Another pile of reclaim… another lump to wedge… another pile of “free” clay.

Enough said…

We survived another day in the park… and were lucky enough to have “dodged”
some of the bad weather that was anticipated all day! We started the day with
cloudy skies and a cool breeze.  A little cloudy… a little hazy… and yet I still felt
confident that the day was going to be a lot nicer than yesterday.

Another great surprise today was a visit by a former “co-worker”… or should I say
Vice President?! Okay, let’s go with the “good VP”… NOT the one I worked for! I haven’t
seen him for several years since I left the entire “corporate world” to play in the clay!
It was a great surprise – and it felt like it was just yesterday that I was slinging
witty sarcasm his way! I’m sure he’s missed me… ha.

All in all, I think we had a really good weekend fair in Hinsdale. It turned out to be
a successful fair, and I feel very lucky to have had as much good weather as we did.
For what started out with “evacuation plans”, the weekend turned out much better
than expected. And I got an “Honorable Mention” ribbon to boot…

Let’s just say it’s never a fun day at the art fair when the organizers are spreading
the news of bad weather and actually telling you about “evacuation plans.”
Seriously… I’m not kidding… even before the art fair even begins!!!

The day started out okay. We knew that the weather wasn’t going to be perfect.
As I was driving to Hinsdale this morning, it was a little drizzly. But it stopped
before I got there. So I finished setting up and there was a buzz about the place!
Artists discussing the weather and the impending storm headed our way. Great…
All set up, just in time for a storm. Now it’s not the rain that scares me, it’s the wind.
Rain just makes things wet & miserable. But strong winds can actually cause a LOT
of damage to tents and breakable art… like pottery!

At first it was just some grumblings and a lot of hearsay. But then the organizers,
and a fleet of Hinsdale police officers, were sent around to tell us “officially” about
the radar weather report… including a huge storm with extremely strong winds.
And then they followed it up with the “evacuation plan.” Literally… they said
we would hear announcements over the PA system and be escorted to the Town Hall
building across the street, or the Police Department adjacent.
Seriously… I couldn’t make this up if I tried.

Luckily, the storm decided to dissipate a bit, and go past a little south of us. So we did
get some rain, a drop in temperature and a few breezes. Nothing too alarming…
especially after the hype and build-up. Once the rain stopped, a few customers braved
the elements to see some art… but another wave of rain was on its way. Luckily, no
mention of an “evacuation plan” the second time around.

After the second wave of rain, it actually cleared up pretty nicely. We even had some
nice sunshine for a few hours this afternoon. And some more customers coming out to
play in the park and do a little shopping. It was “almost” a nice day at the fair!

But after all the excitement early on this morning, the day wouldn’t be complete without
another blip on the radar – and more excitement. The organizers were once again alarmed
and spreading the news… and telling us that another storm, worse than the first with
even stronger winds was once again on its way. They advised us all to close shop early,
zip the tents, batton down the hatches and prepare for a beating! So we did…
Everyone closed up their tents and tried to secure everything as much as possible.

My parents and I had dinner in Hinsdale after we finished closing up. It rained during dinner.
But nothing too extreme. Just some rain. Hopefully that was it. Another storm that had
alarmed the group but never really materialized. Better safe than sorry. A couple years ago
we got hit by a huge storm at the same art fair. So the organizers of the Hinsdale Art Fair
were a lot more cautious, informative & supportive than usual. Last time there were tents
flying, ruined artwork and a LOT of unhappy artists… I’m sure they don’t want that again!

So, even though it wasn’t my best day at the art fair, it was in fact a WHOLE LOT better
than anticipated. With radars, alarms and “evacuation plans”… I had expected the worst.
It actually turned out to be an “okay” day. Hoping that there’s no huge storm tonight…
that everyone’s tents & art are safe overnight… and tomorrow is a much better day!
At this point, the forecast looks okay during the day, clouds by 3:00pm and rain by 6:00pm!
The show ends at 5:00pm… let’s hope we can get packed up before the rain sets in!!!

Okay… as many of you know I don’t watch the TV news or read newspapers.
I prefer to live in my own self-imposed ignorant bliss. It’s a simple life I lead.
Plus, I’m the eternal optimist… especially when it comes to my morning
biking routine. Some times a bad combination…

So I get up this morning for another ride. I can see from my back balcony that some
clouds are forming over the lake – and I think ‘might make for a good sunrise?!’
So I quickly throw on some clothes and start pedaling…

As I get further down the lakefront… I see a flicker of light in the corner of my eye…
and think it’s odd to see a streetlight flicker like that. But sometimes they do that
as they are turning off, ya’ know?! And then there was another one?… coincidence?
So I keep pedaling and I can see that there is a nice glow of red on the horizon.
I start planning where I’m going to stop for the sunrise photo. What’s that?…
a little grumbling sound off in the distance?!

