Updating sytem

Updating sytem

Hi there.

Thanks for popping in. My computer was in dire need of an update, and the Facebook Live recordings needed moving to an external hard drive, so Jim came over to the house after our doodle session this morning to sort it out. Who knew that we would all still be hanging out together every day at 10am, 16 weeks in and going stronger than ever! Anyway, I left him to it and went to pottery for a little break! I was MUCH better this week! 100% focussed. Turned all my thrown pots –

– and didn’t drop one! (Dad will be please to know!)

The time is coming for a kiln and a wheel downstairs, underneath the SHAC-Shack. Not yet though. Have to save my shekels because it’s quite an investment is a kiln. And we really ought to clear a space beforehand in the garage! There could be squatters in there, who’ve lost their way out!!

I just figure that this Covid 19 isn’t going anywhere any time soon. So I would like to use my free time constructively, hone those potting skills, get good. I love it. For me, it is the world’s best and most creative escape! But there’s too much up in the air at Clarity right now for me to be retreating to the garage to make pots!! I think that sounds more like retirement! So for the time being I shall content myself with joining Susanna and the others on a Wednesday afternoon.

One day at a time, one pot at a time.

Only one thing… my fingernails are too long. I keep gouging the clay. Spend an age turning and smoothing, then embed a fingernail straight in the pot. Mmm. Quandry. Do I keep my decent fingernails for the TV, and LEARN to potter with longer nails? Or, do I cut them all back? What would YOU do?Nice fingernails are very important on telly. Mmmm. And you can’t just cut the important ones! That looks absurd!

Gottago. Gottaplaycatchup.

Love and Hugs

Barb xxx

33 thoughts on “Updating sytem

  1. As long as fingernails look clean and neat I don’t think they have to be long to be on TV. Everyone is looking at what you are making in your demos not thinking about nails lol. I would trim them to a suitable length for pottery.

  2. The nails would have to go if it was me lol! As long as they are clean and well kept they’ll be fine for tv. The pots are important to you and for your well being so I think the nails should take 2nd place, just my twopence worth xx

  3. Hi Barbara
    I am so glad you made time for your pottery today! I have always loved to have long fingernails so I totally understand your dilemma. Too much gardening and too much hand washing have wreaked havoc and now I don’t have to worry about whether they need cutting or not! My vote is keep your nails and adapt at pottery, I am sure there must be a technique you could learn.
    See you in the woods at 10 tomorrow.
    Zara

  4. Retirement? You can’t retire LOL !! Unless you promise to sit with us, we might let you reduce your hours though ! LOL I have a retirement pile of x stitch projects and haven’t looked at them yet, 5 years in (I retired at 55 lucky for me, as hubby a bit older so we wanted to do it that way), problem was Groovi came along! Your pots are looking great, you’ll have a decent Christmas present pile ! Have a good evening, glad you had a good day. X

  5. When I was nursing I had to have short nails, and have continued since retirement. If they get longer than the ends of my fingers I can guarantee they’ll mess up some project or another! Also they break very easily. I’m sure you could get your nails a nice shape to match the ends of your fingers and they’d look just as good as long ones. Love the pot progress!

  6. Well kept nails are fine at any length. Do you notice the men’s nails? They are unlikely to be long. If anyone comments, you have better priorities, not least feminism. Glad you had a good time at pottery. I still think you needed a laugh more than the lid last week.

  7. Glad you went to pottery. Your dad might wonder this week if you gave the pots a half turn, turned them upside down, turned them up the right – so many options! It makes me think of the vocab we use at times in our different roles assuming everyone knows what we mean! On a more serious note, I do know what you mean and your dad will, too. You need your nails short enough for pottery. I agree with everyone else. I don’t care what your nails are like. I am watching what you do. Just have fun. Enjoy your evening. Hx

  8. I have to keep my nails very short otherwise they gather up dirt from the air and look as if they are in morning. I need them short to use the keyboard too. Clean and neat is all you need for tv. Far more important to be able to do your pottery. xxx Maggie (Silvercrafter)

