So I’ve finally scheduled my next soda kiln firing for Wednesday, November 10th.
Now I’m trying to make all of the work I’ll need to fill it. And to be ready for
my Holiday Home Show which is now just four weeks away! So tonight I stamped,
and stamped, and stamped… larger bowls and smaller cups to become votives.
Looks like tomorrow I might have a LOT of trimming to do?!

This afternoon in the studio, I tried to “finish up” all of Amy’s demo pieces from last night.
A little touching-up, a little cleaning, a little trimming – and now they’re drying! I also took
some time to stamp the plate that I made last night as part of my “scheduled” class demo.
So now, that too is drying, but just to the point where I can trim it!

Tonight was a special night for my Beginning & Advanced Beginning Wheelthrowing
class at Lillstreet Art Center. My friend Amy Higgason from the Northwoods was
passing through Chicago and stopped by for a fun evening of dinner, conversation…
and a wonderful demonstration of her fantastic decoration techniques for my class!

Amy was once a Lillstreet Studio Artist back at the original location. She has since
moved on to the Wisconsin Northwoods – and set herself up as Pigeon Road Pottery.
I was up there a couple weeks ago for her Fall Art Tour – and it was great to have her
stop by my class! What a great opportunity for them to see another great potter at work
and sharing all of her surface decoration “secrets.”

After some brief introductions, Amy started to work on a couple simple bowls
that I had thrown on Sunday. I made five different bowls for Amy and I to work on.
The demonstration for my students was to see Amy’s work & techniques… but also
to see how a little surface decoration can dramatically alter the look of a pot.
And how five very similar bowls can end up completely different with her techniques,
my techniques… or our combined efforts! Amy then proceeded to start carve, chat and
discuss her path as a ceramic artist. Amy and I have similar backgrounds – both as
graphic designers who have shunned the corporate life. She worked on decorating her
bowls as she answered questions and demonstrated different techniques… and laughed!

The evening went by very fast. By the end of the evening, Amy had carved three
different bowls… and I had stamped one bowl in my newer “puffy stamps” style… as well
as one bowl that we worked together on as a collaboration piece! During her time, I also
worked with my students on their own throwing, and demonstrated how to throw a plate.

By the end of the evening, we had completed five dramatically different bowls. All of which
were very much the same at the start of the evening. I have a few small finishing touches
to do on them tomorrow before they can all start drying. I think my students enjoyed
our “surprise” special guest artist. Plus, I think Karen Avery’s Intermediate Wheelthrowing
Class enjoyed it too… as they came in and joined the Amy party! And special thanks to one of
my former students Chuck (and his wife) who brought in a tray of the best homemade
chocolate chip cookies ever!!!… and they were still warm! – Chuck, you rock!!!

I know that one of my students, Pam, enjoyed the night with Amy. They met
just a couple weeks ago during the Northwoods Tour – and Pam has become one of
Amy’s greatest fans VERY quickly!!!… and has already started her own
Pigeon Road Pottery Collection!

The morning started with low clouds on the horizon…

Ten minutes later some higher, wispy clouds blew in with a wispy pink color.

It continued to get better & better… especially on my bike!

And with a few silhouetted leaves still hanging on…
at least until the next big wind blows them off into the Lake!

Another productive day at the studio.
Had to do something with all those cylinders, huh?!
So I turned them into mugs over the course of this afternoon.

Cylinders stamped. Next step… trimming of the bottoms.

Handles pulled. Setting up a bit waiting to be attached…

Handles attached. Now they look like actual mugs!!!

Slip accents painted. Mugs finished… now drying for an upcoming bisque kiln!

Another cloudy morning. Another sunrise-free bike ride.
Gray. Overcast. Windy. Cold.
Although… great clouds, great views, great skyline.
All in all… still a great morning’s ride along the lakefront!

Another night at the studio…
and another batch of wall pocket vases ready to be stamped & finished!

Big surprise for my Tuesday night Wheelthrowing class… shh, don’t tell anyone…
but my good friend & fantastic potter Amy Higgason will be stopping by
for a “surprise” visit this coming Tuesday to show off some of her incredible
surface decoration techniques. We may even get the chance to do some tag-team
demos to show off why her work has been referred to as “more feathery” and my
work as “more footprinty.” She’ll be passing through Chicago on Tuesday, and I
persuaded her to stick around for an evening with my beginners!

If you want to see more of Amy’s work, scroll back a few posts to see more about
my trip up to the Wisconsin Northwoods. Amy is THAT incredible potter!!!
My class is so lucky to see her demo… and they don’t even know it yet!

After a couple weekends of playing in the beautiful Fall colors…
and riding a few miles here & there… then spending time in the storage room…
I had a sudden bit of panic attack when I came to the realization that Summer
is definitely over, Fall is officially here and the holidays are right around the corner!
In fact, “My Home For The Holidays” Home Show is just five weeks away!

So, after an “enjoyable”  morning at the DMV – I went straight to the studio
to try and get back into full-on production mode! Of course, you have to clean the
place first. Then you need to do a little chatting. Maybe a little lunch.
And some more cleaning. Before you can actually get down to throwing pots!

After spending a lot of time in the storage room determining what inventory
to make… I was still a little overwhelmed by what needs to be done… especially
with just five weeks to get it all done. So what did I do?…

Mugs of course… or at least the starting cylinders for a new batch of mugs!