The first weekend in May is San Antonio's Empty Bowls sale. As potters know, that isn't too far away when we're talking about our craft.

For those of you who aren't aware of what Empty Bowls is, the following is an explanation and history lifted from the San Antonio Potters' Guild website:

Empty Bowls is an international effort to raise funds for charities that support the hungry and homeless. It began in 1990 when a Michigan high school students and their teacher wanted to find a way to raise funds to support a food drive. Just one year later the concept developed into Empty Bowls and since that time the 501 (c) 3 organization has raised millions of dollars to combat hunger. (For more information about the effort visit www.emptybowls.net.) There are Empty Bowls events staged by ceramic artists all over Texas and the nation.

Since I've hit a bit of a dead end with my current creative status, I think I'll be spending the rest of the week throwing bowls for this. This offers me several happy advantages:
1. I'll be doing some good
2. I'll be able to use studio clay (free), allowing me to experiment with different forms and glazes a bit more freely
3. It might just give me some inspiration, something that seems to be in short supply right now.

I think the shift from mugs and Judaica to lovely bowls with interesting feet might be just what's needed right now! As Mary Engelbreit says, "Life is just a chair of bowlies."

My advice to y'all? Find out when your area is holding an Empty Bowls event. Donate bowls, purchase bowls, eat soup, help the homeless. It's all good!