Danny D's Mud Shop February Newsletter
New Product - Redesigning + Improvements Its already mid February and this is my first official newsletter for the Mud Shop. January was surprisingly busy and and I hope it's not too late to give...
Danny D's Mud Shop March Newsletter
A retrospective into a new year, two years into business
Well. Jeez. Am I already at the point to develop a retrospective of my time selling pottery? It's an irony that i'm sending this March newsletter on the exact day of my culmination of Danny D's Mud Shop company, because I completely forgot until I sat down to write out this opener.
At the start of the business everything felt like a fight. I would fight everyday to create to balance, to accomplish tasks, to have fun. I would fight to simply exist in this arena. No one tells you how difficult it is, and no one told me how many moving parts there are when it comes to a production line. In the beginning, I would celebrate each month. I felt nostalgia and accomplish at two months, four months, six months for sure, and 1 year was a huge success for me. I posted my BEST photo at 6 months, I remember. Around then I had 5000 people supporting me on social media. I joked because it was the size of a small town called Beullton, home of split pea soup. At the time, it was a really slow month for sales, but daily and steady growth kept me pushing. The possibility of getting another job also kept me pushing too. At the time I would ship each Thursday, and write down on a piece of yellow construction paper the names and box size before I bought the labels. Now, this whole process is streamlined, but I kept each one since the start. I'll frame it one day. Or burn it lol, it was so inefficient.
A lot of people cheer you on from the sidelines of a secure job (something I envy all the time) but in reality, but I dont believe as many people as you think truly believe in the possibility of creating something sustainable from a hobby. I dont blame anyone, and there were plenty of moments where I didn't either. I had one of those moments yesterday actually. No one tells you how hard it is, and maybe my Chinese mother syndrome is showing but no one really cares at the end of the day. The reality is that it's up to the maker to make, and the creator to create the possibilities for themselves. This is why my back hurts I suppose. But I've stayed strong and my hairline hasn't receded as far as I think.
I still dont understand a lot of things. Im not the best at pottery, but ive put in the hours. I JUST figured out how to properly do taxes, and probably lost a lot of money from it. Everyday I try to work with enthusiasm, kindness and generosity - I scream these philosophies and ideas into the world and the I think the world will scream them back in the best way. This is my favorite Conan O'Brien quote I read in University many years ago and I stand by it to this day. For the people that are here. For the people that read my newsletter, support my business, come to my classes, and even drive across SoCal to visit me for a pickup order (even though I offer 12$ shipping) - thank you so fucking much.
This weekend I was invited as a host to teach a boarding school in Pasadena. It's called EF Academy, and Victor, their director, is an extremely handsome, accomplished man with charisma and intention. Their school is a well funded, beautifully designed space that encourages kids to learn in alternative ways, outside the normal questions teachers ask their students. Perhaps, shifting the narrative to ask questions rather than just jotting down facts. The schooling I was apart of was about jotting down the facts. And funny enough, personal success at the time wasn't if I memorized it, rather was only if I kept up with the teacher and had pretty handwriting. I was one of those kids, and even funnier enough, I ultimately remembered nothing. So im honored to be a part of this program this weekend. I hope it brings some more eyes to their space, alternative paths with career choices for their students, and all at the same time they keep a small business operating in their community (me). Win-win.
I complain and bitch about the intricacies of social media all the time, im very vocal about it. It's a toxic cesspool of hate and shame, but also an avenue for creatives to showcase and grow. Im no saint with it, and i've seen success because of a few videos. Never in the history of the world has a small artist or creator been able to reach so many people so quickly. It's damn exciting, but creates a toxicity that im reacting to everyday. Theres no sustainability in virality, I never forget this. My newsletter is perhaps a retaliation against it, and my responsibility towards a solid future. Sustainability makes it into my lexicon frequently, all because I intend to send out a March 1st, 2025 newsletter, and hopefully even a 2026. See you there, and again, thank you :) -d
Photos by Jossie Ayón, accompanied by a small write up - linked below
Select Photos by @wonderwendyy
Heres a little discount code if there was something interesting you!
"howisitmarch" for 20% off :)
York Manor Market - March 3rd
First Market of the Year
Highland Park, 9am-4pm,
Two doors down from Kumquat Coffee - bring the strollers !!!
Sunday March 3rd
Link to More Info via Instagram
New Work Around Town
Welcome to the family Etra and Telegrama
I made some custom butter ramekins and multi use cups for their food program.
All wheel thrown, hand carved and roughly painted to match their interiors.
Thank you Andrew for the opportunity. Support your community yall, and please dont steal these.
Merchandise! All locally printed on comfort color blanks.
Constantly Improving : Lighting
Im getting better, and slowly approaching some sort of "Launch". Except people keep buying them as I make, so im doing my best !!
Next in Studio Carving Workshop - tumblers
If you're KEEN and PREPARED - next workshop is posted on my website. It's already a quarter sold so check it out if you know you're going ot be in LA on the 23rd next month! Basically the same price of a fancy tumbler, but you get to put YOUR design on. See you there :)
Artist Feature : Noel Mercado
Noel is a chainstitcher, painter, etc etc all the things artist. I've admired his work for a while, and am keen on one of his large stitched canvas works. Thanks for coming in Noel!
Studio Playlist !!! - Here's what im listening to lately, enjoy :)
