New Arrival

It's a BOY! Cooper Allen was born Friday, 10-15 at 10:15pm and weighed 6lbs 15oz. (Yes, thankfully not 10lbs 15oz - especially since we had a natural, epidural-free birth!)

Yay! Going home from the hospital!

And our little man decided to come 10 days early! I had just shipped out 14 boxes to galleries/clients in 6 states on Wednesday and started my maternity leave, thinking I had 2 weeks to relax and finish up some things around the house. Well, Cooper had other plans....

We are so in love and doing great! I'm taking the next few months off, so I'll see you around.

Cheers!
Meagan

Finding Unexpected Advice

I have to admit I've been a bit frantic lately. With our first Baby due in about 5 weeks, the list of To Do's seems to be getting longer, rather than shorter. Overall, I feel I've managed to stay relatively calm and low stress.

But I found a nice, unexpected bit of advice in the Ethan Allen catalog that showed up in our mail last week... Granted, they are referring to furnishing a living room, but I instantly saw how this could apply to my life.

See, I'm planning to take a 6-month maternity leave. To do this, I'm trying to make sure the galleries I work with are well stocked and ready for the holidays and beyond. This means that I'm trying to make 6-months of work in about 8 weeks. (And finish all the projects my husband and I had started around the house, and put together a nursery.)

250 tile plaques in various stages.
I've been cutting, burning, and polyurethane-ing like crazy!

But, then"Relax. You don't have to do it all at once." Though I understand that life as I know it it about to change forever, I do not have to get everything done before Baby's born. Things will be crazy and new, but we will find our way, settle into a routine, and I will get back into the studio.

making progress...

So for me, unfortunately, posting to this blog is one of the first things to go when the list gets too long. I realize I still haven't written what I wanted to about my July residency in Montana or my more recent classes at Arrowmont and Penland (which were both great by the way!) Or a post on how I made the slab-built tumblers. Or talked about the Fall Open House at CURVE studios & garden in Asheville this weekend. But I'm doing what I can.

So, with that, I'm off to the studio. With the majority of the backings complete, it's time to switch over to making the tiles.

Cheers! And thanks for listening!

Meagan

Best Foot Forward - Ceramic Auction Benefiting Drew Johnson

From Charlie Cummings Gallery - "Best Foot Forward is a fund-raiser for University of Florida Ceramics major Drew Johnson, a junior student who lost a foot in a motorcycle accident. He was hit by a driver who had no ability to pay, leaving Drew with large hospital bills. Drew has a wonderful can-do attitude, is a very promising student, and is now back at school.

Potters, sculptors and clay related businesses have generously donated 191 items to help raise money for Drew. Please show your support both for Drew and for the generous artists whose donations make this auction possible by bidding on items in this auction.

The auction begins Tuesday, September 21st, and ends in the evening on Monday, September 27th. Until then, please check out all the wonderful artworks, tools, subscriptions, and memberships in the preview."

Online Preview - Now through September 20

Auction - September 21-27, 2010.

Hosted by Charlie Cummings Gallery - www.claylink.com

Participating Artists:

