As the sun continued to rise, it appeared as though it might not happen.
Like the sunrise I was hoping for might never appear.

The sun finally popped up… and fizzled a bit with very little fanfare.
Nice, but not quite what I was hoping for.

The morning sky was clouded with possibilities.
The kind of morning that gives you reason to hope it will turn into something spectacular.
Hoping that the big cloud doesn’t blow over before the sun rises.

Today was “hump day” of “Fire, Forge & Feast” camp…
and we always like to celebrate the middle of the week with a little sweetness.
Somehow, the kids always “come up with the idea” to have a chocolate chip cookie bake-off.
Okay, maybe we do a little hinting, but somehow we can flip it so they seem to think it was
“all their idea.” And then they make the cookies at home and bring them in for us to try!

My co-teacher Pam Robinson made a yummy batch of cookies… that I had to sample for
breakfast before the kids began to show up. And then imagine my surprise & excitement
when Mac showed up with this tray of cookies he had made with chocolate-filled, toasted
marshmallows on top! His own concoction – kinda like a chocolate chip cookie s’more…
and you know how I just “hate” s’mores!… kidding!!!

So I separated the cookies out so everyone got a plate of cookies to taste, sample & vote on.
We had seven different varieties & entries in the contest. Some traditional, some with a little
variation like white chocolate or even cinnamon chocolate chips!!!

So here’s our plan. Make the kids bake cookies. Bring them in for us to eat.
We make them work in metal all day. Then load them up with sugar & send ’em home!!!

For the record… cookie #4 won the contest. A fairly traditional chocolate chip cookie.
Soft on the inside, crispy on the outside with some nice semi-sweet chips inside!
Nothing fancy. Just yummy cookies. Congratulations Julian… looks like you win the
cookie “trophy” plate that I made for the winner!

My summer campers have moved over to the Metals Room and we’re making metal knives,
forks& spoons. They’re all so focused on their projects with a lot to get done before the end
of the week. We started with my co-teacher Pam Robinson teaching the kids some
metalsmithing basics.We also stressed that their metal pieces also had to coordinate with
the overall theme & concept they were creating for themselves. Two days of clay were just
the start for this week’s project!

Once they started, the kids were all pretty focused on their projects. Each of them trying
to make their knives, forks & spoons… and trying not to cut themselves or break too many
saw blades. Once their pieces are cut out, they will then file them down and add textures
& patterns! You know how I love textures & patterns… even in metal!

And that’s not all… a very “sweet” afternoon was planned for them too…

Tonight was the first night of the new Summer Session of classes at Lillstreet Art Center.
My beginning wheelthrowing students seem to be a little more “advanced” than normal.
Generally it’s a bunch of people who are pretty “new” to clay and are looking for a fun hobby
with a few returning beginners sprinkled in. Apparently not this time.

Should I be concerned that on the list of project requests from my “beginners” was a teapot?!
Or the birdfeeder?! What?… in a beginning wheelthrowing class?! Really?! Beginners?!!!

We’ll see… you know how I love a challenge!!!

Today my summer camp kids finished their clay projects.
Tomorrow we move into the Metals Room for more fun.
It’s FIRE, FORGE & FEAST… and the kids are making clay dinnerware sets
with metal forks, knives & spoons! Friday is a big potluck!

So first they handbuilt their plates, bowls, cups & handles in terra cotta. With everything
fitting in with their creative themes. Everything is three-dimensional, sculptural & whimsical.
Once the pieces were all assembled, we had to paint them with underglazes for the colors.

But of course, no “Fire, Forge & Feast” class would be complete without the annual
“Chocolate Chip Cookie Bake-Off” that we enjoy each year… when the kids come up with
the idea “all by themselves.” Okay, so there may have been a little suggestion.. maybe
a few hints… Either way, the kid are home tonight baking their best chocolate chip cookies
to share tomorrow. They’ll all vote for their favorite… and the winner will get the “trophy”
plate that I made for them! So they’re bringing the cookies and I’m bringing the milk!!!

Behind the breakwater walls, the lake seemed quite calm & serene.

But the rest of the lake was SPLASHTACULAR!!!
Away from the breakwater, the lake was a little out of control… but in a really cool good way!

Needless to say, I thought it best to skip the morning swim for today.

A beautiful beginning of today’s mini “triathlon”… bike… swim… off to summer camp!

It was a fun evening in the studio…
making a new batch of textured tiles and enjoying the “free” air conditioning!
The different slips will create the flashes of color when they get into the soda kiln.

Although it seems as though the heatwave may have broken today?! Finally.
Right now the evening breeze is quite enjoyable.

So there were some “extra” peonies in the floral cooler at the “glitter gig.”
They were tight round buds, but no sign of blossoming. And since the blooming season
for peonies is LONG over, I doubted that they would open. But I was told that once the
buds can be stored for months if they are wrapped up & chilled. And that once they came
out of the cooler, the heat would “force” them to open… and they did! Last night they were
tight round buds, this morning they’re open, fresh & fragrant. Who knew?….