The weather was SPECTACULAR today!!!
Some may even go as far as saying that it was HOT?!!!
The blue skies, high temps and cool breeze made it perfect for touring the Minnesota countryside on the quest for pottery.

Well, not quite as cool as rusty metal… but weathered barn board comes pretty darn close! Like this beautiful barn door at Connee Mayeron’s location.

Today on the Pottery Tour we were driving from Bob Briscoe’s studio location down to Connee Mayeron’s. We always tackle Bob’s first, but decided to switch it up a bit and head to Connee’s next for Shoko Teruyama & Jenny Mendez. So we’re driving down Route 95 enjoying the beautiful weather and good company. Sarah and I weren’t really paying attention until we got to Taylor’s Falls. Typically you can take this beautiful stretch along the river through the State Park.

But this time, there were constuction signs all over the place. But the said “Open To Local Traffic Only.” We figured we were tyring to get to Connee’s place which is just on the other side of the park. That sounds pretty “local” to me, right?!

So we’re driving down the scenic road noticing that that weren’t many cars passing us in the other direction. And then we realize why…

I guess when they say ROAD CLOSED… they mean it.

Here it is again… Mother’s Day Weekend… and the Best Pottery Tour EVER!!!
The St. Croix River Valley Pottery Tour is an annual event  a bit north of Minneapolis. There are seven host potters on the tour that invite even more talented artists to their place for the weekend. This year there were fifty guest artists! Truth be told… some day I would love to be one of those invited guest potters. Dare to dream! Maybe we need to start a write-in campaign???

So here’s the deal. The pottery tour is always Friday, Saturday & Sunday. There are large tents set-up at each location FILLED with wonderful pots!!! The artists are all there and ready to chat. What’s not to like? It’s a great opportunity to see some amazing work, network and make some more “pottery friends.” We always do the full tour on Friday when the shelves are overflowing… and selling fast!

Here’s a quick peek at some of the fun! And some of the pottery!

Yes, you are correct…. it all can be a little visually overwhelming. But in a good way. With so many talented potters involved, it’s nearly impossible to see everything. So let me share a few of the pieces that caught my attention.

Large Pitcher by Steven Hill.

Dinnerware by Ikuzi Teraki & Jeanne Bisson

Platter by Shoko Teruyama

Pottery display full of work by Kyle Carpenter.

Colorful carrot plate by Karin Kraemer.

Striped & sectioned platter by Suze Lindsay.

Glazed bowl by Ellen Shankin & carved porcelain mini vessels by Sandra Byers.

Forget-Me-Not Platter by Karin Kraemer.

Dotted Leaf Plate by Kyle Carpenter.

Pottery display full of work by Matthew Metz.

Some foliage beauty on Kyle Carpenter pots.

Textured plates by Mary Barringer.

Textured flower brick vases by Bill Gossman.

 

Textured vase by RIchard Vincent and some “glaze magic” by Steven Hill.

More painted accents on Kyle Carpenter pots.

Perky petals by Karin Kraemer and textured slip tray by Suze Lindsay.

Dinnerware by Kent McLaughlin in a cool dish rack.

Sgraffito flower by Matthew Metz and a textured plate by Ikuzi Teraki & Jeanne Bisson.

Large glazed bowl and pottery display by Steven Hill.

Small vase by Suze Lindsay and teapot by Kyle Carpenter.

Incredible dinnerware by Ikuzi Teraki & Jeanne Bisson.

Textured platter by Richard Vincent and a textured plate ^ vase by Mary Barringer.

Planter by Suze Lindsay.

Textured jar by George Lowe.

Glazed platter by Steven Hill and sgraffito flower by Matthew Metz.

Textured sphere vase by Michael Hunt & Naomi Dalglish.

Of course there were SO MANY MORE pots to see. I feel based that I missed getting photos of a lot of them! Maybe because I was too swept up in the moment. Too busy admiring pots. Too busy enjoying the eye candy. Too busy shopping!

Sometimes timing is everything. It was great to capture the “courting ritual” moment of two bugs on a Karin Kraemer pot. Too funny.

And speaking of funny… here’s a quick pic of my friend Steven Hill posting on his phone. We had just had the discussion a few moments earlier that he needs to post something about the Pottery Tour. Apparently he took my advice… but was a little frightened of what I was going to post about him!!! All good Steven… good photo, nice booth shot and look, you’re posting online!!! Well played my friend.

 

So it’s been a VERY busy year! And hard for me to believe that I’ve now been on Instagram for a full year! Of course I was dragging my heels, avoiding the trend to hop on the Instagram bandwagon! Like I really needed yet one more social networking outlet and recurring obligation in my life?!

A lot has changed over the last year.. including the Instagram logo!

And now I’m out on the St. Croix Pottery Tour again… and I realized that it marks my one-year anniversary on Instagram. So I’m celebrating with by re-visiting the “scene of the crime.” Here’s this year’s version of my first Instagram post…

And here’s my VERY FIRST post to Instagram a year ago! Look familiar?…

Click here to go to my Instagram page… then click FOLLOW.
Or, use the QR Code for immediate access…

 

Spring crabapple flowers on the verge of a full bloom in the morning sun.

Another great morning to get out on the road. With an early crescent moon
and Spring silhouettes against a pastel swiped sky.

And I love that fleeting moment when the sun just barely peeks over the horizon.
Just a small sliver of sunlight hanging low in the sky.
Getting ready to make its grand appearance for the day.

Another stamped & soda-fired mug for Mugshot Monday!
Good soda build-up giving that sweet “orange peely” surface.

After days & days of rainy, gray & chilly days, it was SO nice to finally see the sun again.
With roads dry enough to pedal. And temps warm enough to remind us
that it’s supposed to be Spring!!!

 

 

Freshly stamped plates for the latest batch of berry bowls.