Heather Alexander, Dan Anderson, Linda Arbuckle, Posey Bacopoulos, Tiffany Bailey, Marian Baker, John Balistreri, Tom Bartel, Deborah Bedwell, Curt Benzle, Sandy Blain, Catherine Boswell, Joe Bova, George Bowes , Bob Brady, Lucy Breslin, John Britt, Sally Brogden, Bill Buckner, Richard Burkett, Jon Burns, Larry Bush, Doug Casebeer, Donna Causland, Ceramics Monthly, Eva Champagne, Andrew Cho, Linda Christianson, Autumn Cipala, Naomi Cleary, Meridith Coen, Nan Coffin, Elaine Coleman, Tom Coleman, Jim Connell, Pat Coughlin, Charlie Cummings, Malcolm Davis, Chandra DeBuse, Josh DeWeese, Eddie Dominguez, Lynn Duryea, TJ Erdahl, Mark Errol, Jana Evans, Lauren Faust, Kathryn Finnerty, Yoshi Fuji, Erin Furimsky, John Glick, Raymond Gonzalez, Heidi Grew, Chris Gustin, Holly Hanessian, Molly Hatch, James Herring, Pam Herring, Jennifer Hill, Anna Calluori Holcombe, Niel Hora, Ayumi Horie, Steve Howell, Matt Hyleck, Sarah Jaeger, Jeremy Jernigan, Drew Johnson, Mark Johnson, Garth Johnson, Brian Jones, Kristen Kieffer, Michael Kline, Phyllis Kloda, Alix Knipe, Lebeth Lammers, Sandy Lance, Martina Lantin, Fritz Lauenstein & June Raymond, Mary Law, Jim Lawton, Simon Levin, Jenny Lind, Suze Lindsay, Matt Long, Jiri Lonsky, Tyler Lotz, Scott Lykens, Andrew Martin, Missy McCormick, Nancy McCroskey, Kent McLaughlin, Joe Molinaro, Mudtools, Kate Murray, Richard Nickel, Kevin Nierman, Richard Notkin, Kelly O’Briant, Mary Obodzinski, Dandee Pattee, Anne Perrigo, Chris Pickett, Don Pilcher, Elise Pincu, Pete Pinnell, Rainbow Gate Pottery, Jeremy Randall, Beau Raymond, Scott Rench, Lee Rexrode, Lindsay Rogers, Chloe Rothwell, Nigel Rudolph, Cheyenne Chapman Rudolph, Cassie Ryalls, Shoji Satake, Kristin Schimik, Mike Schmidt, JoAnn Schnabel, Bonnie Seeman, Nancy Selvin, Leland Shaw, Jane Shellenbarger, Marge Shore, Sandy Simon, Gay Smith, Nan Smith, Collette Smith, Keith Smith, Kevin Snipes, Jane Spangler, Chris Staley, Stephanie Stuefer, Sarah Tancred, Shoko Teruyama, Julie Tesser, Diana Thomas, John Tilton, Sara Truman, Tom Turner, Rimas Visgirda, Mikey Walsh, Wynne Wilbur, Lana Wilson, Varian Wolf, Stephen Wolochowicz, Jenchi Wu, Rosie Wynkoop, Gwendolyn Yoppolo

Traveling - teaching and taking workshops

Well, I'm off in the morning for another travel adventure. Next week I'm teaching a glass/clay workshop at Arrowmont in Gatlinburg, TN and then the following week I'm taking a mixed media class with Michael Sherrill at Penland in NC. It's going to be an exciting couple weeks!

Michael Sherrill

Where does the time go??! I had hoped to get a few more things done in between coming home from the Clay Studio of Missoula and taking off again. Oh well, my pregnant belly is forcing me to slow down my usually quick pace. Guess it's preparing me for the BIG changes that are coming in about 9 weeks or so!

Cheers!
Meagan

Clay Wedging Table - plaster mixing ratios and guidlines

While I was at the Clay Studio last month, a few of the guys tackled pouring a new plaster top for the studio's large wedging table. It was quite a process to watch. I believe they used around 150 lbs of plaster!Mixing plaster has always been one of those things that makes me a little nervous and hesitant. Earlier this summer I poured plaster for my own new wedging table/kiln shelf storage cart. (Well, technically, my wonderful husband built the table/cart, and my good friend and artist Nigel Rudolph poured the plaster. See, told you plaster made me nervous.)

But today, I thought I would post some plaster mixing ratios and guidelines that I have found helpful....

The following guidelines are copied from a handout posted at the Clay Studio of Missoula:
(original source unknown. I also added a few notes, examples, and conversions)

Plaster Mixing Guidelines

Recommended Plaster: #1 Pottery Plaster

How do I calculate how much water or plaster I need?
Calculating volume for solid shapes
For rectangular shapes: Volume = Height x Width x Depth
For circular shapes: Volume = Pi x Radius2 x Height (Note: Pi is apx 3.14. and that's supposed to be radius squared, but I cannot get the text formatting to cooperate.)

Divide the volume by 80 to find the number of quarts of water you will need to make enough plaster.

How much plaster do I add to water for a proper mixture?
The recommended consistency is 7lbs water to 10lbs plaster. So a 7:10 ratio, by weight 2.85lb plaster to 1 qt (2lbs) water (Note: If you want stronger plaster, you can multiply the weight by 3. Softer plaster, multiply the weight by 2.75)

Example -
Your mold is 5" x 5" x 4" so your volume is 100 cubic inches.
100 divided by 80 =1.25. You need 1.25 quarts of water
Multiply 1.25 by 2.85 = 3.56. You need 3.56 lbs of plaster.