  9. I used to get acrylic nails all the time and they ruined my nails by making them soft and thin. Then I had a financial kick in the teeth and couldn’t afford to get them done anymore. I got a nice manicure set for Christmas, and started looking after them myself. Now I don’t even wear nail varnish. Well I do still on my toe nails but not my finger nails). If you keep them short, shaped and smooth, the look and feel great and don’t get in the way. I would always recommend a glass nail file and one of those 4-in-1 file & buffers xx

  10. I’m glad you got to pottery, you sounded as though you needed some ‘me’ time this morning.
    Long nails drive me ‘potty’, so I always keep mine short, they start driving me nuts as soon as they’re longer than the end of my fingers! I think short nails are just as presentable as long ones, so long as they’re clean and tidy. In the end, you’re the only one who can decide 😉

  11. Your pots look great all stood there in a row – glad you had a better time this week. I need to go & catch up with my doodle – we have been at our daughters all day helping out with car mot (dad’s taxi needed to get home & then back again to collect) & odd jobs around the house that are soon done if there are several of you doing them not just one. I did start to watch this morning with my youngest granddaughter – we even printed off the digi download but we were needed to do more important things as time was against us so we snook out of the SHAC Shack quietly & will both catch up later.

  12. Of course you don’t need long nails for demonstrating on television! As long as they are neat, that’s all that matters.

  13. To be honest, I find long, decorated nails on presenters distracting. I couldn’t tell you though, if yours are polished or not, as I focus on what you are making and look at your face when you are speaking on camera. Cut them off and enjoy your beautiful pottery. I am off now to catch up on today’s SHAC, or I will get behind and need a note for the teacher! Have a good evening and see you tomorrow in the woods. Hugs. Annette X

  14. It is a problem with fingernails isn’t it? I’ve always tended to keep mine short, partly because of working as a nurse, but also because I’m a bit of a nibbler so they never really got chance to grow! Even though I’ve been back at work for the last few months because of Covid, my nails have been growing beautifully because I’m wearing a mask all the time so can’t bite them!! 😆

  15. I took early retirement last November and my xmas present from the OH was a wood turning lathe. It is still waiting to be set up in the garage because I need to clear the “junk” from the garage first (sounding familiar). There didn’t seem to be a rush because the purchase of the lathe came with a free tuition day which I can’t book until the current shenanigans settles down….I already have a hobby room and a bench in the OH’s man cave for jewellery making…now (according to him), I am “annexing” the garage in preparation for taking over the entire house (BTW my OH is also a Dave!)…I love being retired!

  16. Glad you had a successful potter and no more breakages Barbara. I think you should cut your nails to suit yourself. I think that as long as nails are neat and nicely filed and shaped and perhaps buffed to a bit of a shine, having them short should not be a problem even for the telly. You have nice shaped hands and long fingers so even more reason why short nails will still look good. x

  17. As long as they are clean and all the same length I don’t think anyone else will notice your nails. Mine are growing really long in lockdown but I caught my finger in the car door at the weekend so they will all get chopped and filed tomorrow to the same length now that it’s healed a bit.

  18. You love pottery so trim those nails. As long as they are clean and neat and not full of clay when you are parching we won’t mind (haha). Looks like your afternoon was very productive, just look at all those pots !!!!!
    I’ve always had longish nails that are almost as tough as nails which means they have to be soaked before cutting or else they shatter and I hate my nails short. Can’t pick up pins, sort threads and so on without my claws. Like my hair they grow very fast so if I have a mishap its not a tragedy – just very annoying.
    Great blog from Dave today. Hope his arthritis is easing.
    Ventured out today with some trepidation but all went well. I think this Covid -19 virus is going to be around for quite a while yet but we can’t be cooped up forever. While out we bought a new bed to replace our 42 year old antique so hopefully we will get some better sleep when it is delivered. Got back just in time to receive a delivery of Linda’s garden stamps so guess what I have been playing with. All in all a satisfying afternoon.
    Stay safe. 🍒🍒🍒

