Category: Arts

I am a Cast Member

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hello friends!

I know that it’s been some time since I’ve updated. Life has certainly had a few ups and downs of late. Central Florida is seeing strange times and there are a lot of people who are needing some love and TLC. Many of you may not know, but I’ve been a Disney Cast Member for most of my adult life. I’ve had some amazing roles, most recently being a Minnie Van Driver. Unfortunately, I was laid off last week along with so many others, but I’m OK. Others are not. This is the best way for me to help others; using my art as my voice.

I created magnets to sell with phrases specific to being a Disney Cast Member. I will be donating to the non-profit group, Magic for Magic Makers. This organization was founded by Dana Kyro, who has already helped quite a few persons in need. They will first be available at the Orlando Makers Faire Pop-Up for Furloughed Cast Members on October 10th, from 2-6 pm. After that, I will take email requests for the magnets beginning on Sunday, October 11, 2020. There will be an update on Facebook if any magnets are left over.

Please take a moment to check out Dana’s group. If you can donate, fantastic! If not, I get it. Things are tight for a lot of us right now. One of the best ways to help is to share the information.

Here’s where to find the group:
Facebook – Magic for Magic Makers
TikTok – https://bit.ly/2IeMOqU
Venmo – @magic-for-magic-makers

If any magnest are left after the pop up show, email orders will be taken starting SUNDAY, October 11, 2020.
Magic for Magic Makers, Handmade Magic & Magic Maker are $5.00 each.
Cast Life are $2.00 each.
Shipping will be $3.00 per magnet and then $.50 each additional magnet.
I will update with availability Sunday morning. These are limited in quantity.
kindredowlstudio@gmail.com

Until next time!

Love more. Find gratitude. Share kindness. ❤

Rain

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Studio creativity has been paused today due to the rain. There was quite a bit I planned to get done today, but it will have to wait.

Clearly, I needed to pause. I started my day with coffee and perusing social media for headlines. I updated the coffee-themed group my sister and I have.

And I listened as it started to rain.

At first, it was just little droplets touching the kitchen window. For a few moments, a heavier outpouring provided a bass line for the roof. The skies then imparted a steady, even rain, allowing the grass to soak in its richness and vitality.

It truly is a beautiful sound. The rhythm of droplets hitting an empty pot, and others splashing in the puddles that have been accumulating. It’s restorative and allows me to think and to wonder.

I don’t think we always allow ourselves the space and time to do just that, to pause. To take it all in and allow our minds to be still, yet contemplative. It’s a moment to reflect and find gratitude within the droplets of rain as they spatter about.

For some, rain is annoying and irritable and all things negative. For me, it cleanses the soul and allows for fresh starts and new awakenings.

Today when you pause, please take a moment to reflect, remember and honor the fallen; the soldiers who did not make it home to reunite with their families and loved ones. If it weren’t for them, we might not be able to stop, pause, and enjoy the rain.

❤

Silver Linings

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I really got back to throwing clay today. It was SO incredibly liberating to sit at my wheel and create things from a lump of clay. It’s freeing. Grounding. Satisfying. And while I jump back into my artist life attempting to get caught up and finish things I should’ve finished MONTHS ago, something came to mind.

Healing is hard.

It’s no joke. The destruction of a relationship, no matter from what angle you stand, is an ending that many individuals are not always ready for. There are questions and answers that you have to figure out on your own and with a great deal of self-reliance. Healing is hard when you want to just stay in bed, under the covers, and not take part in the day that is starting.

There are a lot of ‘selfs’ … reliance, loathing, caring, consciousness, harm … I’ve visited them all in the past 10 months. More than once. I suppose it is the time spent on processing that helps us heal. Revisiting moments that you might not want to remember. Questioning the motives, reliving scenes like your mind is your own private cinema. Constantly asking why everything had to happen the way it did. Why me?

But you take steps. Little ones and big ones. Many steps forward and sometimes, the steps go backwards. Fact of life.

I however, take solace in believing every step I take is a triumph that moves me forward. Every step I am a bit more aware of who I am, what I want from life, and how I will get there. Every step is a reminder to find gratitude in the challenges I face everyday. There are silver linings. I get to see them everyday when I think of the things I am thankful for. I am quite pleased with the direction I’m going. And ever-loving thankful for the persons in my life sharing this path with me.

If you would, please find a moment to look up the song, All that Matters, sung by Christina Perri. It is from the musical Finding Neverland. While I’ve not seen the show, the music speaks to me. This song in particular, stands out.

… all that matters now
is where we go from here
there’s an easier way if we live for today
to find that all we are, is all that matters…

Go out there and find your silver linings. We all have them. We just have to look a little harder than we thought once in a while. And it’s SO worth it.

❤

Healing

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Sometimes, when we try new things, we unwittingly realize that particular choice probably wasn’t the best for the long-term. It may be a great deal or a wonderful opportunity, but that doesn’t mean it’s the path for you in the long run. Couple that with the process of healing, and you find things out about yourself very quickly.

I quit grad school.

Yup! I quit. Last Sunday night. The multiple levels of stress washed away like a river. I walked away. I was giddy and smiley, but more importantly, I was more at peace with myself.

