Nicole's Art Club Visit & Artist Zine

When I was in high school I was very uninterested in academics. At some point I fell behind and I was not able to advocate or speak up for myself and my needs. So I leaned into the things I was good at - art. I would ditch my other classes to hide away in the art room. If I couldn’t get out of class I brought my art supplies to them, which was some times enjoyed but mostly seen as a distraction. I grew up in a small town (my class size was less than 90) and luckily, eventually I graduated. For me art has always been safety - a way to express myself and escape. It has been years since I was in high school but I can still recall how I felt during those years.

Over the summer of 2024 I acquired lots of old plaster slip casting molds, which I decided to give away. While we live in a capitalistic society and some of these molds have value I find it much more exciting to find other ways of distributing them like trading or donating. During that time I met a few of our local art teachers and started chatting about their classes. I was eventually asked to meet with our high school’s after school art club. The opportunity to speak with young artists was such an honor especially as I remembered my high school years. Knowing that are time was limited I put together a handout or zine to hopefully provide some inspiration or at least share some thoughts. I hope that regardless of if these students pursue an art career they will at least find something helpful along the way and know that I am rooting for them.

Since we’re sharing, below you can check out some of the pages I included in the zine. Feel free to leave a comment with something that has inspired or helped you along your creative path.

~ No Ai was used in the making of this. Please be conscious of the energy and environmental impacts that Ai has ~

Wild Bower Studio's Commitment to Sustainability: Creating Beautiful Products with a Conscience

Hey there! Did you know that at Wild Bower Studio, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do? We believe that we all have a responsibility to take care of the environment, and we're doing our part to make a difference.

More and more we’ve been using recycled and repurposed materials in our products. For example, we're currently developing lamps that will use handmade paper shades created from our paper waste. We’re also using broken pottery to create mosaic pieces. Not only are we reducing waste, but we're also giving new life to materials that would otherwise end up in the trash.

We're always on the lookout for ways to minimize our carbon footprint. We've switched to eco-friendly packaging and are brainstorming ways to reduce our plastic usage. Plus, we've implemented energy-saving practices in our studio to help reduce our energy consumption like solar energy and only using rain water. Did you know that on average we use between 5 - 10 gallons of water each month? For a medium that is notoriously known for it’s water usage we are proof that there are ways to reduce the amount of water used.

We know that sustainability is an ongoing process, and we're committed to continually improving our practices. We firmly believe that being sustainable is not only the right thing to do but also a smart choice for our future. By focusing on sustainable practices, we're not only reducing our impact on the environment, but we're also creating unique and meaningful products that resonate with our customers.

At Wild Bower Studio, we think that all businesses should make sustainability a priority. By integrating sustainable practices, companies can reduce their impact on the environment and even improve their bottom line. We're proud to be a part of the movement towards a more sustainable future, and we hope to inspire others to join us on this journey. Oh, and we promise to keep things light-hearted and fun along the way!

New Approach, Same Handmade Quality: Exciting Changes at Wild Bower Studio

Hey, it's me, Nicole, the artist and owner of Wild Bower Studio. I got some exciting news to share with y'all. So, listen up!

As a small biz owner, I always want to give my customers the best shopping experience when it comes to buying my handmade ceramics and art. But, y'all, I gotta be honest with ya. The last shop update wore me out big time. I made some stupid mistakes and was on the verge of a meltdown, and I knew I had to make some changes.

So, I decided to no longer have big shop updates, but instead, announce to our newsletter subscribers when new items hit the shop. This way, our newsletter subscribers will get the first dibs on the new stuff, and I can take my time with each piece. I tend to hold onto pieces and hoard them way longer than I need to, but I can't help it - each piece is like my own little baby.

I know this might be a surprise to some of y'all, but don't worry. We will still offer the same high-quality, handmade ceramics and art. And, of course, I will keep creating new and exciting pieces for y'all to enjoy. We will update our website regularly, and you can also follow us on social media to see what we're up to. You’ll get hint at new items on social media but announcements of them being available will only go to our subcribers.

I'm really excited about this new approach, and I hope y'all are too. I promise to keep communicating with y'all via our newsletter, and I will for sure throw in some exclusive offers too.

Thanks for sticking with us and supporting small businesses like mine. Y'all are the best, and I can't wait to share more of my creations with you soon!

