When one of my granddaughters was here for her summer visit, I knew I had to come up with something for her to do...something with an artistic tilt to it. After checking out different places, we settled on a ceramic studio. I thought it would be perfect for a fun afternoon with Grandma. And it was!
But it wasn't Grandma's first venture into the world of ceramics! Oh, nooo...I'd been there before, in the early 70's. Back then, it was the chance for young Moms to get away from the kids and Monday Night Football, as the Dads took care of business at home on the gals' night out.
It was my older sisters and a friend who got me interested in a class that would have us in some woman's basement every week. There, we would pay our weekly fee, choose our piece and paint away. Only problem was that my need to hurry and get things done fast didn't just spring up recently. Uh, uh...It goes back that far!
My sisters and friend would choose things with intricate detail, like gorgeous canister sets and cartoon character lamps. Each week, they would retrieve their handiwork from the shelf and continue on with their work. Each week, I'd choose (and pay for) a new piece! The others would, painstakingly, paint the beautiful flowers, the life-like eyes, and take weeks to complete their projects. Meanwhile, I'm over in the corner, cranking out solid colored ashtrays, like I was on an assembly line! Do you know how expensive ceramics can get, at that rate?
One of my masterpieces that I particularly liked was the hubcap-sized ash tray...I guess, if you were having a LARGE party in the '70's, it'd get some smokers' use... That, or you could use it as a chip bowl! It only took me half of the class time to complete THAT one!
Good thing the conversation was great on those Monday nights in the 70's... I, at least, got THAT out of the class. And the conversation was good on that July day with my granddaughter, too....the laughter wasn't as raucous as it was in the 70's, but we had a terrific time.
And for you smart alecks out there wondering...I didn't paint an ashtray this time. I painted a solid colored tile and my granddaughter thought it was LOVELY!
LOL, and to think I use to envy my friends who went to ceramics class. I would only buy a ceramic that needed to be painted at Christmas, so I have some really classic pieces. The one that I glued the mini-Christmas lights into was the one I thought cool, and still do. Every Christmas I hold my breath, they lite up, and I sing "Hallelujah".
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