Conversions -
1/2 quart = 1 lb = 16 oz
1 quart = 2 lbs = 32 oz (above example 1.25 quarts of water= 40 oz. Multiply 1.25 by 32oz )

1 lb = 453.6 g

What method do I use to add plaster to the water?
Always add plaster to water not the reverse!

Sift plaster into water with a spoon or by hand. Continue doing so until a small mountain forms and remains above the water level. Once that mountain forms, let the plaster "soak" for 1-3 minutes. The greater the amount, the longer the soak - anything in a one gallon bucket needs only a minute or so.

Once the soak cycle is complete you can mix the plaster for a couple minutes. In order to get the most consistent mix, it is best to mix the plaster with a hand blender for small batches, or a drill with a mixing attachment for large batches. Mixing by hand is possible, but the smaller air bubbles tend not to release in the mix and might appear in the surface of your mold.

If mixed by a mixer, be sure to mix a bit after by hand to feel the consistency. The plaster is ready to pour in the mold once it changes from watery to creamy. Work quickly before the plaster starts to set.

Keri Radasch also has similar notes on her site and a link to Ian Anderson's guidelines as well.

Hope that helps. And if you're like me, the more times you do it, the easier (and less scary) it becomes. I'm actually looking forward to making a whole bunch of drape and slump molds later this month.

Happy Mixing!
Meagan

Upcoming Posts

Getting settled back into life in Florida after my month-long adventure in Montana.

As soon as I'm caught up a bit I plan to post...

• a residency recap and reflections
• the results of my functional pottery adventures
• photos of the great ceramic work I bought/traded for
• plaster mixing guidelines

Looking forward to teaching a private workshop in my studio tomorrow. Today is dedicated to unpacking, cleaning up and additional prep.

More to come!
Meagan

More tiles - layered surface tests

And they're out of the kiln. Overall, I'm still very pleased with the potential of these new lowfire test tiles. I've got to be careful not to overdo the layering or they start to get a little muddy looking though.

They look a little jumbled shown all together like this - seems better to process them individually.

We'll, gotta run. We're off to the Bray Bash!

Cheers!

Meagan

And the Experimenting Continues...

In addition to experimenting with new sculptural forms and attempting to make plates and cups, I've also been working on glazes and surface. (Yes, it's been quite a month!)

While I absolutely love many of my current cone 04 low fire glazes, I have still been itching to develop the surface a bit more. I'm hoping for visual depth and crunchy, textured surface areas.

So, I started by adding texture to slabs with various found objects and then cut them into 4" and 6" square tiles.

Then, I covered the whole surface with 3 layers of terra sigillata. (Whoops forgot to snap a photo here.)

Next came brushing on underglazes and colored slips before scratching/drawing into the surface with needle tool. After the drawing was done, I went back over a few areas with some slip trailing. Here they are pre-bisque firing...

Here's some post-bisque firing...

After the bisque fire, I layered several of my current sculptural glazes, brushing them on with a more painterly approach. Pre-cone 04 glaze firing...

After firing to cone 04...

And I've got another set of tiles in the kiln now. Cant wait to unload it tomorrow!

Still haven't figured out how I will incorporate this surface into my sculptural work, but that will come with time and more experimenting. Here's a little piece I made to see how the surface would wrap around a 3D form.

(Note: This piece is also a scaled down version of the first sculpture I made during my residency here in Missoula. Thought a smaller, maquette-like piece would help me resolve some of my technical problems. We'll see...)

Until later!

Meagan

A Potter I am Not

Kudos to all those functional potters out there! Though I've had my suspicions, I have confirmed that I am definitley not one of them. I love drinking, eating, and collecting pots, but making them is not my forte.

One of the requirements as a resident artist at the Clay Studio of Missoula is to donate 2 cups and 2 plates for every month of your residency. (Lucky for me, I'm only here one month, so my numbers were small.) The plates and cups are used at thier annual fundraising dinner Missoula Valley Thyme and Plate, which just happens to be this Sunday, June 25 from 6-10pm. So glad I extended my stay to that I can attend both the Bray Bash this weekend and Thyme and Plate!

It took me the better part of 2 days to make just these 6! This is actually my 2nd round of tumblers - ever! (The first 3 I made are too embarassing to even look at, much less post pictures of for the whole world to see.)

