HOW A ONE-WOMAN SHOW KEEPS THE SHOW RUNNING
Many of our makers run their own businesses with few if any employees. Julia Finlayson is one such tenacious maker. Located in Evanston IL, Julia is a single parent who singlehandedly juggles 3 teens and a pottery business, Grandmont Street. For the last few months Julia has been quietly working alone, hand-throwing a collection of rustic simple stoneware including match strikes, candle holders, and incense holders. Learn how she keeps the show running in our interview with Julia below.
grandmont
ABOUT GRANDMONT STREET
Julia Finlayson is a ceramicist who started collecting vintage match strikes about ten years ago. She loved the history, the ritual, and the aesthetic of match strikes, and began experimenting with her own shapes, sizes, and color glazes. Julia’s rustic pieces are equal parts simple, modern, and warm. “I don't like stuff that's stark”, she says.
grandmont
Describe where you are you right now.

How literal is this question, ha ha!
Literally I am in my home office/gym/music studio at my vintage green leather-topped desk. Mentally I am feeling overwhelmed by life/work and trying to find focus.

What’s your biggest challenge as a maker?

Time. I am a single/divorced mom of 3 teenagers and a one-woman show as far as my business. No staff of any kind. Indeed, they are more self-sufficient than little kids but activities and meals and simply wanting to have meaningful time with them means my days are usually feeling like I’m burning the candle at both ends.

How are you staying strong and resilient?

Trying to get into routines of earlier bedtime and earlier rise time so that I can read growth-related material and journal. Not something I’ve done a lot of in the past but a divorce, turning 50, and then the ending of a 7-year relationship forces one’s hand into self-examination and exploration. Exercise is also key. Very important to me.

Where do you find moments of joy?

When I allow myself to slow down and pause. A nice night with my kids. Being outside. Art books, music, time to close my eyes and think and imagine shapes, color palettes, ideas.

What are you grateful for? Any special silver linings?

Grateful for heath of my 80-year old parents and children. Grateful, and perhaps my silver lining, is that since I am a solo artist/biz owner I can still work during the pandemic. I’m sure I’d go mad otherwise, not just because of the obvious financial hardships but the depression that hovers with not just the pandemic but the state of the country right now.