One of my Facebook followers just shared a photo of her “first batch” of ceramic fortune cookies with me… and I felt like I should post it for all of you!!! Thanks for sharing Joanne… they look GREAT!!! And yes… I add little beads of clay to mine too!!!

From Joanne… “I just made my first batch after being inspired by your post. I single fire but wanted to see how I could get a color on them to highlight the patterns. I used underglaze and wiped back. I am hoping it works! ( I added little beads of clay to get a rattle, but not sure how well that works, lol)”

And while we’re enjoying some much needed sunshine today… I’m also enjoying another stained glass piece catching some sun today! It was my first piece from my friend Retta who makes cool stained glass pieces that include some unconventional parts & pieces. She had me at STOP… part of a vintage reflector!!!

Be sure to look her up on Facebook at “I Do Windows” by Retta Hentschel. Or plan on coming out to ART IN THE GARDEN in Glenview this September to see both of us there!!!

Gotta love when the sun comes streaming in… and a prism rainbow lands perfectly on some vases on the shelves in my dining room! So much fun… makes me think it’s warm & sunny outside?… well, one out of two ain’t bad!!!

Just getting ready for a fun studio evening!
Handles are pulled & the Olympic Opening Ceremonies are about to begin!!!
Giddy-up Milan… show us what you’ve got!!!

Last night in my THROWDOWN pottery class, I challenged them all to make a “perfect” bowl using three pounds of clay. We were looking for a nice round interior with no “beginner’s ledge” or indentation from a flat bottom… and a nice rim. It was fun to see all the different “versions”… the size differences… and the one that flopped at the very last minute.

And now we’re all “waiting” to see what happens next week…
for the continuation of our THROWDOWN bowl project!!!

So I made another batch of fortune cookies last night before heading home. Left them out to dry… and I’m a little intrigued on how “randomly” they’re drying. Creating a crazy cool ombré blend from the lighter-drier ones to the darker-wetter ones. Kinda cool…

Look what arrived in my mail!!! The poster for the ST. CROIX VALLEY POTTERY TOUR… already on my calendar! Always a fun weekend of pottery, shopping, adding to collections & visiting with the friends & potters. Looks like there’s 67 potters this year… so much talent & so many pots to squeeze into one weekend! Can’t wait to head up north for my little pottery addiction! And you should too…

Tonight’s magical moment… frozen & illuminated from behind.
More sparkling beauty from my frozen back porch.

With my Intermediate students, we’re all working on “chip & dip bowls.” We’ve already thrown the traditional “all-in-one-piece” chip & dip. But last night we tackled a little gravity-defying stacked version! Fingers crossed… as I always love a class demo where we’re all trying something new.

A little more icicle magic. Frozen fringe hanging on my back porch… encrusting some dead vines from last summer that “someone“ forgot to cutdown at the end of the season. But look what beauty my… I mean “someone’s” laziness has created!!!