They are handbuilt from 1/4" earthenware slabs using a paper pattern that I made from a standard pint glass. Fortunately, I was able to adapt my usual handbuilding techniques fairly easily for this step.

There were casualties early on, however. I lost 2 after applying a few layers of terra sigillata and saturating the bone-dry clay. This one split right down the middle - mostly along the carved lines.
I'm was already down to 4 when I had to face my real challenge. With to do with the surface??

See, none of my standard, favorite, low fire glazes are food safe. So, after exchanging a few emails with glaze guru John Britt, and running a few tests (on the broken cups I might add), I was able to come up with a solution. They're in the kiln now (glaze to cone 04) and I hope, hope, hope that I get 2 decent ones out to donate. And I only made 4 plates. So fingers crossed there too! I'll know tomorrow afternoon...

In the meantime, here's a little eye candy from the market Saturday morning. The lilies this woman had were absolutely amazing. I'd never seen so many varieties and colors!
Cheers!
Meagan

Unsuccessful but Necessary

Well, I unloaded my work from the kiln on Monday. As usual, it takes me a few days to look at and process the work.

As soon as the work was cool, I eagerly rushed off to Lowe's to get the necessary hardware for assembly. Back in the studio, I quickly started to thread the bolts, washers and nuts into place. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was up against some serious technical difficulties! Ugh!
I had anticipated being able to tighten the hardware enough so that the pieces would stay snugly in place. This, unfortunately was not the case in 2 out of 3 new works. Even with rubber washer to help absorb the force, the ceramic pieces wanted to spin about in all directions. Great if I was making a windmill, but not so much for a stationary hybrid-flower-type form.

Though I am disappointed with the outcome of this work, I still feel it was a HUGE learning experience. And I've been able to go through that learning curve much quicker because of the focus I'm able to get during this residence.

I am reminded of a quote from the book Art and Fear - "Even the failed pieces are essential."

So, with that in mind, I'm off to the studio to make and learn more!

Cheers!

Meagan

Field Trip - The Archie Bray Foundation

Tuesday afternoon I went to The Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, MT - a 2 hour drive from Missoula. I've known about The Bray (its resident artists, clay supply business, and support of for all things ceramic) for years, and was excited to get a chance to check it out.

Archie Bray Resident Artist Exhibition and 2010 Bray Benefit Auction

View outside the Warehouse Gallery

Met up with current resident artist Courtney Murphy who gave me a tour of the short-term and long-term resident studios. Courtney and I met briefly in Asheville, NC a few years ago through mutual friend and ceramic artist Cassie Ryalls. The ceramics community is amazing! If the rule of 6-degrees of separation is true normally, within ceramics I think it's more like only 3!

Long-term Resident Studios

It was also great to meet some of the other artists (Kelly Garrett Rathbone, Steven Roberts, Kensuke Yamada, Kevin Snipes, Gwendolyn, Yoppolo, Del Harrow, and Johnathan Read) and see their work in the Resident Artist Exhibition in the Warehouse Gallery. I was blown away by the quality and variety of the work!

Some of Courtney's work from the Resident Artist Exhibition.

It was a quick visit, but I'm looking forward to heading back there next Saturday, July 24 for The Bray Bash - thier annual auction and fundraiser.

From The Bray's Website:
"The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts is a public, nonprofit, educational institution founded in 1951 by brickmaker Archie Bray, who intended it to be 'a place to make available for all who are seriously and sincerely interested in any of the branches of the ceramic arts, a fine place to work.' Its primary mission is to provide an environment that stimulates creative work in ceramics. "

View back toward the resident studios and kiln yard

If you ever get a chance to go, I highly recommend it! (And I was only there for a short visit!) In addition to offering ceramic workshops and classes, The Bray offers ten 3-4 month short-term summer artist residencies and ten 1-2 year long-term residencies.

Cheers!

Meagan

In the kiln...

Loaded and fired an electric kiln with fellow resident Danny Crump yesterday - my first firing at The Clay Studio of Missoula. Here's a picture (pre-firing) of the various pieces and parts for three new experimental sculptures, my "warm-up" work from Monday, samples for my upcoming workshop at Arrowmont, and a couple trial plates and cups. (Plates and cups you ask?!? Yep. More about this challenge later.)

(Note: Imagine that white plaster mold isn't there for support and the pieces are bolted together.)

