Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: artists

The weather was SO incredible… that some of our s’more Hershey’s chocolates began
to melt in the sun. With only a few options, Amy decided that her best option was
to eat it as “drinkable chocolate” fresh from the foil wrapper. Great idea… and I can
confirm that it works like a charm. But I had to double-check at least a couple times!

Categories: art fair, artists, friends

So the fun continued this morning… with fun around the fire!
One of the “selling points” of our marketing campaign was gourmet s’mores!
So we’ve been playing with various combinations of yummy ingredients.
Sure, we had the traditional graham crackers, Hershey’s chocolate & marshmallows.
But we also had an assortment of cookies, crackers, chocolates, spreads and more.
My personal favorite was gingersnap cookie, Reese’s peanut butter cup & jumbo
marshmallow. We even had vegetarian marshmallows (who knew?) and gluten-free
graham crackers. Plus, Amy’s cousin’s wife spoiled us all with homemade graham
crackers & marshmallows!!! Yes, homemade… again, who knew any one would even
take the time to make marshmallows?! Thank You Kirsten!!!

But then this morning, Amy decided to up the ante… with gourmet breakfast s’mores!
Those of you who know me, know that there is nothing too sweet or too rich for me.
I have the palette of a four year old. I could easily eat the whole bag of jumbo
marshmallows right now! But I digress.

So Amy brought out her “gourmet” ingredients.. and the toaster!
Picture this if you will… in order of the bowl “stacked” s’more…

Toasted Eggo Waffle. Chunky Peanut Butter. Hershey’s Chocolate. Bacon Bits.
Then a toasted JUMBO Marshmallow… toasted to gooey perfection!
Another Toasted Eggo Waffle… with homemade raspberry preserves spread on it.
Squish… and then drizzle with Real Maple Syrup! I know.. sounds like a lot…
but it was great!!!

Here’s Sarah making her s’more… which was a group effort to get the layers ready…
as Sarah toasted her very own vegetarian marshmallows!


And here’s mine… with the “real” jumbo marshmallow squishing out the sides!!!

And then Amy made her’s, complete with some spiced apple compote that Wendi made.
Which too was awfully scrumptious – with a kick of hot pepper!

And as if one weren’t enough… I had to go in for another one. So I went “deconstructed.”
With a layer of crumbled gingersnaps, graham crackers, crunchy peanut butter, chocolate,
toasted marshmallow, spiced apple compote… and some more real maple syrup!
Can you say “sugar high”???… Followed by “sugar coma”???

Categories: nature, sunrise

By Sunday, I was really ready to sleep in. But then again, there was another sunrise
calling my name. Urging me to get outside to enjoy my Northwoods surroundings.
So I did. And it was very peaceful. More pastel. Less vibrant than the days before!

Categories: art fair, artists

Many of you know that I’ve always said “it’s so nice to have talented friends.”
And this weekend, I get to play with some of my favorites! So if you can’t make it
to ART DETOUR, here’s a quick preview of my very artistic friends…

Amy Higgason : Pigeon Road Pottery
As the local Northwoods host of ART DETOUR, Amy invited a few of us to join her
at her studio & home for the weekend. Amy’s work is very detailed, textured and often
very illustrative. She splits her time between the carved, textured & glaze colored pots,
and the more illustrative “brown & black” collection.

Sarah C. Chapman : metalsmith
My favorite metalsmith… with unique designs using textures, inclusions and oxidized silver
to create one-of-a-kind pieces that can be worn everyday. Or special events. Or whenever!
I must admit I have quite a collection of Sarah’s work… and always hoping for more!

Wendi Powalisz : Back 40 Arts
With a vibrant color palette, Wendi creates this beautiful pictures which I think
tend to resemble “batik” paintings. Her Northwoods imagery is punctuated by her vivid
color choices. In addition to her two-dimensional works, Wendi also makes jewelry using
vintage glass beads, buttons & findings. Wendi also lives in a log cabin which her husband
built on 200 acres of woods. Her home & studio are “on the back forty!” Hence the name…

Kathy Furda : Northern Light Glass
Although Kathy wasn’t able to join us this weekend for ART DETOUR, her work was
on display in Amy’s studio space. The play of light streaming across & through her glass
windows & beads was quite refreshing. We all hope that Kathy and her family are all
doing much better. And we all missed having Kathy here to play with.

So there they are… the talented friends playing with me this weekend at ART DETOUR.
I hope you have a chance to come play with us. It’s a beautiful weekend in the Northwoods!
We’ve got lots of art… and lots of s’more fixins’ to share!!!

Categories: art fair, artists, nature

After the sunrise, it was back to Pigeon Road Pottery for another day of ART DETOUR.
So we re-built our displays after packing everything down for the night. The “fear” of
stay animals wreaking havoc in our tents overnight, plus the chance of wind & rain,
made us all very cautious. So we all had a lot of re-assembling to do. And just in time,
as the customers were coming in full force.

While we were meeting customers and enjoying ART DETOUR, I was also taken by the
natural surroundings. Fall was definitely in the air. The colors. The textures.

And then, just to make Wendi’s flowers even prettier, this little butterfly decided to hang out
with us for quite awhile. Flitting around, sucking nectar and basking in the sun.

