A lot of stamped cylinders require a LOT of pulled handles
if they’re going to become mugs!!! Which they are… tonight!!!

Of course they all started out as little, carrot-shaped nuggets before pulling the clay into strap handles. I like to bend them over and tap the ends together so they stand up on their own. That way they already have the curve established as they start to stiffen up.

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Let’s do the Time Warp again…
or better yet, maybe some classics should never be toyed with.
We’ll see how this one plays out as I attach handles and sing-along
with the new “re-imagined” Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Not as much fun without all of the props to throw at the screen…

Trimmed & signed… 10, 20, 30, 40… next up HANDLES!!!

Forty cylinders stamped and one step closer to becoming a fresh, new batch of mugs!!!

Got some plain cylinders that can’t stay like that way for long.
Time to do a little stamping!!!

After a few too many gray & breezy mornings, it was great to finally see the sunrise in all of its glory this morning! Beautiful colors. Incredible reflections. Finally… another great morning.

So I received a package in my studio today. It was a little beat up so I was concerned…
but it seemed okay when I opened it up.

I was excited to find a collection of new tools from CI Products.
Some pretty groovy carving tools, a diamond grinding disc, and more!
I can’t wait to give them a try in my studio. More to come…

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A beautifully warm Fall day… perfect for pumpkins, gourds and Fall fun at Lincoln Park Zoo!!!

And quite possibly the BEST rusty manhole cover EVER?!!!

Another apology for being delayed in posting again this month.
Life has just been slipping by… and some of us had an IRONMAN to tackle!!!
So now that that’s over… yay me!!!… it’s back to the studio. Back to ornaments!!!

Here’s another batch of holiday ornaments made by me & four of My Talented Friends.
Remember, we’ve all signed-on for a Monthly Holiday Ornament Challenge.
The plan is for each of us to make a new ornament each month of the year.

My Talented Friend : Cory McCrory
Cory made adorable little mittens! So cute with their little thumbs. Their little textures. Can’t wait to see the pairs of mittens colored & glazed in time for the holidays!

My Talented Friend : Sarah Chapman
Sarah’s has embraced Fall moving into the Minneapolis area. Her September ornament is a copper leaf… complete with veins & textures. When set amongst actual Fall leaves, they’re kind of hard to discern from the real things?!!! Nicely done Sarah!!!

My Talented Friend : Roberta Polfus
Roberta made these wonderful textured & carved porcelain pod-horns for September. I love the subtle textures and how the light & shadows play on them.

My Talented Friend : Amy Taylor
Uh oh… Amy had a rough go of it this month. Too many art fairs, commissions and other commitments keeping her too busy to make ornaments this month. So we’ll give her a “one-time pass”… and really expect great things, and great ornaments, for her October entry!!!

My Talented Friend : … oh wait, it’s ME again!!!
My September ornaments are cute little Christmas presents with textured “gift wrap” and a fun little bow. I painted colored slip on the box so that there is some color contrast with the bow. The “presents” are destined for my next soda kiln – and I can’t wait to see how the flames created some wonderful flashings on my September ornaments.

So there they are… September ornaments from My Talented Friends Cory, Sarah, Roberta & whoops… NOT Amy this month?! Hopefully everyone’s schedule will settle down a bit and we can get everyone back on track with their October ornaments?!!!

Be sure to check out everyone’s websites. They’re all in the LINKS section in the far right column. And they all have fun Facebook pages too. Find your favorites & follow them everywhere!

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Another Monday. Another mug.
Happy Mugshot Monday!