Today was possibly the first BEAUTIFUL day of Spring!!! We’ve been waiting…
And lucky for me, I’m “playing hooky” this week and had a wonderful day bicycling with my friend Nancy. We started at the south end of the trail, and pedaled the North Branch Trail up to the Chicago Botanic Garden. A beautiful day with even more beautiful flowers!!!

Okay, so we may have been a day late…
but luckily we got to see the “remains” of the annual Orchid Show. Sure, they were starting to dismantle the show, but the orchids were still beautiful. Including some wonderful installation pieces…. an Orchid Chandelier, an Orchid & Bamboo Wall and Elevated Orchids arrangements.

And sure the Orchid Show might have been coming down, but the greenhouses were still ablaze with incredible tropical colors & smells. So great to be outside on our bikes, in the warmth of the greenhouses and surrounded by greenery & flowers… instead of the frozen snow & slush we’ve been forced to become accustomed to!!!

The Tropical Greenhouses were spectacular… but the Cactus Room is always intriguing with the geometry & rhythm of the plants. And the seasonal blooms on the cactus were pretty spectacular too!

This morning was warm…
and I started out a little earlier than normal.
So it was darker, moodier and had a cool crescent moon!

The early sky was layered with understated colors.
Soon enough the clouds came began encroaching as the sun was trying to peek through.

As the clouds rolled in, so did the drama. Creating some wonderful contrast & shadows.

If you respect the Original, the Personal, the Authentic – You are a CITIZEN too.
Declare yourself… and tell everyone “I AM NOT A LEMMING.”

Click here for more information about “Citizens of Craft.”
A website & group, both under construction…. growing, evolving & becoming
a community of Citizens! Are YOU a lemming or a Citizen of Craft?!

For those who want a quick glimpse, here is their simple 10-point manifesto…
of course their website if more fun & visually-inspiring, so go there. But if not…

#1 – YOU ARE NOT A LEMMING.
You’re not a follower; you trust your own tastes and live by them.\

#2 – WE VALUE THE UNIQUE & ENDURING.
As an authentic human being, you appreciate things that don’t scream assembly line.

#3 – OBJECTS SHOULD INHABIT, NOT INTRUDE.
You believe objects with personal, tactile histories engage with your world better than the anonymously mass-produced.

#4 – YOU ARE NOT AUTOMATED, MANUFACTURED, OR CLONED.
You weren’t made in a factory, so you prefer not to bury your life with things that are.

#5 – YOU BELIEVE IN 10-DIGIT TECHNOLOGY.
You connect more strongly with things made by a pair of hands – the original 10-digit machine.

#6 – ONE SIZE SHOULD NOT FIT ALL.
You prefer objects that mirror your individual taste, rather than fit some monster demographic.

#7 – NOTHING IS NEWER THAN TRADITION.
You are as much a fan of time-honored techniques as you are of their contemporary interpretations.

#8 – COOKIE CUTTER DOESN’T CUT IT.
In a me-too world, you appreciate that Craft brings different cultures and perspectives into your space.

#9 – VASES ARE PEOPLE TOO.
Craft objects evoke their makers, letting you surround yourself with not just things, but personalities.

#10 – WHILE WE ALL MARCH TO DIFFERENT DRUMS, WE MOVE TOGETHER.
You value how each maker’s unique expression bonds us as a richer community.

Please click here for their website. Declare yourself a Citizen.
Appreciate, engage & encourage the Arts. Whether making art yourself,
patronizing the Arts or encouraging your favorite Artists to follow their passion.
Be Original. Be Personal. Be Authentic.

Be a Citizen of Craft.

During today’s Open House at Lillstreet Art Center,
I stayed focused and threw a dozen small bowls in my studio.

Then it was time to separate them into three sets of four…
and make some design “alterations” to make each set different from the others.

The first set received a split rim with indentations both in & out to form a lotus effect.

And then a little stamped embellishment….

The second set got a hypnotizing spiral through white slip.

And then detailed with a single stamp around the rim.

The third set got a split rim, pinched together and fluted out.

Then a stamped accent at each pinch point and a small stamp tap inside.

So now the three sets are covered & wrapped in plastic overnight.
I’m hoping to get them trimmed and done tomorrow.

Good thing I went to Step Class this morning!!!.. three risers AND wrist weights!!!

Two of my favorite Chocolate Peanut Butter… one Cherry and one Apple.
The fruit ones are healthy, right? And for the record, I only paid for TWO!!!

Today at almost 9:30 this morning (and again this evening)… we can take
Pi Day one step further. At nine-twenty-six and fifty-three seconds!!!

3.14 15 9 26 53

And for those who are slightly challenged numerically… me.
And for those who have never quite understood what Pi really means… me.
Here’s a quick chart that kind of shows it easily so anyone can grasp it… ME!!!

What a great idea as we celebrate Pi Day.
Two of my favorite things. Bikes and Pies!!!
Now if we could just make this wonderful invention come to fruition?!

Eight more bowls. Eight more class demos.
Eight more bowls that might just find their way to the Empty Bowls Project
coming to Lillstreet on Friday, April 17th. Mark your calendars!!!

I’m in my studio tonight and the folks down the hall are still working hard
getting ready for tomorrow. In honor of Pi Day, the First Slice Pie Cafe
is offering slices of pie at buy one, get one FREE!!

I think I may need to take advantage of that special offer… at least once!!!

It’s going to be a long night working in my studio… and smelling pies baking!!!