Tomorrow I will participate in my first actual pottery show. The Oregon Potter's Association's Ceramic Showcase at the Memorial Coliseum Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I'm excited to spend a few days with other potter's, nervous to see how my pottery is received by the wider world.

Last year I had a few things in the gallery, which was great, but not quite full participation. This year I had applied for a booth in October, waited until a couple of months later to find out I was number 8 on the waitlist. Certainly a let down, but my own fault for not having done enough volunteering for the Potter's Association.

I had signed up to be in the gallery again if I didn't get a booth. So I decided it was time to perfect the ceramic resonator soprano ukulele. I built about 5 ceramic bodies, tossing a couple that didn't seem like they were going to work. Had a couple of issues that I was working through, but I thought it wouldn't be a problem to have three ukuleles ready for Showcase.

I'm always in my studio making things for the Box and recently I've gotten a few commissions that were keeping me busy enough. So I was getting plenty of studio time. In addition, I was getting occasional e-mails saying that I was moving up on the waiting list.

Then, on the 18th of this month, just 10 days ago, I was informed that someone had dropped out and that I would have a spot in the group booth. by that time I was thinking a few ukuleles in the gallery was all I had needed to do. So for about the last 10 days I have been in my studio every night 'til late and all day as well on the weekend. My kiln really didn't get completely cool for most of the week.

So today was set up day. My shelves in the group booth are full and someone already decided to play the uke while people were setting up today (or at least that's what I'm told by one of my neighbors).

If you're in the Portland area, stop by.