would be a gentler place and fear and the darkness surrounding it would lose its power. So, maybe that what this post is all about, that I needed to remind myself to embrace that which is good and true and light, and let the rest fall by the wayside.

Press on.

PS, Save the date for the Mother's Day open house/ home tour May 10-12 10 am-5pm each day, here at the studio.

Another Day, Another Funeral

So, this was a good week on the writing front. I set aside more time to get through some of the hard things to write and I feel like I made some progress. It is so hard to spend hours on one paragraph and then end up scrapping it because it doesn't end up working for where it is supposed to go. There have been many times in the past months that I feel like I am wasting time, spinning my wheels and not making any progress, but I feel like I have been given this story and though it would be far easier to give up and just make pottery, I know I am not supposed to. I know I couldn't be happy if I did.

I had a couple of random visitors this week who just dropped by while I was writing. I feel like the universe sent them to help me realize I need to write this book, that people need it. It was a humbling experience to see that the very thing we were talking about was the thing I had been writing about. I am convinced that we are all connected. We are all trying the best we can to make it through this life, bumping along the road, trying to make sense of it all. I am glad to be a writer and in the coming weeks, hope to make much more progress. Thanks for your encouraging words. They keep me going when I don't feel like it. They give me perspective. Thank you.

Slow, but steady.

I think I am beginning to understand why it took me eleven years to write my first book when the second and third took only 9 months each. It takes a huge amount of time to lay the foundation for a book, especially one that requires research. That, and overcoming new fears. I think I have written about this before on previous blogs, but after seeing how people have loved the Niederbipp Trilogy, I find myself feeling very careful and sensitive to realities that people have an expectation of me and my writing. I don't want to let anyone down. I don't think I will with this next one, but I recognize how careful I have to be. To be honest, I am not sure why anyone writes. I have spoken of this several times in the book clubs I speak to, but when I write, I am bearing part of my soul. These books are my babies, and none of us like to be told we have ugly babies. I worry about how things will be taken and understood and how it will reflect on how I am viewed as a writer. It is kind of like standing naked in the middle of a sports arena, and singing the national anthem. And so, with this in mind, I am moving forward, trying to keep the distractions at bay, and realizing it is rather unlikely that I will complete this book by May as I originally hoped, but it will be this year sometime, and I think you will like it.

I have also been thinking a lot about my work as a potter. It is my first love, working with clay, getting my hands dirty, making stuff that people like. It has been a wonderful life, but more and more, I am feeling a need to write more. I currently have six books that I have outlined, that I think about nearly every day and I find myself wondering how I will ever get them written if I spend all my days making pottery. For the longest time, I believed my calling in life was to be an artist and make the world a more beautiful place, but since writing the Niederbipp Trilogy and witnessing how the written word has the ability to make the world a more beautiful place by inspiring the minds of people to make it so, I find myself facing the reality that maybe there is more than one art form that I need to pursue. It's too bad that life is so short and that my mind is weak and my body tires and needs to rest. I look forward to a time when such silly things will not bog me down and have power over my body.

Mom Gets Kicked Out of Summer Camp

Strange headline, I know, but that's almost exactly what happened. She was not my mom and in actuality, it was not summer camp. She is Lynnette's mom, my mother-in-law and on Thursday we received a call from the Neighborhood House letting us know that after requiring three staff members to assist her in getting out of the bathroom, she is no longer welcome.

Eleven years ago, my mother-in-law as diagnosed with dementia. This is a little bit like that radio program I used to stay up late on Sunday nights and listen to--Doctor Demento, but really there are very few similarities. That was eleven years ago. She is now 70 years old and is in the severe stages of Alzheimer's. My father-in-law is still working a few days a week, so the Neighborhood House recently became the summer camp we needed and began relying on for life to carry on in some semblance of normal. But lately, finding the right balance of medication is proving to be very difficult. She is either very sleepy or very agitated, bordering on aggressive. Sometimes that border is non-existant. What a tragedy. This has got to be the most cruel ways to die--for all who are involved. Lynnette is amazing with her. I find that I normally have to walk away. It is kind of like dealing with a belligerent 180 pound toddler without the ability to reason and still enough muscles to throw her weight around when she gets upset. I know she is without control of this situation, but the thing I really hate about it is that we are, too. We can try different things, but few of them have any effect. I like to fix things--recognize problems and do all I can to try and come up with a remedy. There does not seem to be one here that is acceptable to all involved parties. It is heartbreaking and frustrating and cruel. Our children are already starting to be afraid of her and she has brought both of them to tears with her outbursts. We know this is beyond her control to control herself, but it barely lessens the reality of the sting.