37 things that I wish my younger self knew

I'm thrilled to celebrate my 37th birthday today! It's a special day that allows me to reflect on my life so far and the experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. As I look back on the past 37 years, I'm grateful for all the lessons I've learned, the challenges I've overcome, and the achievements I've made. I'm excited about the future and the opportunities it holds, and I'm determined to make the most of the time I have left. I know that life can be unpredictable, but I'm ready to face it head-on with a positive outlook and a resilient spirit. So here's to another year of growth, adventure, and fulfillment!

1. Success is subjective! Figure out what success means to you and go for it - seriously. You don’t need to climb a ladder or make 6 figures to be successful. Success could be so many other things.

2. You are so much more capable than you think.

3. You are NOT defined by your mistakes, but by how you learn from them.

4. Always be true to yourself. Don't compromise your values or beliefs for anyone.

5. The people you surround yourself with can greatly influence your life. Choose wisely.

6. Don't take things personally. Not everything is about you. - As an only child, this one was hard

7. Invest your time with loved ones and cherish your relationships. We have limited time.

8. Your health is your wealth. You only have one body so take care of it and brush your teeth.

9. Don't compare yourself to others. Everyone has their own weird journey that no one really is prepared for and we’re all just kind of winging it until it works and if it doesn’t we pivot (like Ross on Friends)

10. Actually advocate for causes and issues that are important to you.

11. Learn to let go of things that no longer serve you. This includes people, habits, and possessions.

12. You don't have to have everything figured out at ANY age. Who sets the rules? You do!

13. Money can't buy happiness. Pursue fulfillment instead.

14. Donate that money that doesn’t buy you happiness to a nonprofit that supports the causes and issues that are important to you.

15. You don't have to be perfect. Embrace your flaws and imperfections - that’s what makes you, YOU! You are the only you and that’s pretty incredible.

16. Life is too short to hold grudges. You don’t need to forgive but don’t let them rule your mind.

17. Invest in yourself. Learn new skills and never stop growing.

18. Time is precious. Time is the most valuable commodity.

19. Set your boundaries and stick to them. Boundaries are self care!

20. Step outside your comfort zone. Do the thing that you’ve always wanted to. No one else’s opinion matters.

21. Failure is not the opposite of success. It’s a of the part of the journey.

22. ASK FOR HELP! It’s easy. Let’s practice.. you say “Hi, I need help.” how’d that feel? Weird? Try again until it feels normal and easy.

23. Don't let fear hold you back. Remember #2? Go read that.

24. The past is gone and cannot be undone no matter what sci-fi movies say. Though if you’re reading this and time travel is real just come get me. Anyways, until then Focus on the now and the future. It’s more fun!

25. You can't please everyone. Accept that as early on as you possibly can. Take that energy and focus on pleasing yourself.

26. Be kind to yourself. Treat yourself with the same kindness and compassion you give to others.

27. Learn about history and the world around you to gain a deeper understanding of the present.

28. Get educated, again. Read a diverse range of books, watch documentaries or listen to podcasts to learn about different topics.

29. Say no. Your time, energy and life are valuable. Saying no might feel weird but

30. You don’t need to tell everyone about your opinions. Be mindful of the words you speak. They can have a powerful impact on others.

31. Take time for self-reflection and introspection to develop self-awareness. You’ll be a better human for taking this time for yourself.

32. Focus on solutions, not problems. It’s easy to get stuck in the problems but he solutions are way more important.

33. Always be true to yourself, even if it means going against the norm. Normal is boring! There is so much out there to explore and enjoy.

34. Never stop learning. Don't be afraid to ask questions and unlearn bad information and habits.

35. LISTEN - Sometimes the best thing you can do is shut up and simply listen.

36. Give back to others. It's a fulfilling way to make a positive impact.

37. Accept that change is a part of life. Embrace it and adapt as necessary. You never know what will happen in 5 years even if you plan things down to the T.

38. Love yourself. You are worthy of love and respect especially from yourself. Say it with me “I LOVE myself. I love my flaws, my body, my mind….”