Even though the tuition was free and there could be benefits from having a master’s degree. I am OK with it.  The few classes I took served their purpose as a way to get my mind off of the upheaval life threw at me at the beginning of the year.

I am still learning about what makes me happy. I think it’s a constant evolution throughout different stages of life, but I learned being a maker is vital to my creative spirit. I had to step back from my business while shuffling through homework, work, single-mom life and caretaker, and the whole time something was missing.

Well, it won’t be missing anymore.

The garage has been cleaned and rearranged. I got rid of more things that were impeding my creativity and made myself a new space to work from.

Fuck yeah… am I excited. This afternoon will be the first I’ve done work since the spring. The possibilities are endless.

I do have a couple shows coming up!
Saturday, November 16th 10-5
Candy Cane Lane Craft & Gift Show
Downtown Clermont

Orlando Pottery Festival 9th Annual Holiday & Arts Market
Saturday November 30th 9-5
Sunday, December 1st 12-4
National Guard Armory
2809 S. Ferncreek Ave.
Orlando, FL 32806

Please come out and see me!

Spring is in the Air

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I hope this note finds everyone well! Not too much going on other than prepping for the Orlando Pottery Festival Spring Market. My studio time has been a tad limited as I’ve returned to school to work on my master’s degree. I will still be taking custom orders, however turnaround time is about 6 to 8 weeks.

If you’ve got some free time this weekend, come out and see a lot of potters sharing their passion for clay and all things pottery. It’s family friendly and free admission! The show is indoors and air conditioned with plenty of parking adjacent to the building.

Orlando Pottery Festival – Spring Market
This festival is taking place this coming Saturday, May 11th from 9am until 5pm. I am one of 39 artists participating in this event. Please come out and see us!
Florida Army National Guard
2809 S. Ferncreek Ave.
Orlando, FL 3280

I do hope you will come by and say hello!

a little help from my friends…

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I get by with a little help from my friends. I was listening a little to The Beatles today, and although I didn’t hear this song, it got stuck in my thoughts.

It’s true, the words of the song title, and it’s been a lot of help lately. I’m grateful and thankful. Whether it’s been phone conversations, getting a meal together or simply a hug from a friend I don’t see as often. These are the moments that keep me focused forward on what’s to come. These moments have helped me get back to throwing and creating the things I love to make. Moving forward feels good.

Albeit, unloading the glaze fire today was definitely not one of my favorites…. And there was a bit of testing involved with some new glaze mixes. I think I liked 3 things. Maybe…

<insert eye roll here>

But that’s why I’m a maker. I make stuff. I try new things. The important part is that I am back at it. Making stuff. Creating something from a blob of clay, freshly wedged and then thrown and forced into a vessel.

The movement of the wheel and the feel of the clay centers me, more-so than I center it on the wheel. It grounds my senses and my being while I force this wet mass into something that will become strong under pressure and fire. An item that will have beautiful lines and colors, that may glimmer in the sunlight or from the light of a candle.

I have much gratitude for those who keep me motivated and help me push my boundaries. It truly does take a village.

Who am I anyway?
A mom, sister, daughter, potter, artist, friend, coffee fiend, ocean lover, star-gazer, optimist…. and I suppose there could be many others.

But in the end, I am one that gets by with a little help from her friends.

 

Change

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New Beginnings… like a fresh lump of clay, awaiting my skilled hands.

Change is healthy. Change means growth. Change means adaptation and new perspectives. If we don’t have change, we can become stagnant in every area of our life. Although, sometimes we don’t expect the change and it completely knocks the wind of of our ambition and drive.

And just like that, I am picking up the pieces and finding ways to create and stimulate my own productivity. I have to take a moment to type out loud, some accomplishments I talked myself into during the past couple weeks. A couple realizations are mixed in there, too…

The garage is SO much cleaner.
The studio section of the garage is ready to go, which means I will begin throwing again VERY soon.
My bedroom is a more comfortable haven. Ask my cats…
I’ve thrown lots of stuff away that’s been sitting around for no good reason.
Throwing stuff out is cathartic.
I’ve got three boxes full of donations.
Music, of all varieties, is essential to my healing.

Yup.. there it is. This is all part of the change, which makes it all part of the healing.

I’m thankful for my tribe. And for all of you as well.

Many blessings to you all. ❤

 

 

Twists & Turns

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Life is funny. It’s unexpected.

Life is a narrow path that takes you on an adventure you are plotting, point by point.

Life is a enormously wide walkway, with hills and curves that distract you from those points you so carefully planned for, and expected to come to fruition.

My life took some of those drastically different sidesteps this past month. Each day that passes is an opportunity for learning; for healing.

But healing comes slowly some days, and it is in those days that I continue to plot my course. In time, my path will continue forward.

I am incredibly thankful for the friends & family who have rallied around me while I navigate the torrid waters. Without you, I would not be afloat. For that, I am forever grateful and love each one of you. ❤

Studio operations should begin by the end of February. I thank you all for your patience and understanding while these challenges are worked through.

blessings ~ Melanie

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