And by the end of the day, Amy, Wendi, Sarah and I were all quite pleased with how the
ART DETOUR was going. Not only were we having a lot of fun, and eating a lot of s’mores…
the customers were actually showing up, buying art and having fun with us! There were
a LOT of s’mores being made. And we were all on a bit of a sugar-high by the end of the day.

The merry group of artists hanging out at Pigeon Road Pottery after another long day.
Sarah, Wendi, myself and Amy (left to right) were pleased with the day, and happy that it
was almost over. Only one more day to go…

Categories: nature, sunrise

Another morning in the Northwoods. Another sunrise over the lake.
Sure, I could really use some more sleep… but when I know something this beautiful
is going on outside, how can I resist?! Me and my camera up early again!!!

But then… this one huge cloud decided to roll in…

And then that “one cloud” decided to bring some friends… and with that the sunrise was done!

Categories: art fair, artists

Well, here it is… the first day of ART DETOUR.
And it’s still beautiful her in the Northwoods…

We got up this morning and put the finishing touches on our tents. Generally, I do the
majority of my set-up the night before. But this time, Amy discouraged us from setting
up too much as there could be some overnight “visitors” wandering through and it
would be terrible if they got into our tents and caused some damage.
Deer… and raccoons… and bears, oh my!


With my tent & shelves all assembled, and all of my pots in place, flag flying, and my
holiday ornaments in really cool muffin tins from Amy… we were ready to kick-off the
ART DETOUR. Not a moment too soon… as our first batch of eager shoppers arrived
just moments before 10:00am. A wonderful car full of women from Indiana who have come
to know Amy, and collect her work. It was such a great feeling to start off the day on such
a high note. Keep in mind, this is the firs time for the ART DETOUR, and Amy’s first time
“going rogue” cutting herself off from the “official” tour. We were all a little concerned
that maybe no one would show up?! But they did…

As part of our clandestine marketing strategy, we’ve also created some wonderful buttons
for our new-found Detour Friends to wear… especially when they go onto other locations on
the “official” tour. Just a “subtle” reminder that we are out there doing our thing… and hoping
to make ART DETOUR a new “event” in the Northwoods art community.

And if a souvenir button isn’t enough, we’re also offering up the making for gourmet s’mores!
Sure, you can make the old-fashioned, traditional variety. But you can also make one with
gingersnap cookies & peanut butter cups! Or mushed inside a mint Oreo cookie! We’ve got
gluten-free graham crackers & vegetarian marshmallows for those with dietary concerns!
We’ve covered our bases, and now we need to roast some marshmallows!

And if you made a s’more… you can be a “s’moron” too! And get a button to boot!!!
With a great flow of customers coming through, and our spirits high… who wouldn’t be happy
especially when there’s an overflow of sugar going on!!! We were all having fun…
everyone except for Wendi’s sunflowers which didn’t seem to be holding up too well
in the surprisingly warm October day in the Northwoods!

Categories: nature, sunrise

So I’m up in the Northwoods. And it’s beautiful.
The “condo” cabin we’re renting is right on a lake facing east.
So it’s the perfect location for my morning sunrise addiction!

Categories: art fair, nature

So this morning Amy and I set out to run some errands about town… and I
use that term loosely, town. While Amy was at the dentist first thing in the morning,
I had a chance to go for a quick hike in the woods. And it was a great start to the day.
You know how I love to start my day with some beautiful nature! So Amy dropped me off
at this bridge which also serves as the trail head. I got to hike… she got to swish & spit.
I definitely got the better part of the deal…

Then we got back on track, and head off to the hardware store, Wal-Mart and more getting
some last minute supplies… like more s’more fixins’!!! After the errands, it was time for
Amy and I to figure out were the tents were going to go. And then we started to set up
our tents before Sarah & Wendi got there. Once we had a plan, we both got started.
Of course I had to tackle my over-loaded car… slowly so nothing fell out…

And with our signs all ready, we were hoping to get people either coming or going…
we’ll place them along the highway tomorrow, hoping to pull in the tourists!!

Once I had my booth all set and ready to go for the night, Sarah and Wendi arrived
and we helped get them set up. My parents showed up as well since they were planning
on spending the weekend in the Northwoods doing the “official” tour and doing some
undercover espionage & marketing for us along the way! Unfortunately, Kathy Furda
of Northern Light Glass
was not able to join us for ART DETOUR. She had some last minute
family health issues to tend to, but her beautiful glass work will be with us all weekend.
So even though Kathy may not be making s’mores with us this weekend, you can still see
her beautiful work while we’re at Pigeon Road Pottery.

Categories: art fair, artists

Well, today was the big day. After months of planning, the ART DETOUR
is finally here. Pots are made. Signs are painted. Luggage is packed.

So I spent the morning getting ready and packing my car. A little different this time
packing my own car… instead of having my “assistants” and their van at the ready,
I had to try and pack as much as I possibly could into my own RAV4. Something new
for me. How many shelves will fit? How many crates will fit? Tent on the roof???

Just after noon, I finally got in the car and started the trek north. It’s a beautiful
drive up to Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Especially once you get past Madison
and the Wisconsin Dells area. And as luck would have it, the sun was setting
just as I arrived in the Northwoods. Perfect scenery… perfect timing…

Amy was already hard at work setting up her studio. As the host of ART DETOUR,
she was setting up her studio space getting ready to show off Pigeon Road Pottery
and her “invited guest artists” for the weekend. So we took a break and went out for dinner…
including some wonderful fried cheese. We’re in Wisconsin after all…