Welcome to Diane’s Blog!

My journey:

I began making pottery a decade ago. One aspect of it that kept my interest is that it was hard to learn. My first few pieces were heavy, poorly formed, and uninspired. Because it didn't come easily I was determined that I would master it.

I spent the next few years making pottery. While I practiced relentlessly to improve my form, I experimented with any type of decorative technique that I was exposed to. I saw this as a challenge that I needed to pursue. I made so many pieces that I needed to give them away to friends and family. A friend suggested that I sell on Etsy. I pursued this path with gusto!

I took up social media to try to reach a broader audience. I joined teams on Etsy to promote my shop. I met some truly wonderful people on these Etsy teams; people from all over the world. Some of them are still friends on social media. I dabbled in craft fairs. Some were successful, some not so much. I talked to people at these fairs. Many were lovely and positive people encouraging me to continue. This was a hobby business, so I didn't rely on it to live, but to pay for materials, electricity, and a little for my time. This was enough for me. It brought me joy.

During the time of my ceramic practice, I was living through some deeply personal, painful experiences. My husband encouraged me to make pottery, he bought me all sorts of equipment. But the downside to this is that he discouraged me from taking classes. Why did I need to go to a class to work on my ceramics when I had everything I could possibly need in my home studio? I became isolated and depressed. My only child left for college. I spent every evening and weekend working on my pottery, and trying to engage people on social media. My sales stagnated. I was frustrated. I felt like a failure. Why was I unable to push this business forward into success?

Then came the storm that knocked my house down (figuratively). My husband had problems with the law when my daughter was in middle school. He swore to me that he was innocent, that a competitor created this false narrative to put him out of business. I trusted and believed him. I became embittered because I thought that the system had failed. After my daughter was away at college, he finally came clean with me. He was guilty of the crime he had been accused and convicted of. I was devastated.

I had spent 5 years isolated and lonely because many of our friends backed away from us when he was accused of this crime. I felt betrayed again on a whole new level. The one person I trusted the most had spent half a decade lying to my face. He had cheated on me. I defended him to people. I felt like a fool. I knew I would divorce him. How could I not after these multiple betrayals? But I wanted my daughter to be able to finish college.

I was resigned to stay, enduring the loneliness and depression until she finished college. But alas this was not to be. I spoke with a divorce lawyer. I tried to prepare for an eventual split. One of the suggestions she had is for me to suggest couples counseling, so I could show that I tried my best to work through our issues. This was the fire that lit the bomb under my life.

He became defensive, combative, and aggressive with me. He alternately threatened to ruin every aspect of my life, and begged me to stay. He disrupted my sleep every night (keeping me awake until 2-3 am, knowing I awoke at 6 to go to work). He called me at work demanding that I come outside to speak with him. He placed a tracker on my car so he knew where I was at all times. He stabbed himself in the belly (superficially) to make a point. Then one night he dropped a straight razor on my chest while I tried to sleep and dared me to cut his throat. I was mortified. I am a peaceful person. There is no way I would do such a thing!

But this was a wake up call for me. Things were becoming terrifying. I was afraid he was going to become physically violent. I left the next day for work, called in sick, and tried to get an apartment for myself. The place I planned to move to was unavailable for one month. I stayed with friends -- one week with one, the next with another.

After I moved into my apartment I was unable to make ceramics. All my equipment was at the house I no longer had access to because I feared for my life. I began to paint, instead. A dear friend encouraged me to take watercolor classes with her.

My watercolor paintings are the illustrations for the children's book I wrote, "Little Raccoon's New Home." This is a story of a raccoon whose life was turned upside down when the tree that was her home was toppled by a storm. "Little Raccoon's New Home" is her journey to find a suitable new home with the help of her friends.

My hope for this story, particularly for children who are impacted by difficult circumstances -- death, divorce, or homelessness -- are encouraged to persevere to get through their difficulties. In the end, this is a story of hope and resilience.

Best Regards,

Diane