I am done! I am officially a graduate – the first, in fact – of this pottery program. The i-s are dotted, the t-s are crossed and this goal is done! It was one of my original goals on 43T and one of the only ones I’ve kept on my list these last 2 years. I am very proud to mark this one completed! 4 years ago

The school will accept my transfer credits and I will be the first graduate of the program – as soon as I dot a few i-s. I’ll believe it when I see it! 4 years ago

School starts on Monday. I’m going in, though I don’t know if I’m going in as a student or graduate assistant. Hmmmm. I don’t really care, except for the money. It’s just strange to be facing a third Fall term in a two-year program. 4 years ago

Here I am, in school, the last person on the last day and I still don’t know if I’ve graduated or what. Loony tunes. 4 years ago

May result in a real windfall for me!

The college has somehow managed to screw up schedules and credits and there are two of us who should be graduating in two weeks and due to this, won’t be. Which kinda leaves me in limbo – except I have the world’s best prof! I explained how I don’t even know if I should clear out of my little corner of the studio at the end of the month. His reaction? I can assist him and remain at the studio as an in-kind relationship. I’ll keep the glaze book up to date and that kind of thing – not heavy work. I’m so delighted.

I’m sure once everything gets ironed out my transferred credits will fill out any imagined gaps the school has retroactively found.

All I want to do is make pots. This means I don’t have to invest big bucks in a kiln of my own and I can still do great work with all the benefits of a great studio.

:-) That’s me smiling! 4 years ago

But I no longer qualify for the Pell Greant so I’m getting nervous! 4 years ago

The program I’m in is new. I’ll be one of the first graduates of the program. Now that I’m in the last required class I find out – just today – that the administrator who was responsible for the program, and who left just before Christmas, failed to tell even our prof that the school would require two art electives in addition to the required courses. Mind you, the school doesn’t offer any electives, so some would have to be created, and they haven’t been.

So, argh.

However, I have college credits I can transfer that should satisfy this sudden requirement. If they’re not too old ;-) 4 years ago

when I started on 43T I had just found this program I am about to complete. It didn’t seem possible for me to do so considering the finances and taking care of my Mom. Yet here I am – one course away from the finish line. I should have been done this semester, but I missed this course last summer because of Mom. It actually helps that I have this summer to finish though, as my arm has held me back this last semester.

When I am done I intend to wipe out all my goals here and start fresh. So much has changed in my life. I went back and looked over my first entries and all I wanted then was a job. That almost makes me laugh now. That may reappear in August, I don’t know, but I want so much more now.

And all of you and 43T has helped me so much. Thank you. 5 years ago

My prof and I spent the evening together, photographing what’s left of my best work. I hate that this semester was not as productive as the previous ones but even I have to admit that some of my “crazy ass” series looks pretty good in photographs!

And, I was able to throw a little base and add coils to it. It will be a big jug by tomorrow! This will be my first thrown pot since January. 5 years ago

I just registered for my last class! 5 years ago

Of what should be my last semester. I missed a course somewhere along the line, due to taking care of Mom, so I’ll have to pick it up in the summer, but that’s ok with me.

It’s been a good ride. 5 years ago

This semester I actually got money back from my grant! Yay! 5 years ago

for last semester! 5 years ago

Though I’ll miss the studio and my fellow potters, I need this break. This last semester was killer. Too much personal stuff going on to keep up. I have a whole month off. Enough time to decompress, get my chow back to normal I hope, knock out the remaining paperwork from Mom’s death, clear my head and readjust to a new year. 5 years ago

I started this program right around the same time I joined 43 Things. A lot has happened since then. I can’t believe I have just one semester left! Now I just have to make a living at this. 5 years ago

And am on track in another. I don’t want to leave Mom today but I have to glaze some things if I’m going to complete my project. I am making 15 casserole dishes and tangines. Some need trimming and most need either glazing or to be loaded into the kiln. If I can finish out this semester and Mom is still alive, I’ll have to forego school next semester to care for her. 5 years ago

Now I’m not so sure. I’m trying to keep up but there are certain attendance standards I’m currently blowing out of the water! 5 years ago

A whole year since I started on this path. And what has changed? Last year I was a fair potter with limited skills and no clue as to how to turn my hobby into my second career. Now I have both the skills and the direction I needed. It’s also been a godsend to set me out of the house. You’re never too old to go after your heart’s desire. 5 years ago

But I’m taking all three courses. I’ll qualify for my certificate at the end of next semester but plan to take advanced courses through Spring quarter. I can’t believe I’ve gotten this far! 5 years ago

And I find out my Pell grant doesn’t cover summer sessions! And I can’t graduate without these courses. Argh. 6 years ago

It started late, as I had to take Mom to the hospital first. Then one of my big platters split in the fire and several of my fired pots had faults: a casserole’s lid stuck, one bowl had too much glaze, another, too little. I spent all morning glazing and all afternoon mixing glazes and no time making pots. _And_our sale is in question because wants to take 20%! Argh. 6 years ago

I made bottles today, tall skinny bottles, which I will smoke-fire next month. We had a TV crew there from ETV and some folks in from a new program in a neighboring state. I was making good pots and getting things done. It felt good. 6 years ago

After that I have two weeks to prepare for my show and sale and to complete my assignments. I’ll take the summer semester and then the fall semester will end my certification! I plan to go on and take the advanced courses next spring.

I want to hang on to the instructor and facility as long as possible! I hope the school gets the incubator idea off the ground by the time I finish so I can be among the first craftsmen incubated! 6 years ago

I made an outside planter two feet across and at least a foot deep! I am so pleased. I am a fortunate woman to be involved in this program. I also got a small scholarship for next semester. 6 years ago

So far this semester I have made 10 large, lovely bowls! Also, 7 pretty bottles, a couple of amazing, tall, vessels, 10 rice bowls (which go to my local food bank for a fundraiser) and I’m working on covered jars. I also made a few nice platters but I’m still behind on my list. That happens when a) you miss two weeks, and b) you move slow as cold honey! More potention good news: I think I’m getting a scholarship. Should know in a couple of weeks. That would be such a boost, not just financially, but also mentally. 6 years ago

It’s been two weeks since I broke my foot. Last week I tried to return to class but Mom got sick so I was out all last week, too! I did go back this week and it’s been tough. I’m slow, behind, and it’s hard to get around. I pretty much have to just sit and do stuff. I did make 7 bottles and glazed most of my big bowls but today I have to go back for more xrays, so I’m missing another day! Argh. 6 years ago

when, BAM! I’m down on my butt. So we’ll see if I can return to class on Monday, in a wheelchair, and still do all the physically demanding stuff clay requires. I have lots of supportive people there to help, which is wonderful. I may have to revise my rather ambitious project list, however. 6 years ago

I’m loving this. I’ve applied for some scholarship money. I don’t know if I can do this again next year without some help. The old cookie jar is running low.

However, I’ve gotten good control over the clay and am working on doing the same with the glazes. I’m up to about 10 lbs as my maximum centering weight and aim for at least 15 this semester. 6 years ago

I start my second semester toward my certification. I’m still taking things one day, one bill, at a time. There’s a little more pressure now about money as I’ve gone through the easy savings and now must somehow access my retirement money. Still, I’m excited to get back to work! 6 years ago

I made my first money from the sale of my pots! I’m floating on air. This was so great. People liked my pots enough to buy them! Maybe this isn’t such a bad career plan. ;-) 6 years ago