Just Put it in Your Carry-On

At The Pot Shop I get visitors from all over the world and sometimes they find pieces they want to take home with them. We have the discussion about shipping, which I’m happy to do, but I always recommend that people take their piece home with them in their carry-on luggage if they can. It’s safer than the perils of the shipping journey. So, my advice is always, ‘just put it in your carry-on.’

As I find myself getting ready to head to Louisiana to restock my work in the galleries there and participate in the Open Studio Tour, March 21-22, I have accumulated quite a pile of pieces that need to go with me. I wonder just how much can fit under the seat in front of me on the airplane? All suitcases have to be checked for the last leg of the trip so I don’t like to put pottery in there unless I really have to.

I am reminded of that story about how to fit rocks, pebbles and sand into a container in a way that makes it all fit. First in go the big rocks. Next go the pebbles that can fit in between the big rocks and last goes the sand which can fit into the smallest spaces left. The story is actually about how one manages their life but it seems to apply to filling my carry-on as well. (The story is below if you haven’t heard it before)

I’ve decided to try packing by using some flattish boxes to keep the platters protected under the seat as best I can. Then I will add the vases and finally fill in with the ramekins and hearts. Whatever is left over will have to take its chances in my suitcase. Since it will be only little pieces left over, I am hopeful for it mostly to arrive intact.

This packing project does remind me of trying to ship pieces home from my Summer in Greece ceramics class many years ago. I had a few finished pieces that I wanted to ship home to remember my experience – not like the load I’m carrying this trip – and I found some boxes behind a store. I used beach towels and clothes to cushion the pottery but it was nothing like the way I bubble wrap and double box pottery to ship these days.

The lady at the post office told me 100% the work would break in shipping with how it was packed. I didn’t have other options though. There was no UPS store in our little village where I could get proper packing materials so I went with what I had. Luck was with me and my pieces somehow survived their trip around the world. I hope I’m as lucky this time heading to Louisiana.

Even though it feels laughable in this instance, I still think it’s good advice to ‘just put it in your carry-on,’ perhaps not quite as many pieces as I’m taking though. Here’s the final box up. I think I did pretty well. I just hope they don’t check the weight!

What unexpected items have you taken in your carry-on?

A teacher walks into a classroom and sets a glass jar on the table. He silently places 2-inch rocks in the jar until no more can fit. He asks the class if the jar is full and they agree it is. He says, “Really,” and pulls out a pile of small pebbles, adding them to the jar, shaking it slightly until they fill the spaces between the rocks. He asks again, “Is the jar full?” They agree. So next, he adds a scoop of sand to the jar, filling the space between the pebbles and asks the question again. This time, the class is divided, some feeling that the jar is obviously full, but others are wary of another trick. So, he grabs a pitcher of water and fills the jar to the brim, saying, “If this jar is your life, what does this experiment show you?” A bold student replies, “No matter how busy you think you are, you can always take on more.” “That is one view,” he replies. Then he looks out at the class making eye contact with everyone, “The rocks represent the BIG things in your life – what you will value at the end of your life – your family, your partner, your health, fulfilling your hopes and dreams. The pebbles are the other things in your life that give it meaning, like your job, your house, your hobbies, your friendships. The sand and water represent the ‘small stuff’ that fills our time, like watching TV or running errands.” Looking out at the class again, he asks, “Can you see what would happen if I started with the sand or the pebbles?”