Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble… here’s a quick peek at the bowl we “bubble glazed” last week as part of our class demo. I think it turned out pretty sweet. But I’m kind of wondering where the second layer of green bubbles went to? The bowl has a base glaze of white, then a layer of blue glaze bubbles, and then a second layer of bubbles using a green glaze. I swear. Sadly, the green seem to have disappear.ed… but the blue bubbles still look great! Scroll back about a week to see how we did this!

Click here to jump back about a week to see how we did our bubble glazing demo!
With great photos of Melissa blowing bubbles everywhere!!!

A valiant effort this morning. With one large dark cloud moving in…
we squeaked in a smidgeon of a sunrise before gray took over for the day.
Very moody. Very dark. But VERY cool!!!

And while the battle for sky space was going on up North…
the Chicago Skyline was enjoying some clear skies…. with more clouds slowly moving in!

Save

Save

After yesterday’s “National Holiday,” today I decided to stray off the path a bit with the new OREO chocolate candy bars for my class treat tonight. Not quite the same as the creme-filled cookie… but not too shabby when layered with fudgy milk chocolate either!

Save

During last week’s bottle demo, I mentioned how difficult it was sometimes for me to determine how to stamp a bottle like this. Then one of my students actually called me out and “challenged” me NOT to stamp a piece of mine. What?! No stamps? What to do?

So I ended up adding a textured slip detail running down one side of the bottle instead. I used masking tape to block out the rectangle, layered on some thick orange flashing slip, and then carefully pulled off the tape.

Now hoping that the colored slip rectangle turns out great after soda firing.

Save

Finally finished up a bowl carving demo that I started for my class a week ago. I threw the bowl a little thicker than usual, and then set in to carving out a rhythmic pattern using the rounded end of my trimming ribbon tool.

And then a small groove in each cut-out with a small sgraffito loop tool.

Gotta love a good texture. Gotta love a good pattern.
Just a little carving trick I learned from Amy a few years back!!!

Today’s the day and I hope you’ve been celebrating…
I know I have been… a couple times… but who’s counting?!

It’s March 6th… which is also National OREO Cookie Day!!!
If you’ve got ’em, pile ’em in!!! And wash ’em down with a big glass of milk!!!

Headwinds for the first half of a chilly morning ride.
The ride home was a LOT more fun… as the waves were splashing all around.

Last night was the Lillstreet Gallery Annex Opening Reception for a vase show featuring the ceramics faculty. So many great vases with different styles & techniques showcasing the teachers at Lillstreet Art Center.

FLOURISH : Lillstreet Ceramics Faculty Showcase
Lillstreet Gallery Annex : March 3 – April 9, 2017

Catherine Tweedie & Lisa Harris

Sharon Hartshorne

Les Orenstein & David Bromley

Sam Hostert

David Todd Trost & Nolan Baumgartner

Corinne D. Peterson & Kyle Johns

Mary Drabik & Susan Messer-McBride

Robin Power

Chris Chaney & Catherine Schwalbe

David Hartshorne

And my blue stamped vase…
next to a vase by Jason Lawfer with some VERY dramatic greenery…

Special thanks to Brian who coordinated this gallery show and furnished the flowers…
and even MORE flowers at the very last minute!!! The show looks great Brian!
Thanks for showcasing the Lillstreet ceramic instructors!!!

Okay, back to me… one more shot of my stamped & soda-fired blue vase…
finished off with some very last minute flowers from Brian – Thanks!

March 3 – April 9, 2017

Save

Save

Save

Save

Making more handles.
Making more mugs.
Score… slip… REPEAT !!!