Kate in Bulgaria

Experiences as a Peace Corps Volunteer and some adventures on the side

I had the opportunity last weekend to do something that I dearly love to do but haven't been able to do in many years.  For my birthday last year, Matt gave me one of the best presents I've ever received.  He arranged it so that I could use the pottery studio of one of the local craftsmen in Apriltsi. 

Now someone of you many have heard my mother tell the story of the time when I informed her I wanted to drop out of college and become a professional potter.  As I'm sure you can imagine this news was not received well and I was encouraged to rethink this and come up with a better plan.  That new plan involved 2.5 years of pottery classes, 3 independent studies and one summer as a pottery teacher.  Unfortunatlytbeing a potter these days is just not that easy (at least not as a profession) and I was forced to get a real job and a real degree.  My love for throwing pottery though never left me and as soon as I have the space, I'm going to have my own studio.  Until that day however, I will have to take the opportunites to throw wherever I can get them. 

So, back to that birthday present.  Last weekend I finally managed to get myself to the pottery studio of the local potter to take advantage of said present.  I must admit I was a bit weary of going, it has been more years then I like to think about since my last go at throwing anything on a wheel.  Well, as soon as Ivailo (the owner of the studio) got me set up with the necessary tools, it was as if I had never been seperated from the wheel or the pottery studio at Meredith College.  I can't express how much I enjoy the process of throwing.  Whether the piece I'm working out turns out to be what I wanted, something it has decided to become or just a heap of used clay, the process of making it is one of my most favorite things to do in the world. 

I was a bit rusty and it took me three tries before I made something I thought worth keeping, but it was wonderful.  I could have done it for hours if it weren't for the fact that my poor hands were not accustomed to the work.  After I was finished, Ivailo let Matt and I pick out a design for ourselves.  Watching a true master is awsome.  The way he was able to manipulate the clay and watching the transformation from a lump to a beautiful bottle amazed even Matt. 

Ivailo

After Ivailo and I cleaned up, he invited Matt and I to have dinner with his family.  His wife is also a potter, so you can just imagine the decor in their house.  I drank wine out of a beautiful goblet, while eating off of hand thrown plates.  All while being entertained by their too cute 2 year old daughter Nia.  I may try and get one more session in before Matt leaves in early August and there is always the glazing to think about. 

Nia

And the other exciting news is that Matt's parents arrive in Bulgaria tomorrow.  I wil head up to Apriltsi Saturday and come Tuesday we will begin our much anticipated trip around central/eastern europe.  We will start in Budapest then work our way through Vienna, Salzburg, Prague, Krakow, Kiev and finally Odessa.  We will get back to Bulgaria on the 30th then make our way back to Apriltsi.  THis will be the first time for all of us in each of the cities and I am more excited then I can say. 

So, this will be the last post for awhile.  Hope everyone has a wonderful Summer and 4th of July.

posted by: ksension at June 08, 2006 16:23 | link | comments (1) |

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