Tomorrow's plan - glaze, load and (hopefully) fire the kiln again. Cant wait to see some of this new work "finished." I have plans to include various glass and steel parts, so they may not be truly completed until I get back home to the studio in FL. But a trip to the hardware store for nuts and bolts is in my near future.

Cheers!
Meagan

New work - Residency project 1

I'm off to the studio to continue working on the project I started yesterday. And I must say, I'm pretty excited about it. It looks a lot different than the 3d sketches I did on Monday; almost as if it was made by another person. But I feel this piece is finally starting to incorporate ideas and techniques I've been striving for in my new work. (More on that later.)I was also amazed how much I was able to accomplish in one day! Granted, it was a long studio day - 7:45am til 7:00pm, but I was feeling great and really into a groove. It normally would have taken me 3 weeks at home to make this much progress! Cant wait to see what I'm able to do today! Cheers!
Meagan

Studio Warm Up

My first studio day in Missoula-

Yesterday, I spent all day working on small, 3D sketches of various floral forms. These maquettes were a great warm up exercise! And man did I need the warm up. It can take a while to get settled into a new space and find a routine.

The first thing that took some adjusting to was my clay body. I have been using the same clay body for at least 5 years now. (Lymen Red from Highwater Clays.) But out here in Montana it makes more sense to get it from The Archie Bray (only 1.5 hrs from Missoula) than to have 100lbs of my usual stuff shipped from the East Coast. So I made the switch and the two are definitely different! I don't know yet if I prefer one over the other, but I'll have to report back after my month-long residency. ABF Earthenware is darker brown when moist and seems smoother. It has virtually no grog compared to the Lymen Red I'm used to working with at home. I'm curious to see the fired color and compare shrinkage, absorption and warping.

The second issue I'm tackling is related to this gorgeous weather I've been experiencing. Humidity. Or lack there of. In Florida (80-100% humidity) clay dries very, very slowly and often needs to be put into a dry box or blasted with a heat gun to speed the drying process along. Not necessary here in MT! Slabs seemed to get stiff with the blink of an eye! I will definitely have to adjust my work time and modify some of my usual building habits.

These small pieces not only helped me learn more about my new clay and environment but they were great visual studies. I picked several flowers on my walk to the studio and took the time to really observe the structures, textures and colors of each. So, with the some 3D sketching and traditional sketching done, I tackled my first "real" project today. And I must say, I am pretty excited about it! But more about that one tomorrow. I'm off to bed!

Best,

Meagan

Residency Goals – The Clay Studio of Missoula

FAQ - “Why do you want a residency, you have a full studio at home?”

I’ve been thinking a lot about my goals for this residency. Why do I want a residency? I am a full-time studio artist with a fantastic work space just outside the back door at home. But having/needing a place to work isn’t the only reason artists take advantage of the various residency programs that are offered throughout the world. So, I thought it would be helpful for me if I outlined my goals for the next month. This will help keep me focused, even if part of the “focus” is to just to relax and have fun. You know, try to ignore that type-A voice in my head telling me I must create the best, most amazing work while I am here.

This month I hope to…

- meet new people. It’s important to get out, meet other artists, talk with them about their work, answer questions about your work, observe other techniques, and experience other firing methods.

- play! Experiment with all the ideas and techniques that I can’t seem to make time for in the studio at home. Allow myself the time to just be creative without the pressure of making a specific piece or product. I don’t want to go to a new place and keep making the same work.

-stimulate new ideas. Exposure to new people, places and things – I’ve never been to this part of the US until now and am in awe of the beauty and amazing weather. It’s perfect for someone who is inspired by nature and the world around them. (Did I mention that the temp at 8:00am yesterday morning was a crisp 48 F in Missoula, MT and already a steamy 84 F in Ocala, FL?! Or that it doesn’t get dark here until almost 10:30pm! And to think, I packed a flashlight because I was worried about walking home from the studio in the dark. Instead of a flashlight this prego needs one of those black-out face masks to wear to sleep!)

In a nutshell, my goals are not on product, but on process and experience. So, it’s time to head to the studio to start unpacking and meeting the other residents.

Cheers!
Meagan

Day One – The Clay Studio of Missoula

One month. Well, 32 days actually. That’s how long I’ll be in Montana for this amazing residency opportunity! Part of me stresses that it is to short. Part of me worries it is too long.

