For myself, Pottery.About.com, the Pottery Newsletter, and the Pottery Forum have been an important part of my life.  But.... I am saddened to say that there are changes that will occur.

I have had to resign as the Pottery Guide for About.com. My health is just hitting me too hard to do the kind of job I expect from myself and that you and other viewers deserve. *sigh* It has been a tough decision, but a necessary one.

As some of you may be aware, my health is not what I would like it to be. I have multiple auto-immune dysfunctions and other problems that have kept me from working outside my home for years now. At this point, I need to focus on keeping myself as healthy as possible.

It has been an absolute privilege to be your Pottery Guide. Many of you have become good friends. Should you wish to, you can find me on my personal website, WingedBlue.com and at WingedBlue Arts on Facebook.

Happy Potting, Love and Hugs,
~~~ Beth

Do you enjoy straight-forward simplicity and brilliance in your pottery tools? Do you roll out clay slabs very often?

If so, I hope you check out my review of the ClayMat. Using the ClayMat, not only do you get all the normal advantages of rolling slabs on heavy-duty canvas, but also the added (and wonderful) dimension of being able to measure while rolling it.

Throughout the ages, the Middle East has been a region filled with rich ceramics and innovations in the ceramic arts and craftsmanship. This tradition stretches back over 7,500 years.

In the city of Lalejin, pottery was faced with near extinction due to Mongol invasion. Only seven potters survived to revive the work of their forebearers. And revive it, they did!

Today, Lalejin remains a vibrant center for the ceramic arts. Behjat Abbasi, the Deputy Director of the Hamedan Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization, has said, "With 900 workshops and 3900 employees, Lalejin is the capital city of ceramics in Iran."

Read the rest of this fascinating article, then check out more photos here.

No one likes to think about disasters. No one likes to think about emergencies that can happen. But, if we are to be able to handle these situations, we must indeed be ready. Earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods.... these and more are a part of living on our beautiful planet. They are a part of life.

We may not be able to chose what, when, or if disaster will strike us.... We can, however, be prepared.

As potters, many of us have clay spaces that include any variety of tools and equipment, some of which is quite expensive. What would you do if your kiln shed burnt to the ground? Or an earthquake destroyed all the pottery you made to sell?

We now have help in knowing what to do and how to prepare. The Craft Emergency Relief Fund + Artist's Emergency Resources (CERF+) has put together an invaluable tool: The Studio Protector. Read my review of it today. We cannot know what tomorrow will bring.