Coming Back Around...

I am welcoming in 2016 by looking back... way back to my college days (Graceland University). Specifically the days working in the ceramics studio. I created a small body of work that leaned against the idea that as a "potter/ceramicist" I was destined to make mugs and teapots. I didn't see anything wrong with creating this type of work, but I didn't like it to be assumed that this is who I was as an artist. So the worked referenced functional ceramic pieces, and had a metallic/machine fabrication aesthetic. I had big ideas for this work and where I would take it... However, I didn't really understand how to tackle these ideas, in order to make the body of work a reality. I got overwhelmed, and the ideas sat on the shelf.

Tea Pot Jams, made circa 2000

Fast forward to about this time last year (yes, fast forward... backwards)... I had been getting my hands back in clay. As I dipped my toes (well, fingers) back in the clay... I found myself leaning towards making simple tumblers. These items were something to use, and compliment my life in coffee. I had never seen my skill set matching up very well with those of a "production" potter, but there was something intriguing about tackling that notion... and turning it on its head.

Then, out of the blue... I was asked if I, "could make custom ceramic growlers". I had never thought about such a thing, and had no idea how to go about fulfilling that request... so I said, "yes, I think I can do that". I had also just recently made a challenge to myself to "try and fail" at as many things as possible. This meant, instead of shying away from things that I thought I could not do, or might not be good at... that I would GO FOR IT!!!

So... in the last few hours of 2015... I delivered growlers number: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 (out of 250 to be made). All were sold before the doors to Mare Island Brewing Co. was even open for business (and there was still a line of people who would have to wait for the next batch). The reason I write this post now, is to highlight the fact that these growlers are tied to that work from long ago. The work I was doing then is present now, both in aesthetic and concept. I had to lean into what I bucked against as a young college student... just now am I learning how to be myself. Letting the work flow out of me, and not simply just pushing against the box that others (or myself) might want to put me in. I can now look back at the patterns of my life, and see that the things people now often say that I am "good at"... are all things I was quite sure I could never excel at. What a wonderful thing it is to be proved wrong... and learn something new!

64 oz Growler for Mare Island Brewing Co. (2015)

Coffee & Slow Living Radio

I was recently invited to be a guest on Slow Living Radio, and talk about my experience traveling with Ritual Coffee Roasters down to Honduras. One of the hosts, Sally James, is a long time customer at our store in Napa (in the Oxbow Public Market), and asked me to come share about my experience visiting several of the farms that we source coffee from.

It was a great time to reflect a bit on how amazing this trip was, and what a special relationship we get to have with our producers at Ritual. I talked about picking coffee cherries at Los Manos, and about how the cherries are processed. I tried my best to convey the impact that this beautiful journey had in my work life, and beyond.

We rarely get to track the things that we consume back to the source. To touch that land, the process and to share with those people… is unique, and powerful. So many images stick in my mind, as well as all the laughs that I shared with my co-workers/friends.



Life feels like it is unfolding… and I am finally catching glimpses of how it is all connected. TreeBed Design is rooted in all of these connections, and I am excited to watch as it pushes up through the soil to see the light of these days.

Customize

As you may have notice... there has been no "Summer Release" on the TreeBed Design shop site. This is mostly due to a new gig I am working in the city (San Francisco). It has been about 2 months since I started (about the last time I posted), and things are rolling along. I am rounding out my "start up" experience (I think I have now worked for 5), and the latest is an impressive concept called Horatius. If you are in the city... stop by for a cup of Ritual coffee or a tasty meal (or both).

Even though I didn't do a release of new items for summer on my site... I have been busy with a few custom projects for friends. The first being a t-shirt design for friends living on the big island (everyone should have house t-shirts!)

Kona House T-Shirt by TreeBed
Shirts made at zazzle.com

The second project was for an online friend (she once got me to post a photo of me in my undies), that I recently had the lovely opportunity to meet in person. She was then kind enough to include me in a very special event... HER WEDDING!!! The wedding was decked out by turning to Etsy (a wonderful site for everything hand made), and she enlisted me to make some custom magnets for the occasion. Pretty cool!

So... if you have a special occasion, or just some fun idea that needs a little creative design to help make it a reality... let me know.