The weekend weather had been incredible. Sunny. Warm. Rain-free!!!
And I’m been playing more… more… more… outside all day, inside at night!
Including a night in the studio stamping the cylinders that I made Friday night.

After stamping in the studio, I also went downstairs into the classroom and did some
very long-overdue glazing of my class demo pieces. For those who have been around
Lillstreet, many of you have seen my class demo on glazing. And how I tend to bring out
a bunch of my bisque, show ’em how to wax the bottoms… and then end up talking far
too much!!! So much “new” information to share with the Beginners. So many tips.
So many warnings. So much excitement. But after all the fun, I generally only glaze like
one piece during the demo, and then everything goes back onto my teacher shelf. After
a couple sessions, my pile of “unglazed” class demos was taking over my shelf. And with
the new Summer Session starting this week, it was imperative to make room for the new
class. So I glazed… and glazed… and glazed… my least favorite part of the process…

After a long stretch of beautiful Chicago weather… and me
possibly “playing” a little too much on my bike… is that possible?…
it felt great to be back at my wheel in the studio tonight.
Throwing. Centering. Playing in the mud.

And it didn’t really even matter what I was making…
I was making fun.

The silhouettes are incredible at this time of the morning. With the sun peaking over
the horizon – creating beautiful shadowed reflections in the water. I especially love
how the sun is streaming through the windows of the building on Northerly Island.

And while I was down there already…
I thought I might take a quick trip around Soldier Field. To get a closer look at the
“alien spaceship” that they plopped down on top of the traditional stadium when they
renovated several years ago. Yep… still not a fan!

So there I am, pedaling along the lakefront past Oak Street Beach this morning
and making the stretch down towards Ohio Street Beach. A nice straight-away.
The sun slowly rising. Minding my own business. Having a beautiful ride.

When all of a sudden… somewhere up ahead in the center of the bike path
there was a strange lump. Something too big. Something that shouldn’t be there.
But it was… and when I got close enough to really see it… Imagine my surprise!!!

I’ve had a couple people ask if it was one of those “flying” Asian Carp fish
that they’ve been talking about “invading” the Lake for years. I think there’s
a pretty good chance… but I don’t know for sure! Could it really have jumped out of the
lake and landed about 25-feet away only to become breakfast for the ravens & seagulls?

As the sun continued to rise, the pink dissipated and changed to a brighter yellow…
but the clouds remained to keep that dramatic feeling of the morning!

What started as a very dark morning turned into a vibrant pink display in the sky.
It was tough to keep pedaling… as I felt like I had to keep stopping for more photos
as the sky continued to change every few minutes!!!

With an incredible blue sky start to the morning, there was a “promise”
of a beautiful sunrise to follow… and it come to fruition about a half hour later!

The weather this weekend was incredible.
And it has continued this evening with another beautiful night
as the sun was setting on my front porch casting dramatic shadows.

Looking for something fun to do this Summer?
Come play in the mud with the rest of us!

The new Summer Session of clay classes begins next week at Lillstreet Art Center.
My class is on Tuesday nights and is multi-level for there’s something for everyone.
Whether you’ve never touched clay before, or did it back in high school
Beginning & Advanced Beginning Wheelthrowing
Tuesday nights from 7:00-10:00pm

My class begins one week from tonight!!!
So, register today for the 8-week session… before classes fill up!
Stop by Lillstreet Art Center, call or register online… click here!