HZ

        It's time to come clean. I'm doing this with hopes that I can help others that might have the same problem. I was telling a friend about my blog and one of the reasons I buy pottery. She said I should write about it to the people.         I am a hoarder.         I know everyone is saying, "What?" Let me clarify. I'm a hoarder at heart. I get it from my mother, she is a hoarder. I have been fighting it for years and have learned all of the tricks to keep it at bay. But like a chocoholic, I have to indulge or go crazy so I have created rules for myself. As I have expressed before, pottery speaks to my inner need, it relaxes my soul, helps me to connect with all things natural.  Rule #1 The pottery must be hand thrown. Rule #2 It must have some type of marking of it's creator. Rule #3 I can't pay more than a certain price for it. Why Rule #3? Because I have found myself lovingly caring around an armful of pieces at various prices, trying to justify why I should break Rule #3 so I can have these marvelous creations. Sure I could break Rule #3 but I would feel guilty in a house stuffed with pottery, have less money for basic needs, and have no self control at all. You see it's an exercise in control. I make sure I follow my own rule and enjoy the exercise. It's all about the hunt and the waiting and seeing. If a piece is more than Rule #3, then I must wait until it is marked down or know it isn't meant to be. It will delight someone else today or another day. What does HZ stand for? Maybe it could be for "Hoarder's Zoo" because I have a menagerie of pieces in which I am the keeper.

Kay

     I found a K. When I picked her up, I knew her immediately. I could tell right off that she was different, yet oh so unique. This one didn't come from a mold, definitely thrown by the potter's hand. I know a Kay. She's my cousin's daughter. The thing is I don't think she's ever thought of herself as beautiful......but she is. It's her eyes. It's not just what you see when you look at her eyes but what she sees when she looks out of them. She is the most incredible photographer. Such talent at such a young age. What does this K have to do with that Kay? Not much but every time I see and pick up my K I'll think of my cousin's Kay.

Ex Brother-in-law

     This one is for my sister Kathy. Nuff said. :)

She receives 3 F's

I never know in which section of housewares I'll find a piece of treasure. It's getting to where I have to carefully look through all the shelves, tiptoeing to see on the top shelves, and either squatting down or hanging my head upside down to check out the bottom shelves. Squatting wears the legs out and hanging your head upside down reeks havoc on the sinuses but the search must go on, pottery needs to be rescued. She was on the top shelf with other spouted pieces. She was beautiful with dainty features, a twisted handle, and lovely glaze. "Irvine" is the name etched on the bottom. I can't think of the perfect first name for her but I have to give her 3 F's. The first F is for being functional, the second F for being feminine, and the 3rd F is for being frilly. Hmmmm? What would be the perfect name for her?

There can only be one name.

     Once a week I stop by the store to see if there are any new pottery pieces that will be adopted. On this day I was in an area with a different store but one that's just as interesting to peruse through. I do the usual routine of heading to the household area, scanning the shelves, picking up and putting down pieces. Nope....possible....don't think so....aha! I get a sense as I start to pick it up this one that we have a winner. There is always a sense of anticipation as I flip over a piece to see how it is signed. This one does not disappoint me. I smile as I read the name painted on the underside of this one. It's a last name and first name comes quickly to me because there can only be one name. The name on this piece is "Pitt" so he has to be named Brad.

Me as pottery

I will say that this is me in pottery. I remember I found me a little bit before I made the conscious decision to start adopting pottery. The usual routine is that I carefully look through the shelves for the orphans, pick them up, and then flip them over. When I flipped me over, before I knew this was me, I saw two letters drawn into the clay in small precise letters. They were my initials. I thought to myself, "If I were to make a piece of pottery, I could see myself making this." It resembles me as well, being on the petite side, unassuming, and utilitarian in a unique way, with earthy colors. I think the creator, like my creator, didn't want something flashy or bulky, just something that would quieting do it's job and do it well. Like me there are variations in it's color and many imperfections. Like me it also has a purpose which continually changes according to the need of my creator.

The cousins

As I'm looking through the shelves I'm thinking, "Nope, nope, nope." I'm thinking this because as I pick up potential adoptees I see that they are either factory made, made in China, or too expensive. My eye spots a piece that I first think is a mass produced sort of pottery. This one doesn't have that traditional "glazed" look to it. As I lift it up I feel that familiar heaviness of clay so I flip it over to see the letters HK pressed into the bottom. Hmmm, HK. Nothing comes to mind immediately but sometimes these things take time. I cradle it in my arm as I continue to search through different shelves and then go to different areas of the store to maybe find that wayward piece. Nope, nothing else, so I start to head to the front of the store. My eyes are always on the search though, even as my feet are carrying me to the cashiers. My eyes dart to the right, then forward, then immediately back to the right. Aha! Did I somehow miss this one or was it just put out by one of the employees? Picking it up I'm thinking it feels right, it's priced right, and BINGO, it's signed right. I'm so excited because on the bottom is the name "Henri" and he is shaped the same as HK. It then comes to me. These guys are cousins, Henri and Harrold. Come on boys.....you're coming home with me.