This is bullsh#t #Summer2020 #WinterIsComing #ImNotReady #yyc #AtLeastTheresPumpkinSpice #Bullshit[Image description: Photo from above, my white feet in ballet style slippers, standing on a lawn in a pile of yellow leaves. Stupid not green leaves. ] Posted by Intagrate Lite

Every child matters // I overheard my son's teacher dedicating their first class today to Orange Shirt Day, educating our next generation about the physical and cultural genocide that happened on our soil. Keep fighting for change. We can't stand by while Indigenous, Metis, and Inuk people continue to die. Our shirts are by @m.o.b.i.l.i.z.e and I'm so grateful to be stylish in orange today. The back is lovely as well, but I have no photographer on hand to really show you the goods. Please go check out their website! Thank you! [Image description: white woman with head cropped pit of photo, wearing a bright orange shirt that has text "every child matters" and image of Indigenous child in regalia.]#everychildmatters #orangeshirtday #orangeshirt #mobilize #TruthAndReconciliation Posted by Intagrate Lite

Stress // To combat stress, I've found a couple of techniques that are serving me very well. The first, I have been painting pumpkins (see my igTV video from Sept 20 for instructions so you can too!) They are getting teenier. It is the calmest way that I've ever combated inner angst.I've also, for those looking for a more aggressive outlet, taken to always answering the phone when it rings. When a scammy phone call comes in such as CRA warning they are arresting me, I press 1 to be connected to the human scammer, close my eyes, take a deep cleansing majestic breath, and push all my horrifying anger into the telephone in the longest loudest from-my-toes scream that I can muster, then hang up before they can respond. I feel better using both of these techniques. If you live with others, warn them before you try #2 or they do come running. ..[Image description: a white hand holding thick watercolour paper square. On the square is a painting of a single orange pumpkin with green stem. A sunflower can be seen in the background behind the hand]..#combatfraud #covidstress #backtoschool #SaveAISH #watercolourpainting #pumpkin Posted by Intagrate Lite

Queen. We will remember you, we will not settle."When I'm sometimes asked 'When will there be enough (women on the Supreme Court)?' and my answer is: 'When there are nine.' People are shocked. But there'd been nine men, and nobody's ever raised a question about that."See ourselves for the power that we are. RIP Notorious RBG.Repost @potteryispolitical Work by @robertolugowithoutwax Posted by Intagrate Lite

Mail // Those who can sense the weather turning have been busy ordering slipper soles and buttons for their autumn projects. Thank you for your continued support of our very literal Ma and Pop business.🤗We started tracking the where of packages since we started mailing in 2012. I am fascinated by the amazing places that our work goes to live. You can find a map on our website with a dot to every city we've ever mailed to as of Sept 12, 2020. 🤗May Canada Post, USPS, and Australia Post carry these safely to their new homes…[Image description: a stack of yellow bubble envelopes with Chasing Fire Studio return address stickers, piled on a blue shag pillow. So fancy.]..#mailrun #smallbusiness #buysmall #buyhandmade Posted by Intagrate Lite

Birthday Salutations // if you see this fine gentleman today, wish him a happy birthday. Our own kilted potter, Jason made on another trip round the sun. We love him immensely. He's our rock.🤗Maker and fixer of things, master hugger, he of the fabulous laugh, punmaster splash, great dad, coach, and never one to say no to a challenge no matter what feces comes flying.Never gonna give you upNever gonna let you downNever gonna run around and desert you#happybirthdayjason #jasonitsyourbirthday#RickRollin.Image descriptions for each in Alt Text Posted by Intagrate Lite

Tools // We talk so much about tools in studio, in our videos, with other artists and ceramic artists and potters. We all have our favourite ride-or-die BFF tools. Jason and I regularly hoard red ribs (the red rubbery tool with a hole in the middle of it, seen in photo). I have a metal bit from a disassembled scotch tape dispenser glued to a chopstick that makes my heart flutter. As a family, the bin of round sponges at our supplier, Ceramics Canada, is a joy – our son once ended up face down and feet up in that barrel as he yearned to reach the bottom through the thousands of sponges. We do like the things that we like. 🖌These days of glazing and painting, we have favourite brushes and chairs as we work through the backlog of pots. The chill in the air is reminding us that we should appreciate every warm day we have, so we are achingly behind our own schedule. Lucky for us, our priority to enjoy these moments outside the studio before the snow flies is something we can take without guilt. Our tools will wait. They are wonderful that way.🖌What are your priorities this week?…[Image description: a charcoal black work surface with clay dust, covered in a variety of pottery tools: ball tools, brushes, a round yellow sponge, a red rib, a silver carving tool, and a small piece of clay.]..#creativeprocess #creativelife #handmademovement #artisanmade #makersmovement #makersgonnamake #etsyartist #ceramics #pottery #AlbertaMade #yycarts #canadianceramics #ipreview via @preview.app Posted by Intagrate Lite

A Day Of Rest // We will be skipping our Sunday Live today because we have discovered first hand that humans are easily taken down by other organisms. In our case, the wasps under our front step are Deeply Concerned that we are encroaching on their giant hidden nest and have fought back as expected. I would not have expected a couple of stings to fell me so effectively but here I am, 15 hours later and my leg is still spasming and I'm so very nauseous. I had even scrubbed out the wounds after the stings as the old wives advised. Jason's thigh and back are finally calm from his bout with the wasps earlier in the week. We had no idea that our new housemates were so venomous. Antihistamines and ice are in rotation as we marvel at our next move since chemical warfare is failing us, and burning down the house seems a bit extreme (although flamethrowers have been discussed) Do we just wish for snow?🦂The buttercups in the picture are a more beautiful form of poison. We saw them often during our mountain hikes this summer and I was surprised that my identification guide has warnings for every variety of buttercup: POISON. At least these, we could live with in our garden….[Image description: a large number of tiny yellow five petaled flowers with green foliage, growing wild. They are pretty and nothing about them reveals their deadly nature.]..#wasps #buttercup #waspwarfare Posted by Intagrate Lite