My father-in-law is not interested in assisted living. He wants to keep her out of that for as long as possible, which means as long as he is breathing. And there really isn't money available even if such an option were allowed. Many of those facilities charge upwards of $200/day. That is a good way to go broke fast. So, we try to do what we can. Lynnette has cared for her mom several days in the past few weeks. It makes it difficult to get anything done around the house. I guess my emotions range from sadness to frustration to helplessness. It just seems like we should have a few more good years with her mom--as a mom, than who knows how long with someone who looks like her mom, but really isn’t. Life is never fair, but we are doing our best to keep our chins up and smile and learn what we can, and take one step at a time. Any suggestions?

In the meantime, I am still plowing on with the next book. I had a minor breakthrough this week with the story after a couple of weeks of spinning my wheels without gaining traction. I am feeling a lot of self-imposed pressure. I know those of you who have read my other books have some expectation as well. I hope to be able to make some good progress in the coming week. Wish me luck. I need it.

Happy New Year!

I guess I can still say that, right? I would like to report that writing has been going well, that I have made awesome progress and that I will have the book done next week. But I can't . This has been a difficult book to write. I would think I am about 1oo pages into it. I would be going faster, but I have been distracted by work in the studio and a flaring case of ADD that usually hits me this time of year as I think about shows and pottery and all the crazy things that life is. I have tried to make pottery in the mornings and write in the afternoons, but that has not worked well because just as I am getting into the groove, the kids come home. I have also been working through a series of self-doubts. Nothing serious, just the same old thing where I find myself wondering what in the world I am going to be when I grow up. And maybe it doesn't matter. That is a long way off. I guess I just feel like a slacker, which is really weird because I am working my tail off, staying up late, getting up and to work early, but I can never seem to accomplish all that I need to, no matter how hard I try. I have a hard time sleeping during episodes like this because the crazy dreams come, and so I wake up having not really slept and the madness become deeper. The weather has left me gloomy and the pottery has been a distraction--there is always something.

At this time, I am still hoping to have my next book out in May, though this is subject to change depending on how the next few weeks go. Most days are over before I can turn around and take notice and it is always depressing for me to realize that it takes me a month to write what you can read in an afternoon. Maybe I need to narrow down my distractions. Maybe I need to get some noise canceling headphones. Maybe I need to lock the door to my studio and forget that I just bought two tons of fresh clay that is begging to be turned into something amazing. Maybe I should run away to a cabin somewhere where I can concentrate and stop being distracted by emails and kiln firings and kids making ramen noodles. Maybe I won't be done with the book by May, and if I'm not, maybe I'll have come up with a really original excuse for my lack of accomplishment. Wish me luck. This is going to be a good year, I can feel it.

Cheers to 2012

Last Open House of 2011--This Saturday!

So, I am a bit hesitant to even say anything about this Saturday because the last two Saturdays have been so busy, but many of you have emailed me to ask, and so yes, this Saturday will conclude the open house for the year.

The first Saturday of my sale is traditionally my biggest, but after people toured the house on the 3rd, they must have gone home and told all their friends and then brought them back on the 10th because last Saturday was by far the biggest Studio Sale I have ever had. It is likely we will do this again in the Spring at our Mother's Day open house and I hope there will be even more tile and happiness to share by then.

Last week at this time, I found myself looking forward to a week without any firings after firing my kiln fourteen times in the past three weeks, but alas, I sold so many pots on Saturday that I had to get busy yesterday and make a bunch more. I am not a morning person, but I was in the studio by 7:30 and didn't go to bed until 1:30 am. I got a lot done, so there will be forget-me-not mugs and lots of bowls coming out of the kiln in the next few days. Normally, it takes two weeks to finish a pot from start to finish. This includes making it, letting it dry for several days, bisque firing, glazing and high firing, with appropriate cool downs in between the firings. My new kiln is amazing. It is firing quickly, can, when forced, cool down quickly, and it produces some really fabulous colors. It will be pushing it, but I think I can get two high fires done in the next few days so we can have fresh pots on Saturday.

The Sale and Home Tour will run from 9-5 on Saturday. 1150 East 800 South in Salt Lake City. The pottery sale will continue through December, but Lynnette wants her house back so this will be the last chance to see our cool, new addition in 2011.

