As a studio assistant to a local wood fire potter, I get to help out during firings. Regardless of the outside temperatures, the kiln keeps you warm!

I serve on my high school’s Board and am fortunate enough to help with their fundraising committee. I made mugs that will be used to help raise money for their transportation campaign.

Tammy Martinez (left), the potter who I assist, and I during a wood firing with Master Potter Tony Clennell from Ontario, Canada.

It was truly a privilege to help out during Tony’s workshop. I learned so much about the craft and appreciate it so much more!

I was invited to fire with a group at Tim Sherman's small soda kiln in Smithsburg, MD. I got some great pieces out of it, and enjoyed my time meeting local potters. Lesson from this firing: don't rush the process of making work!

The guild I'm a member of held a Mug Challenge in May, where we were asked to make mugs using techniques we'd like to try for the first time or perfect. I tried underglaze painting and carving, hand building, adding a spiral while throwing, and using the bubble technique with underglaze. I themed all the mugs after cherry blossoms.

My husband belongs to the Susquehanna Flats chapter of Delta Waterfowl, an organization that prides itself on conservation and waterfowl management. Every year, they host a fundraising dinner, and this year I decided to make a couple sets of mugs to raffle off in baskets!

The saga of the bean pot. My husband has only really asked me to make him one thing: a bean pot. In the first attempt, the lid blew up while being bisqued. In the second (pictured), the handle on the lid kept cracking until I pulled it off. I'm still going to fire it in September so stay tuned for the final result...

Earlier in the summer, I purchased my own small kiln (!!!). This was one of the mugs that came out of its third firing, and it turned out exactly as I had pictured it in my head.