It’s Day Three of my Facebook Portfolio Challenge.
So far we’ve had Mugshot Monday, Texture Tuesday…
and now I’m calling it “Working Wednesday.” Photos of work in progress.

And today I nominate Marjorie Woodruff, my first wheelthrowing teacher at Lillstreet, to take part in the Facebook 3×5 Challenge!!!

In between posting photos every day for the “Challenge”…
I’ve also had some time to finish making my first batch of mugs for the New Year.
Twelve down… many more to come!!! You know how I LOVE making mugs!!!

Yep, not so dirty… this batch is made with porcelain reclaim clay! We’ll see…

Since we had “extras” for Mugshot Monday yesterday,
I figured I should continue the trend with a few “extras” for Texture Tuesday!!!

Remember, there are a LOT more textures to see on my Pinterest Page!
Over a hundred textures pressed in clay. A lot of visual eye-candy to get lost in.
Click here for my TEXTURES Pinterest Album.

Continuing with my Facebook Challenge, today’s collection features a bunch of bowls. Including the last ones which were inspired by a Gail Nichols Soda-Firing Workshop… coincidentally, this photo has become the “poster-child” for Lillstreet’s annual Empty Bowls fundraiser!!!

Today I nominate Steven Hill to take on the Facebook 3 x 5 Portfolio Challenge.
I’m sure he’s been nominated several times, but as of yet I have NOT seen his posts.
C’mon Steven, step it up!!!

Like I said, I had trouble narrowing it down to “three” images a day.
And since today is Mugshot Monday, I thought I’d share some stamped mugs
as part of my Facebook Portfolio Challenge!!! Yep, slight over-achiever here…

I’ve been tapped a couple times for the ongoing Facebook Portfolio Challenge,
including my two besties… ceramic artist Cory McCrory & metalsmith Sarah Chapman.

I had trouble narrowing it down to three images as “instructed”, so I’ve bumped it up to five!
Today we’re focusing on stamped & soda-fired vases.

And as part of the game, today I’d like to nominate my studio neighbor Karen Patinkin
to take on the Facebook 3 x 5 Portfolio Challenge! Show us your stuff Karen!!!

I had a beautiful drive down to Navy Pier this morning. I love a good sunrise while “stuck in traffic” driving on Lake Shore Drive. Gives me something to appreciate instead of getting frustrated.

Marj was my first wheelthrowing teacher at Lillstreet Art Center several years back. So encouraging. Always supportive. She’s the first one who told me to quit my job and become a potter. It’s all her fault. I listened. And now Marj is embarking on a wonderful, new creative project. She’s looking for some financial backing to make this project come true. And if anyone deserves your help, it’s Marj. Time to give back to a wonderful teacher & artist.

Click here to see Marj’s video about The Ghost Trees Project.
And then consider supporting her efforts with some financial backing for a thoughtful cause.

Tonight I played with my latest porcelain cylinders. Sure, they were still a little wetter than I wanted them to be. And I kinda knew that I should wait to stamp them. But I also know I have plans tomorrow night and wouldn’t be able to get back to them until later this weekend. So either I do them while they’re a bit squishy… or risk it and see if they dry too fast. I went for stamping them sooner than later. Carefully…

For the most part they turned out pretty good. It was a little bit tougher, and I had to work with a gentler touch. There’s a few tiny issues here & there… some of them need a little touching up when I do trimming & handle attachments.

Cup One…

Cup Two…

Cup Three…

Cup Four…

Cup Five…

Cup Six…

Cup Seven…

Cup Eight…

Cup Nine…

Cup Ten…

Cup Eleven…

Cup Twelve…

So now they’re all stamped and wrapped up. Waiting for them to stiffen up a bit more Drying to a state when I can start trimming. And then handles…

Just a couple quick cups… cylinders first…