Momentous Pottery Giveaways Inspired by NASA

July 20th, 1969 was when humans first set foot on the Moon. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin (who owns a Cosmic Mug thanks to our friend Stacey at StarTalk) is 87 years young and he’s STILL active on Instagram, reminiscing about the experience:

Joel studies astronauts because it inspires him to filter ideas into is artwork, towards achieving greatness. Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Col. Chris Hadfield both have Guinness World Records titles. Both directly inspired Joel to attempt and achieve the title for, ‘most pots thrown in one hour by an individual.’

Astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield also let us send him a Cosmic Mug. In his book, “An Astronauts Guide to Life on Earth” Hadfiled tells how his childhood dream was to walk on the moon. That goal wasn’t reached, but it put him on a path towards successfully becoming an astronaut and achieving his Guinness World Records title for ‘first music video filmed in space.’ Joel studied Hadfield’s work, sent him a Cosmic Mug and got an inspiring letter in return. He said:

We also send free pots to other astronauts occasionally, like Lt. Col. Mark Vande Hei who graduated from Joel’s alma mater CSB/SJU. He is in line for a trip to the International Space Station.

Not the best photo, but hey…that’s a NASA Astronaut enjoying a Cosmic Mug!

“Why climb the highest mountain? … We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills…”

– John F. Kennedy, September 12, 1962

Entrepreneurship is one skill that has many of the same core values that propelled the United States to the moon. Entrepreneurs are required to spend years overcoming failures and striving towards success. You can learn how Joel launched and sustained his pottery business immediately after college graduation in this eight part authorship series for American Craft Council:

A Potter’s Journey: The Beginning

🎉🌘🎁🌌☕🏔🎁🌒🎉

Momentous Pottery Giveaways

Houston, we have liftoff! Here’s what you need to know:

If they’re sold out or too expensive for you, don’t worry! Here is another awesome giveaway we just launched, totally free:

Free Giveaway: $680 in Free Cosmic Mugs

  • Cosmic Mug and Moon Mug Giveaway, totally free: $680 in free pottery.
  • Enter for free by simply entering your email.

Joel will also be releasing more pottery later this month: Cosmic Mugs, including $79 Random Cosmic Mugs and $49 Flawed Cosmic Mugs, before August. Stay tuned to the newsletter to get notified about availability first:

cherricopottery.com/newsletter

1,000 Pots and 1,000 Egg Cartons

The Kickstarter is over and all of the Holiday pottery shipped globally. If you’re a backer, check out our most recent campaign update for all Cosmic Mug shipping information. If you just want to see a glimpse into the cosmic pottery process, scroll to the bottom of the update for photography and video snippets: 

Three Cheers for the Backers!

Thanks again for your support!

Having no fear leaves us free to take risks and thereby learn from our failures and successes. If we produce safe, calculated pots, then that joy of discovery is lost and our growth cut short. The way to continue growing is to risk the unknown. An old Chinese proverb says it best, “Fear came knocking, faith opened the door, but no one was there.”

– Jenny Lind, “A Question of Quality,” The Studio Potter

Image 7, HIGHER QUALITY Jenny Lind Quote from Sister Dennis

Kickstarter Success! Time to Collect Your Cosmic Pottery

Whether you backed our project, posted on Facebook or simply told a friend, all of you helped make this a huge success. Thank you so much!

Getting Your Cosmic Pottery

#1.) Worldwide Shipping:  If you backed an “EARLY BIRD SPECIAL” please fill out the Kickstarter Survey by Monday, December 14th 2015 at the latest. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee arrival before Christmas. Kickstarter Survey emails were sent this morning. If you cannot find your survey, please search your email for “Kickstarter Survey” and be sure to check your spam and trash folders. All remaining pottery will be shipped by March 1st at the latest, and hopefully much earlier. 

#2.) Local Pottery Pickup: Wednesday 12/16 to Friday 12/19. You are invited to come pick up your pottery in person from my pottery studio in St. Joseph, Minnesota. You will receive a refund for you shipping costs in the form of extra, bonus pottery. Please follow this link to schedule a pickup time:

Cosmic Mug Pickup Schedule

Please choose one of the above options, so I know what to do with your finished cosmic pots. Thanks again for your support!

“A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP” 

– Leonard Nimoy

600px-Leonard_Nimoy,_2011,_ST_Con-2

3 Hours Left: Last Call for Cosmic Pottery!

WE DID IT! The Kickstarter is funded and almost finished! I’m working around the clock to get all of your pottery ready for shipment next week. If you’re a backer, be sure to watch your email closely, as I’ll be using email to collect shipping addresses in the next couple days. This is your last chance to make any changes to your order, back our project, and to get pottery coupons for future pots:

Cosmic Mug Kickstarter

Cosmic Mug Boxes, Cherrico Pottery

Thanks so much for all of your support so far! Cheers!

Mailchimp Header, November 29, 2015

SMASHING Good Pottery Deals

Cosmic Mug Kickstarter Newsletter, Image 1

Don’t worry, that mug needed to be smashed because of dunting (a pottery term for rare cracks that sometimes occur when firing ceramics). Nearly all of the Cosmic Mugs emerging from the kiln are stunning! 

Cosmic Mug glaze detail next to a spiral galaxy collision.
Cosmic Mug glaze detail next to a spiral galaxy collision.

As a thanks for participating in this Kickstarter, I’m working on a set of pottery coupons and future discounts. All Kickstarter bakers will get at least one coupon included with your pottery order as a thanks. If you haven’t backed the project but you might still be interested, I would urge you to please take another look at our project. Even just $5 goes a long way in supporting creation of this artwork, and it gets you up to 40% off future pottery. $49 Cosmic Mugs or a $69 Cosmic Mug + Set of 4 Shot Cups are still available before Christmas, so please follow this link if you’re interested:

Cosmic Mug Kickstarter

 

Cosmic Mug Kickstarter Newsletter, Image 2