  19. Me again. I have just finished watching today’s SHAC And feel so much better for a good laugh. I was laughing more at you laughing than I was at the image of your bristly legs! Thank you so much for ending a happy day on a happy note. I saw an old friend today for the first time since February and it was wonderful. X

  20. Great session in the Shac Shack this morning, you had me laughing at you laughing, a going laugh does you so much good. Thank you. So pleased you enjoyed your pottery today, you certainly turned a lot of pots. Doing ok so far with the Woods, but rubbed out my ferns as they didnt look good, will try again tomorrow. xxx

  21. The nails would have to go Barbara You don’t have to have long nails on TV They can look just as great being short So long as they are clean and shaped We are more interested in your demos not your nails Enjoy your pottery class without fear of puncturing ya pots!!!!! Look forward to your next TV show Take care X

  22. Nails do not need to be long. They can look just as good short, clean and well shaped. We look at your work on TV not your nails.
    Looking forward to seeing you have cut them for your pottery class.
    xx

  23. Barbara I firmly believe we are at an age now that it’s OUR TIME cut back on your hours a bit to give you enough time to enjoy your new found love of pottery otherwise when will you give yourself time
    as for the nails trim them back and keep them neat for your demo’s enjoy work rest and play in equal measures but please keep a little free time for us shacker’s loved hearing you laughing uncontrollably today laughter is good for the soul
    See you tomorrow xx

  24. Hello Barb, I think you should trim your nails back, they do not need to be long for TV, and obviously you don’t want to give anyone pots with gouges in them! So glad you have found a lovely hobby, whilst still keeping us entertained and creative. Hopefully you will be able to get a Kiln and wheel at some point. Off to watch yesterdays Shac Shack on you tube. Take care and stay safe everyone. Bx

  25. I think as long as your nails are clean and manicured they do not need to be long for the telly. After all we are watching what you are doing not your nails! Glad pottery went OK (apart from the nail gouge marks. Maybe do a few more & make them into a pattern? 😂) x

  26. Hi Barbara.
    Haven’t visited your blog for a few days so I am catching up now. I am working backwards so have to find out about the dropped pot later. Short nails look lovely if they are well looked after. Over 50 years ago I went to pottery lessons and I just loved it. My nails were long and the tutor said the nails must go if I wanted to progress. I chose to keep my nails . I do wish I hadn’t. Happy Potting. X

  27. Just catching up on the bloggy posts as been distracted by other things….great bird table and mum and dad looking very well and happy which is great. Looking forward to the new designer papers…more to add to my collection lol!
    Re the nails – clean and neat is all that’s required, I look at some demonstrators with their shiny talons (most appear to be fake anyhow) and have a good old laugh at them trying to pick up things…honestly it (to me) is ridiculous and no-one, just no-one can craft with nails like that!

  28. Just catching up on the bloggy posts as been distracted by other things….great bird table and mum and dad looking very well and happy which is great. Looking forward to the new designer papers…more to add to my collection lol!
    Re the nails – clean and neat is all that’s required, I look at some demonstrators with their shiny talons (most appear to be fake anyhow) and have a good old laugh at them trying to pick up things…honestly it (to me) is ridiculous and no-one, just no-one can craft properly with nails like that!

  29. Just catching up on the bloggy posts as been distracted by other things….great bird table and mum and dad looking very well and happy which is great. Looking forward to the new designer papers…more to add to my collection lol!
    Re the nails – clean and neat is all that’s required, I look at some demonstrators with their shiny talons (most appear to be fake anyhow) and have a good old laugh at them trying to pick up things…honestly it (to me) is ridiculous and no-one, just no-one can craft properly with nails like that!

  30. If you think you are busy now wait til you retire,I hardly have a spare minute. Keeping very busy. Everyone said I would be bored,no chance. I would trim the nails a little bit and see if you can manage better might not have to go too short. We are not looking at your nails anyway. X

  31. To be honest if I’m watching a crafter I’m more interested if their fingernails look as if they actually do something 😊😊

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