Mug Shot: Learning to Say No

Just last week I recetved a sweet e-mail from a woman who had seen my work at a show earlier in the
year. In her letter, she wrote very eloquently about how she and her daughter would love to surprise
her husband at Christmas with a replacement mug for his “much loved mug which he has clumsily
broken several times”. She was clear that she would “very much like to keep this a surprise” and
asked me to be discrete in asking questions only of her.

I envisioned a diminutive elderly woman sitting attentively at her computer, typing the e-mail
while daintily sipping a cup of English Breakfast tea. It was a very dear request, and I rather liked the
covert mission of the surprise. I thought to myself: I would be pleased to help bring a smile to her
husband’s face on Christmas morning.

She was very organized in her hush-hush mission—she had even attached several photos of the
beaten and battered mug so that I could accurately create a suitable replacement. When I opened the
attached photos, I was 1n for quite a surprise of my own...

Yes, this extraordinarily polite woman wanted me to re-create a hand-made “Who Farted?” mug—
to boot with ghastly fumes rising up from the words and what appeared to be a cat (belly up with
two black crosses over its eyes). I couldn’t help but to burst out laughing when the mage popped up
on my computer screen.

Her request brought to mind a conversation I have been having with myself (I work alone)
throughout the past year. Namely, (1) not all opportunities that present themselves to you are good
ones, and (i1) itis okay to say “NO!” and important to learn to do so. As someone whois a relatively new
professional potter, I have found that this 1s a very important lesson to learn. There is only so much
that one can do, and only
so much that one should
be willing to do. My

? e
Greenbarn’s catalogue 1s unwillingness to have my
. 5 name on the bottom of a
now available online. “Who Farted?” mug shed
6) a whole new light on my

little conversation.

In an effort to be move enwicormentally If anyone out there has

po a or pape. any humorous customer
ore ane eee stories, please share them

in Gl LL on our websit oo with me. They might make
for an interesting
Ay follow-up article.
Matthew Freed
Now ‘you can check prices and, item

Membership Char

descriptions just by logging onto membership(@ bepotters COM
www.greenbarn.com

9548 192 Street, Tuesday-Friday 9-5

Surrey, B,C. VAN 3R9 Pech barn Saturday 9-1

Phone: 604.888.3411 Closed Long Weekends
Fax: 604.888.4247 POTTERS SUPPLY LTD. greenbam@telus.net

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