Do any art // My many parts have come down with some sort of illness, or I've eaten something off, or aliens have implanted something fun, and then my head, never one to be left out, has begun to ache so I'm not able to turn to electronic amusements this evening to distract myself. In my woeful wailing, and caterwauling tantrum of wanting to do things, I'm working on wee cards for an exchange. I just want to send Encouraging Pumpkins to everyone in the world. I'm writing on each card some of what I'd like to hear, especially today.Have you ever done a card or gift exchange with strangers? Do you have any encouraging phrases that my pumpkins can impart to their recipients? I'd love some assistance to make these pumpkins a welcome gift.Not seen in the photo is the amazing glittery fabulousness of @ffrench watercolour pans I'm using in combination with the set that my mother gave me, which is seen in photo. #watercolor #ink #postcard #cardexchange #spoopy #pumpkin #lsg..[Image description: watercolour set next to a small painting on paper of an orange pumpkin with text "spoopy pumpkin is proud of you. Also happy Halloween." There is another painting on paper of an orange pumpkin tucked behind.] Posted by Intagrate Lite

Faces // The final results of the first two face pots for my wee plants …[Image description: two clay pinch pots with faces, side by side with excessively moody lighting.].#creativeprocess #creativelife #handmademovement #artisanmade #buyhandmade #makersmovement #makersgonnamake #etsyartist #ceramics #pottery #AlbertaMade #yycarts #pinchpot #handbuilt #canadianceramics #kiln #kilnfired #kilnfolk #ceramicprocess #handmadeceramic #shoplocalyyc #handmadeyyc #handcrafted #studiopottery Posted by Intagrate Lite

Pinch Pinch // Pinching technique to make a pinch pot with face in today's igTV video. I'm still refining the features on this sweet little planter, and I have some holes to poke in his bottom, but he is well on his way to being a loving home for a wee spider plant that I picked up this week. Check out the igTV video to watch me create this pot from a ball of clay using my hands and some simple tools. ..#pinchpot #planter #facepot #sculpture #handbuilding Posted by Intagrate Lite

Slow craft // Slicing up leather for Heels & Toes slipper soles today. I'm imagining warm toesies as the nights are chilling here in Alberta, the mountains reminding us of the cost of living so close to their majesty. These and many other colours will be heading to our good friends in Edmonton at @thefibrenook so, my sweet friends to the north in #yeg, get those slippers knit, crocheted, sewn, and pop in to the shop to choose the perfect sole match to keep you safe from slipping and prevent wear & tear..Not in Edmonton? Visit @stashlounge in Calgary or check our bio for a link to our Etsy shop to order yours. …#slippersoles #slippers #buylocal #makersmovement #handmade #knittersofinstagram #crochetersofinstagram Posted by Intagrate Lite

Pot Dealer // When my son was in Grade 3, he told his teacher that his mom was a pot dealer. He giggled as he watched her face contort, speechless, and then he skipped off to recess. My little angel mentioned this to me as we walked home from school that day, proud of his wit, and I was torn between laughing, crying, and rushing home to clean for the inevitable visit from a social worker. A phone call to his teacher and social media proof of our POTs cleared the air, however I'll never forget that moment when I realized that our child had picked up our sense of humour and it would certainly bite me in the arse for many years to come. When I saw this t-shirt later that year, I yelled "TAKE MY MONEY" and it is still my favourite shirt for studio days. It makes my son giggle, and my friends roll their eyes. Mission accomplished all around. ⚱.[Image description: white woman with brown hair in a blue t-shirt. The t-shirt has white icons of ceramic pots with white text "POT DEALER Pssst wanna buy a nice pot?"]…#creativelife #handmademovement #artisanmade #makersmovement #makersgonnamake #etsyartist #ceramics #pottery #handcrafted #studiopottery #punny #ipreview via @preview.app Posted by Intagrate Lite

Loaded // All cozy and stacked, ready for their long hot day in the kiln as they magically (scientifically) turn from formed mud to permanent forms. Kiln firing one of two, and only three days behind schedule because sometimes, clay doesn't dry just because you want it to. Clay that isn't completely dry before entering the kiln is a great way to guarantee an explosion.Now it's time to finish filling this kiln and fire it up! See you in 24 hours, little clay babies..[Image description: Sixteen ceramic mugs loaded into kiln, viewed from above.]#creativeprocess #creativelife #handmademovement #artisanmade #buyhandmade #makersmovement #makersgonnamake #etsyartist #ceramics #pottery #AlbertaMade #yycarts #canadianceramics #kiln #kilnfired #potterymug #wheelthrown #kilnfolk #ceramicprocess #handmadeceramic #shoplocalyyc #handmadeyyc Posted by Intagrate Lite

The Schedule // Spoiler: it's changed twice already since this photo was taken (my dates for activities were wayyyy off and Jason has items to add to the first August bisque so… revamp!) However, we have an outline, a checklist, a guide of sorts to take us into mid-October. It may change wildly depending on what "Digital School" looks like for our son, what repairs are needed around our home before the snow flies, and if anyone in our community/cohort needs support. Or if we get sick. Plan A is in place but we don't mind having other plans in the wings, just in case.How are you organizing your weeks? Are you still creating with the robust strength as you did pre-Covid Times? Do you need strong calendar organization or can you wing it with ease? 🦁🤡 Our circus would love to hear how you manage!#studioplanning #artpractice #studioorganization #productivity Posted by Intagrate Lite