Pottery Highlights: Custom Child's Tea Set

Hey there! Welcome to "Pottery Highlights" from Wild Bower Studio, where we celebrate the art of handmade pottery. We're proud to share our passion for pottery with you and showcase our unique creations, including stunning custom children's tea sets. In this series, we'll take you behind the scenes and share photos and stories about our creative process at Wild Bower Studio. From the techniques and materials we use to the moments of inspiration, we'll give you a glimpse into the world of Wild Bower Studio's handmade pottery. So sit back, relax, and let's explore the beauty of handcrafted pottery together!

Do you have a BFF that you've known since you were in first grade? Well, we do and let us tell you, our childhood was filled with dolls, tea sets, and endless imaginative play. Recently, we stumbled upon some of our old tea sets from the days when sunflowers, carrots, and roses were the height of tea set fashion. And, that got us thinking about creating something special for our dear friend.

Meet our first Custom Child's Tea Set, designed for a young girl (our best friend’s daughter) who loves to play pretend and host tea parties. She’s a great host and we thought she could use an extra special tea set .This set was created with the goal of making playtime even more fun and imaginative. After all, who says tea sets have to be boring and delicate?

Project Outline:

• Create a custom tea set that's fit for a 3-year-old tea party boss who loves cats and unicorns

• Make it easy for lefties to join in on the fun

• Ensure it can survive a good toss or two (or ten) during playtime

We used a Laguna white midrange clay body and threw all the pieces on the wheel. Trimming was followed by adding handbuilt elements like rainbows, butterflies, and raised areas. The painted pieces were fired twice, and we added some sparkle with gold and Mother of Pearl highlights. The biggest challenges were working with small pieces and dealing with our kiln, which got a little too excited and caused some excessive glaze dripping.

And, because every tea party needs a good picnic basket, we put together a basket to store the pieces, a table cloth, and a few napkins. We even found a few extras at yard sales!

We hope that this custom children's tea set will bring joy and imagination to Pea and inspire others to create something special for their loved ones. After all, life's too short to drink boring tea and have dull tea parties!

2022 Garden Haul & Food Storage

This year marked our 3rd on the homestead and our 2nd year of garden! I’m realizing more and more how important it is to know where your food is coming from and it doesn’t get much more transparent than just growing it yourself. It’s hard work but I’ve found a lot of joy in the process and so far each year has gotten much easier (it’s still frickin hard).

June 2022 - The garden has begun!

Before moving to upstate NY we lived in the concrete jungle of Brooklyn with our above ground garden. More and more I’ve realized just how much living there had affected me and my perspective. While energetic and inspiring I always felt not quite right like I wasn’t meant to stay.

It was never my plan to live in the city but I got a sick job that at the time I really loved but jobs aren’t the only reason to be somewhere. Standing amongst thousands of blurry bodies hustling around trying to make a living, find love, find themselves etc was overwhelming for me. So we left and started our next chapter upstate.

Our garden now stands in hopefully it’s forever home and boyyyyyy am I so frickin proud of the it this year. We’ve started to figure out what we really like to eat (kale, tomatoes, squash) and what gets wasted (eggplant, cucumbers, green peppers) along with how we can store food for the winter. And what seemed really daunting last year felt so much easier this year, which I was really thankful for. Currently we freeze, dehydrate and use the water canning method to store our food.

Dehydrating was probably one of my favorites. After a month of drought we finally had a weekend of rain and with moisture comes mushrooms. I was in luck because on our land was a ton of oyster mushrooms ready to be harvested. The ones we couldn’t eat right away were then dehydrated to use for soups and other recipes. Also a fun veggie to dehydrate is squash & zucchini! Scroll down to see what it looks like.

Next year we plan to start our seeds early esp the luffa, which you know I’ve been trying really hard to grow but our growing season is very short. In other news - we’ll be expanding the garden to include a chicken run that is full of fruiting trees, building out water collection and drainage systems, we’ll grow as many strawberries as possible (my favorite jam), finally making hot sauce… and much more. Can’t wait to start planning!

Let me know in the comments what you’re excited to grow or looking forward to in Spring

Last haul of the 2022 season

Dehydrated Summer Squash & Zucchini - great for soups and stews

Homemade Fire Cider for the days we need a boost in immunity or just a little extra flavor in our soups - Recipe

Some of our canned food - mostly tomato sauce and paste

Foraged Oyster Mushrooms - Our summer was so dry soI didn’t expect to see any mushrooms. These popped up at the very end of Summer after a few days of rain. The majority of these were cleaned, cut up and dehydrated for soups and stews.