So last night was another wheelthrowing class… with more sweet treats!
Once again, Cam, one of my former students decided to drop off some handmade
goodies for the class. Always such a treat to find goodies waiting for me at the studio!!!
Double fudge-dark balsamic-sour cream-cherry brownies!!!
Yum, yum and more yum!!!

And then since we are so close to the end of the session, and it was another kind of
“demo-on-demand” night, my students asked to see how to make a plate. So I threw
a large platter with a dramatic swirl through the center. Later I will stamp the entire flange.

After “missing” yesterday’s spectacular sunrise…
today I planned ahead and had my camera at the ready.
Okay, so I had to start my morning adventure a little earlier so that I would be
done with the swim portion prior to the sunrise! Just so I could take pictures!!!
And let me just say, it was dark! And this is what it looked like AFTER the first
8 miles of biking when I started swimming…

And then the sun started to brighten the sky…

As the sun continued to rise, the clouds lit up and the sky became magical.

Okay… so it was definitely worth getting up even earlier!
This morning was not too shabby.

The latest batch of “mugs-in-the-making” were all stamped today.
So next I need to trim them all and add handles… more fun, on the way to more mugs!

The new cast of the upcoming season of “Survivor” was announced today!!!
Only sixteen players so far, with the promise of two yet-to-be-identified returning
“Survivor” alumni who also be joining the cast! I can’t wait…

Mark your calendar now for the season premiere…
Wednesday, September 14th on CBS. And let the games, and the gambling, begin…

The sunrise continues to get later & later in the morning… and yet somehow
my bike adventure seems to start earlier & earlier. How does that happen?!
I guess adding the swim into the middle of the morning ride will do that, huh?

However… the cloud cover was incredible again this morning. So dark & so dramatic.
And just a bit foreboding as the clouds seemed to take over the sky!

But then, about 20 minutes later, the clouds lit up… and I missed it.
It was spectacular… take my word for it.

The clouds first turned an incredible shady of red on the underside of the dark clouds.
And as the sun continued to rise, the red turned to pink, then orange, and finally a
sparkling golden yellow. And I missed it. Kinda.

I saw it… loved it… appreciated it…  but my camera is not waterproof…
and I couldn’t capture it in photos while I was swimming!
It was spectacular… and I missed it.

So I recently saw the calendar… and realized that it’s later in the summer than I thought!
My summer camp “tour of duty” has come to an end and now I need to get my studio
production back into high gear if I want to be ready for the fall art fairs! So tonight it was
back to the wheel… with another batch of cylinders that will soon become mugs!!!

One week from today… and I will hopefully have “survived” the challenge!
And will have completed my very first Chicago Triathlon.
Which is my only goal. To prove to myself that I can actually do this!!!
Fingers crossed… still training… still anxious…

Chicago Triathlon – Sunday, August 28th
1-mile swim  -  25 mile bike  -  6.5 mile run  -  collapse…

Does it matter that I don’t really know how to swim???…
and I only run when someone is chasing me?!!!

Today was my last day of Summer Camp.
Bittersweet.

But please don’t tell me that Summer is already over?!

So as to top off today’s final day of camp, one of my “favorite campers” from this week
brought in a special Thank You note she had made for me. It was very sincere,
very creative and so great to be thanked! So there’s a thoughtful note on the front
and well-drawn still life on the back. Thank You Maya!

Today was the final day of “Gallery Artists: Learning From The Masters.”
And as my kids worked frantically to complete their paintings, we started to
put together our “gallery exhibit” and “opening reception.” The kids were quite
excited and our “show” and it all came together nicely. So while some of them were
putting their handmade clay frames on their paintings… others were still painting
“in the style” of Georges Seurat. Using Q-Tips for the dots instead of paint brushes!

As 3:00pm was quickly closing in on us, the kids were putting their finishing touches up,
making signage for their exhibit and setting up their refreshment station. And then soon
enough, the kids had a roomful of guests admiring their hard work & masterpieces!
Including “in the style of” paintings ala Georges Seurat, Piet Mondrian, Jackson Pollack
and Andy Warhol… just to name a few!

My little artists were all very excited by the turnout. We had a lot of kids from other
Lillstreet camps stop by, as well as some of the adult students. But I think they were most
proud when their family & friends came to view their works. They welcomed their guests
and showed them around the instant “gallery.” Everyone was so excited & pleased
with their masterpieces!

And hopefully, they all learned a little something along the way…
Whether about themselves, a new technique or a famous artist in history!