Just to let you know--I am writing again on the funeral book and I am very excited. I can't wait to be able to devote more time to it. Cheers, Ben

Studio Sale Continues Dec 10 and 17th

Wow, this past weekend was the biggest turnout I have ever had at my studio sale. I think it must have had something to do with the home tour. Apparently people like our crazy house. If you missed last Saturday, you still have two more chances at the home tour on the next two Saturdays from 9-5. The studio sale continues everyday except Sundays until Christmas (and maybe after if you say the magic word.) I still have a few copies of the new Forget-me-notes available, too. Come and see. I have two more firings to do before Saturday so there will be lots of fresh pots. I hope to see you soon. Cheers, Ben

Forget-me-notes From Niederbipp With Love to be released Dec 3

I have put off this announcement because I was not sure I would be able to get it done in time, but my printer promised me last Thursday that they would be delivered in time for the open house on Saturday. The idea for this book came to me slowly over the past year or so as I have heard from so many readers who were interested in a quote book from the Niederbipp Trilogy. I have always been a collector of quotes and the last two books gave me an opportunity to share some of those with you. This new book, Forget-me-notes, is a collection of quotes from both the text of the the books as well as some of the chapter heads. Like the other books in the series, this one is also full of funky art that begs for interaction and is hopefully done in a way that will inspire thought and reflection. These books will likely never be available in bookstores as I am only printing a limited quantity for readers who come to my studio or invite me to speak at book clubs. I will likely make them available on Amazon as well. I will be selling these for $10 at the studio open house throughout December and likely over the course of the next several months.

Needing a break from the construction mess in October, I took my family to Moab for a quick getaway over UEA weekend. I asked Lynnette to drive so I could play with some ideas for this book. Instead of going to bed at night, I stayed up very late, sketching and planning and laying things out. When we got back home, I continued staying up late for a couple of weeks, trying to make this happen. Bert Compton, my good friend and the graphic designer of my books, was willing to put things together. It took a lot longer than either of us imagined, but we pulled it off in the time frame we needed to do it and you all will get to see it next weekend.

I am really excited about this book. It is beautiful, both inside and out, and the messages within its pages are thought-provoking and meaningful. I look forward to sharing it with all of you. Just a reminder, the studio sale and home tour will begin this next weekend and run through Dec 17.

Wild Rooster Studio Sale and Home Tour

December 3, 10, 17

9am-5pm

1150 East 800 South

Salt Lake City, Utah

I also wanted to mention the Remembering Isaac is now available as an ebook from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Apple Store.The other books in the series should be available soon.

Studio Sale and Home Tour, December 3, 10, & 17

That's right. We are finally back in our house after more than six months. There have been so many times that I've wished I could update my blog, but in the past six months, I have not had even one day, except Sundays, that I have not worked less than 14 hours, and usually fell into my bed, exhausted. But the work has finally paid off and I want to show you all. So, come to one of the open houses. Consider this your invitation. But if you would like to receive the newsletter, just click on my email and drop me a line, just letting me know you would like to be added to the email list.

So, here's the deal.

Wild Rooster Studio Sale and Home Tour

December 3, 10, 17

9am-5pm

1150 East 800 South

Salt Lake City, Utah

For the past ten years, I have been holding an annual studio sale here at my studio.

This year, we decided to try something we have never done before and open our home to those

who come to look at the pots. One of the coolest new features in our home is the 500 square feet

of handmade tile that I have just installed. It includes tiles made over the past ten year--quite

literally thousands of pieces. It took me nearly a month to lay all the tile in our home. Why, you

might ask would I do such a thing? Well, I'm an artist. I'm crazy and I really love it when people

spend a little extra time making the otherwise mundane, beautiful. The picture above is one of the

back splashes in the kitchen, but I have also made tile for the fireplace and hearth, the showers

the floors, the stairs, an entire bathroom we call the "Potter's Potty", the laundry, etc, etc. There

are lots of people who live with art, but not many people get to live in the middle of art. Taking

my inspiration from artists like Hundertwasser, Gaudi, and Rodier, and such places as Watts Towers

and Gilgal Gardens, I have turned my home into a living piece of art that I hope will inspire creative

children.

Since we have never done such an open house before, we don't know how it will go and don't

know if this is a good idea or not, so we are going to go for it and see if we need to change plans

in the future. Our purpose for doing this is to try to inspire people to be a bit more creative and

imaginative. You may not be able to do what we have done, but we are all capable of doing

something that will add charm to this old world. I feel that the creation of beauty is one of the

most important things we can do in this life.

Our project has taken six months of labor, several years of planning and a decent amount

of money, and though it took us longer than we thought it would, we are still under budget.

This would definitely not be the case had I not done much of the work myself. The project is still

not complete. Some of this will take place in the next week. Much more of it will have to take

place in the next year, but the house is livable and we have been living here for just over a week.

I am falling asleep and will finish this tomorrow, which is really today, just later. Remind me

about the big announcement I've been dying to make.