I stop off between Waveland and Addison for the photo op… oblivious… unaware…
but sadly, the pink sunrise never really materialized. More grumbling…
instead it kind of “melted” into the cloud cover in the distance. More grumbling.
Is it just the disappointed grumbling in my head?… or my empty stomach?… no…
wait… that’s not grumbling… that’s thunder!

Which suddenly makes sense… and the flickers of light were lightning!!!
Yep. I’m a quick one. My morning ah-ha moment.

As I turn and look around, the clouds are closing in quickly… and before I can pack it in,
the rain starts. A few small drops at first. Then the skies opened up and it poured.
And there I was, miles from home… preparing for my hasty retreat!!!

At first it’s kind of annoying – getting soaked when I should be enjoying the ride.
But at some point, the humor and enjoyment of the situation returns.
And I accept the fact that I’m soaked through and through. Jersey. Shorts. Shoes.
Once you’re wet you can’t get any wetter!

So I slowed down and pedaled on in my own self-imposed ignorant bliss.
Soaked. Dripping. Happy.

I’m just hoping that this storm rolled through early and it might clear the way
for the weekend… because I’m not looking forward to setting up for the art fair
in Hinsdale in the pouring rain this afternoon. Nor, standing there dripping wet
all weekend. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Once again, unaware and happy
in my own little dream world.

Ignorant bliss.
I can’t change the weather, so why worry about it?

So this week I had projects firing in two different electric kilns.
One turned out to be a good kiln. Another would turn out to be the bad kiln.
Kind of like LOST’s “The Evil Twin”… Jacob & “Man In Black”… but I digress…

The Good Kiln.
So my own kiln actually worked out well. And the birdhouses turned out nicely.
I stained the sides with black underglaze, and then glazed the roofs and awnings.
A quick overnight firing to cone 05 – and I unloaded them today. Still need to find
some twigs to insert as “the perch” and then they’re good to go!

The Bad Kiln.
However… not so good for the kiln load of kid’s projects from my first week of
Summer Camp. My kids worked really hard on Monday creating terra cotta flower boxes.
We built them on Monday, decorated with textures and colored underlazes. On Tuesday,
we coated them in clear glaze and set them out in front of fans to dry quickly…
so they could be fired on Wednesday with a long preheat so all the kids’ projects “survive.”
Basically the same system we’ve used for years… with only minor glitches… well…
Well, apparently the 10-hour preheat was mis-programmed as a 10-minute preheat!!!
Ka-boom!!!  oops…

I’ll find out tomorrow how bad it was, but the kiln loaders were working on another kiln
when they heard at least three pieces blow up… literally. So today, my campers all rebuilt
new flower boxes “just in case” and they will be allowed to dry slowly & be fired next week.
Let’s hope we can all “resolve” the firing issues as the kid’s Summer Camp kicks into
high gear next week… and I do my first session of Chess Camp next week!!!

After a couple rainy mornings… it was a welcome return
back to the morning bike ride with another incredible sunrise!

So this weekend I’m venturing out for another fine art festival.
This time I’m headed out to the western suburb of Hinsdale…
which is not as far away as you think it might be!

Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival
Saturday, June 12th, 2010 – 10:00am-6:00pm
Sunday, June 13th, 2010 – 10:00am-5:00pm
Burlington Park on Chicago Avenue between Washington & Garfield Streets
in Hinsdale, Illinois. I’ll be in the same space as always… Booth #101.
Kind of in the northeast section of the art fair… just look for my pottery flag!

Plenty of pottery for your home and garden – as well as gifts for Dads & Grads!
Functional pieces liek mugs, bowls, platters, vases, soap dispensers and more.
And as always, food-safe, dishwasher safe & microwaveable… use ’em everyday!
Plus decorative items like my “ClayQuilt” tiled wall pieces, ceramic birdhouses
ikebana vase, salt & pepper shakers, flower pots and new floral wall pockets!
In fact… the burdhouses are SO new, they’re coming out of the kiln tomorrow!

So mark your calendar for this weekend – as the perfect chance to come relax
in the park and enjoy some art at the same time!

And if you can’t make it…
remember that you can keep up to speed by becoming a Fan on Facebook!
Simply click on the link below to get to the Fire When Ready Pottery page.
Then click on the “Like” button at the top for updates, photos, events & more!
www.facebook.com/FireWhenReadyPottery

The birdhouses are drying nicely… so tonight I stained & glazed them all.
The sides are “stained” with black underglaze. The roofs & “awnings” are glazed.
Overnight they will get to dry a little more thoroughly… and go into the kiln tomorrow!
Right on schedule…

Same morning. Same bike. Same sunrise.
What a difference twelve minutes can make…