I know my studio days will be full and I will need to be focused to accomplish my goals. Working with clay involves coordinating a fairly tight timeline of making, drying, firing, and glazing.

The other part of me is already a bit homesick. One month seems like a long time to be away from home and my husband. It’s not like we’ve never spent time apart. Heck! The whole first 2 ½ years of our relationship was long-distance.

It’s just that he is my sounding board. He knows how to inspire me and help with the practical challenges. And he knows how to relax and support me like no one else! But we both understand what an important opportunity this is for me, my art, and my career. So, when I received an offer to come out here, he was behind it 110%.

Today is Day 1 and I’m ready to let the month begin! I arrived safe and sound last night and started the process of getting settled into my new home. I have a relaxing day ahead of me before moving into the studio tomorrow. I’m looking forward to days full of new friends, stimulating conversations, good food, studio inspiration, and amazing weather!

Cheers!
Meagan

My husband and I in March 2008 taking a break from a day's work building the studio back home in Ocala, FL. For more studio construction photos, click here.

New Plaques and Improvements

So, I mentioned in yesterday’s post that I was able to finish a record 60 plaques in just 8 studio days! And though this was definitely a rush job, the quality of the tiles was in no way compromised.

Actually, the opposite is true. I believe the plaques are getting better with each firing. I have a lot fewer “duds” – tiles that just don’t work for one reason or another. Warping seems to be under control. The patterns and line-work are stronger. And most glaze problems have been resolved.

For me, these tiles are a way to experiment with pattern, texture, and color. Because of this, even the “duds” are important. By studying them, I’m able to evaluate what works and what doesn’t; learn from my mistakes. I’m happy the success rate it up!

I’ve been making these plaques for 4 years now. People often ask how long I will continue to make new ones. And the answer is the same for all my work. I will continue to make them as long as I feel challenged creatively and I see room for growth and improvement. When I get bored or dread the process, it’s time to move on to something new.

Happy Creating!
Meagan

And We're Off!

The new Tile Plaques are on their way to CURVE studios & garden in Asheville, NC. (Finished 60 in just 8 days! That's a record for sure!)
And I'm on my way to The Clay Studio of Missoula for a one-month residency!

Wish us luck!

Meagan

Kickin' It!

Been getting kicked from all directions lately! Some exciting. Some stressful.

Felt the baby kick for the first time last week. And let me just say, that might just be one of the coolest feelings ever! Baby decided to get my attention for the first time while I was in line at the bank irritated with the teller. Guess he/she is already teaching me about patience.

Secondly, my studio work load has been kicking my butt! After the Studio Stroll in Asheville, NC earlier this month, I was almost sold out of Tile Plaques at CURVE studios & garden! I hadn’t planned on doing another set of firings before leaving for Montana, and the thought of squeezing this in on top of everything else definitely elevated my stress level.

(Cut, burn and polyurethane wood backings... check!)

So, I finally sat down and took control of my to-do list! Feeling overwhelmed with everything that needed to be done before I leave on Saturday, I divided my list up into daily tasks. This has made managing my time much more productive! Now I know I’ve got time set aside to finish the work in the studio, pack and relax with my hubby before flying out west.

(Organize to-do list.... check!)

I’ve got around 60 glazed tiles cooling in the kiln right now. The metal and wood backings are finished and the tiles should be cool enough to unload this afternoon. I’m right on schedule! Whew! It’s amazing what can be accomplished with the pressure from a deadline.

(Cut and polyurethane metal. Attach to wood backings... check!)

Ok, I’m off to yoga (ahhh!) and to run some errands while the kiln is hot.

Cheers!

Meagan

Heading West - The Clay Studio of Missoula

More exciting news and adventures to share! I recently found out that I was chosen for a short-term residency position at The Clay Studio of Missoula in Montana.
So, I'm taking my baby bump out west to Big Sky Country for a bit of an adventure. I'm looking forward to having a month to just explore and create. I have so many ideas and techniques that I want to investigate! The plan is to continue developing the current direction of my work; new sculptural forms I started during my post-bacc at UF.

And the timing is perfect! Not only am I grateful to have an opportunity to do this before the baby comes, but I'll still be in my 2nd trimester (aka the "honeymoon phase of pregnancy") so energy will be up and I'll be feeling great.

So, we've got a whirlwind week ahead as I pack and prepare for this amazing opportunity. Thank you!

Cheers!
Meagan