the anarcho-punk way

(cup by Gary Rith)
In 1986 I had a sucky job. The owner was a dragon, but everybody else was nice. Like Ray who would hide with me in the back work room where you could pretend you were working, and gossip about the dragon. Or Julie, who worked in the office and was very sweet to me and mixed cinnamon into the cheap-ass coffee the dragon bought, so it was drinkable. Or Allegra who was tall and Cuban and hawt and wore high heels. She was nice to me too.
Don't mean to complain too much, but the pay was low, I was lazy, and the lady had me washing windows and vacuuming the floor. I don't mind doing those things, of course, but I hadn't signed on for it. I had signed on for a glamorous job doing_____ and ended up, as I say, cleaning the joint. I wasn't fired, because I was outwardly cheerful and helpful, of course, but it was time to go. And as they say in the movie Office Space: "I stole something". I was very bad. But I can come clean 'cause the statute of limitations are over.
Back to the coffee: amongst the mugs by the cheap-ass coffee was a gorgeous handmade mug that had been left behind by the last assistant who quit when they had realized that the glamorous job I would later fill was all about scrubbing the floors and windows. It was painted with a blue underglaze and had neato underglaze decorations. It was bright, it was colorful, it was wonderful, and it left with me (and kept me happy until it died one day). I remember it clearly, and have wanted to make it ever since.
I think I have figured out how. I was fiddling with this cup, and I bet when I make 2 more tomorrow I really nail it, what I want to do in making that idea my own, but this is a good first step!