Being Happy Is Being Rich

At a recent show the only bowl which sold was my galaxy bowl. If you recall months ago this was the bowl which didn't turn out the way I liked. But several folks remarked they liked the bowl. Who am I to argue with the public; after all they are the ones who are purchasing my pottery.


So in that vein I've made a few more of these galaxy bowls, the first photo is a new one I made. The second photo is the one I sold. The photo doesn't do it justice. Perhaps it's the size or shape of the bowl which is a draw too. It's about a two person salad size or good to serve vegetables, chips or a bowl full of cookies.


All of my botanical plates and platters sold except the rose colored one. So I've made a few more of those too. All of my ornaments sold, the ones with red or green, but the turquoise crackle snowflakes didn't sell. Now I like turquoise, but perhaps others don't like that color, perhaps it's because it's not a traditional xmas color. I think of blue for snowflakes but maybe turquoise isn't close enough.


Only one vase sold and it was another one of my seagrass vases. I hope the person who purchased it appreciates all the time I took making it, carving and texturing, then hand glazing each stripe. There were actually cooling crystals inside the bottom of the vase. For what I sold the vase for, I figured I made about $2.80 per hour because of the time it took to make and glaze it. I had lowered the price of this vase because I personally didn't like the color of the glaze on the exterior, but apparently someone else did, at least for the price I sold it.


The average city factory worker in China makes $1.08 per hour, but their cost of living is much less than ours. The average city factory worker in Mexico makes $2.38 per hour; their cost of living is higher than China but less than ours. With the cost of living in America, I made the least per hour than either of the factory workers in those countries. What I sold was not a factory item. This is in no way a complaint, just an observation.

In order to make a comfortable living with my lower priced items I'd have to mass produce them and sell lots of volume. I could do that with the botanical platters and ornaments, but not the vase. Well maybe I could make a mold for the vase I don't know, but I don't want to get into factory production, if I did I'd let a factory do that work. I'd rather make and sell one of a kind handmade items. So I'm looking for those buyers in galleries and other venues.

If only my health permitted me to flip hamburgers or greet at wally world I'd be much richer, but not too happy. So I guess being happy is being rich. I'd be a little happier if I was a little more comfortable though. Years ago I worked as a waitress and I enjoyed that. In fact that's how I put myself through college. Of course college was much less expensive back then. But I couldn't be on my feet or do all the bending a waitress has to do now, too bad for that. I don't even hope or want to be rich, but if I won the lottery, which I don't play, I wouldn't turn down the money. I'm sure if I won the lottery I'd have plans to help make other people's lives more comfortable. Wasn't there a TV show where a rich guy gave money away to deserving strangers, wouldn't that be fun. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.