After trimming, I pulled a lot of handles and let them set-up a bit.
Then it’s a lot of score, slip, attach, repeat… voila’… another two dozen mugs!!!

I started out today with a lot of stamped cylinders waiting to be trimmed. Both tumblers & mugs… kinda the same at this point, really. The mugs are in the front and will need handles attached. The tumblers are slightly taller and will not have handles. Big difference, huh?!

After “a bit” of trimming, the scraps were piling up.
Sure, some might think it’s just a dirty mess.
I see it as more clay to be reclaimed and used again!!!

Tonight I threw a quick batch of tumblers.
With the my studio fans blowing in all the right directions… they were also ready to stamp tonight. At this rate, I will be trimming and slip decorating tomorrow. Why can’t everything come together this quickly???

Wall

A dozen wall pocket vases. Thrown, stamped & squished on one side.
Drying, then bisque firing. A round of glazing & re-firing. Then we’ll have plenty of vases for people to hang on the walls… or perfect for flowers or a cool pencil cup at your home office desk.

A lot of wedging. A lot of working. A lot or “work.”
I’m preparing for another soda kiln in about a week. So I’ve been trying to make a LOT of stuff… and now I’m trying to pack it all into the electric kiln. Layer by layer… a lot of work to be bisque fired.

Kiln Layer #1 – Ovals, mugs, tiles and a lot of kiln filler!

Kiln Layer #2 – more ovals, mugs, wall pocket vases, tiles and kiln filler.

Kiln Layer #3 – more mugs, more wall pocket vases, votive holders and tiles!

Kiln Layer #4 – I had a “smidge” of space, so I fired a layer of painted tiles for my studio neighbor Lisa! Along with a couple spoon rests and more of my tiles!

Kiln Layer #5 -  the rest of the spoon  rests and the last of the tiles!!!

So I’ve got too many keys. I’m one of those who have far too many keys for home, studio, car, etc. So many that I need to color-code them. These are my studio keys. My keychain of home keys is even worse. But I thought I would tackle this smaller batch first.

When we were at the Chicago Triathlon Expo, my friend Chris and I we intrigued by one of the vendors. For everyone who struggles with too many keys… this might be the answer?!

So we each bought a couple of them. One for my studio keys, another for my home keys. It took me just a couple minutes to organize my studio keys into this small, easy key system. I love it already!!!

And then it opens up… like a Swiss Army Knife… pretty groovy, huh???

So now I’ve got to tackle my home keys… a little different as I have fourteen keys on there!!! Might be a little tougher to organize & streamline… but I’m encouraged and eager to be more Key.Smart with those too!!!

Click here for more Key.Smart information.

A few more “batches” of tiles. All textured, color-slipped and cut to size. Still drying. You can still see the difference in the batches and how some are darker (wetter) than the others.

Tonight was the first night of my new Beginning Wheel class for the Fall Session.
I, of course, brought my standard Oreo’s.

Meanwhile Cynthia, my new teaching assistant, may have won the “Best TA Ever Award”
in the first five minutes by bringing in four flavors of homemade macaroons!

Chocolate with salted caramel filling.
Vanilla with lemon curd filling.
Chocolate with raspberry filling.
Vanilla with white chocolate lemon ganache filling.

Now everyone loves Cynthia… my Oreo’s never had a chance!!!

So now Cynthia has set the bar pretty high.
I hope she knows we now “expect” her to keep up the good work…
we’d hate to have to take away her “award” so soon!!!                       Hint, hint.

When I got to the studio late this afternoon I found a welcome surprise
of fluorescent lights that actually work!!! Whoo-hoo!!! I can see again…
and wow, take a look at the things I made in the dark?!!!

Today we heard the sad news that we had lost a shining star.
Our friend Anne Schafer was lost in a tragic car accident last evening on the Dan Ryan Expressway. The Lillstreet Metals Department will never be the same without her positive energy & infectious laugh. As a grade school teacher & metalsmithing instructor she had a wonderful impact on so many. And as a friend, SO many more!!! She will be missed dearly…

Our dear departed friend Anne Schafer on the left… with Pam Robinson.
And on the Lillstreet rooftop with more metalsmithing friends!!!

Remembering the good times.
Remembering her smile.
Remembering her laugh.

Remembering Anne.
Her standard greeting was always “Hello, friend”… with a bit of pause & inflection.
You’d hear her in the hallway. Always with a hug. And semi-smirky “Hello, friend.”
Sadly, it’s my turn…

“Goodbye, friend.”