06.19.2017
Just playing with some new textures, patterns, lines and new ways to make more mugs!!!
There’s definitely some good potential here. Time to push it further!!!
06.19.2017
Another stunning morning with colorful clouds blowing through the City.
A beautiful start to the day with predictions of rain to come this afternoon.
06.18.2017
A few weeks back when I was in Minneapolis for the St. Croix River Pottery Tour, I finally got a chance to see Sarah Chapman’s new studio space. She’s in the same building as before where she was renting a small space within Quench Jewelry Arts. It was a great place, nice studio and easy access to teaching classes there. But when the opportunity presented itself to move to a larger space with Quench owner Sarah Sitarz, the two of them moved upstairs to a bigger & better space!!! The Quench studio & classroom stayed downstairs… it’s just the two Sarah’s that made the big move upstairs!
QUITE POSSIBLY THE COOLEST & CLEANEST STUDIO EVER!!!
A beautiful display of some of Sarah’s wall pieces… and look…
just a few “unlidded” jars that are part of our collaboration challenge.
Let me just say… I am SO JEALOUS of Sarah’s space.
Makes my dirty little cubicle of a space seem SO small.
Sarah’s studio is groovy cool, with exposed brick walls, great natural light, wood floors and incredible tools everywhere you look. If only I was a metalsmith… and knew how to use any of these tools… and this could be the BEST STUDIO EVER!!!
Until then, I’ll continue to love my own little space… with pegboard, shelves & tools everywhere you look. And a seemingly never-ending layer of clay & trimmings on the floor. Ahhhh… the life of a potter.
06.18.2017
So you know how I LOVE a good collaboration project. Imagine my excitement when my friend & fantastic metalsmith Sarah Chapman proposed we tackle another collaboration project. She had a plan in her head… and I was ready to take it on.
So the “theory” is that I would make some ceramic jars, and she would add some metal lids, finials, knobs or embellishments. I’ve made a few batches of jars – some with and some without lids. Some turned out great, some I think might be too small or have a gallery that is too small. I’ve passed all of my pieces onto Sarah, so now the proverbial ball is in her court.
And I can’t wait to see what she does with them!!!
Sure, a couple of them might look like finished lidded jars… but I anticipate that Sarah will work her mojo, deconstruct them, and make some collaboration magic happen!!!
This lidded jar has a couple holes pierced through the lid… giving Sarah some options to add a finial knob. Or maybe even split the jar in two… and make a metal top to go with the clay base, and a metal bottom to go with the clay lid?!
So now the jars are all in Sarah’s capable hands… sitting in her studio waiting to fulfill their collaboration destiny!!!
06.18.2017
Some beautiful irises have been blooming in my front yard garden. Sadly, they’re all nearing the end of their blooming cycle. I think I might need to find some “late bloomers” to extend the iris season next year?! Any suggestions???
And my favorite little Siberian irises that are blooming well for the first time after re-locating them to a new place in the garden last Fall.
And yes, some of these flowers are HUGE!!!… almost as large as my hand!!!
06.18.2017
Yesterday we had a wonderful day of pedaling through rural Wisconsin for the Horribly Hilly Hundreds. Starting at Blue Mound State Park and rolling off into “the middle of nowhere.” So much fun to spend the day pushing up the hills, zooming down… but still taking time to enjoy the scenery and spend time with friends!
Great ride, great hills… some tough to pedal up, and tough to walk up for some!
Here’s our friend Joni walking up. But as long as you’re still moving forward it’s all good!
Always ready to stop at the top of a hill and wait for our friends, here’s Chris at the top…
waiting, smiling, and watching other bikers fly down the next hill.
We’ve always said that the “best” part of biking is stopping.
As we’re always ready to stop and take in the local scenery. So much fun to get away from the hustle & bustle of the City. Out into the rural farmlands of Wisconsin. Chatting with locals, admiring nature and meeting some local livestock. It’s amazing to see all of the natural beauty if you just take time to look up from your handlebars!
Stopping… posing… and enjoying time with friends on the Horribly Hilly Hundred.
Thanks to my biking pals Chris and Nancy for making it so much fun!!!
Even better when you get to play at the Finish Line photo-op knowing that the hills are behind you! Sweaty, gross and a bit salt-encrusted. Exhausted but exhilarated… and already looking forward to the next ride!!
06.16.2017
A wonderful day of “playing hooky” at Six Flags Great America yesterday with my “family four pass.” We got season passes this year so we can play all summer!!! Roller coasters, water rides & cotton candy… and the new JOKER… oh my.
Yes, THE JOKER was our first ride of the day. It’s the newest roller coaster at Great America. I t may not look all that cool in still photos… but… what you can’t see is that the seats are actually flipping around while you’re sitting in them zooming & down the track. Much of the time you have no idea of which side is up!!!
To see more about the newest roller coaster THE JOKER, click here for the teaser video.
Never too early for cotton candy… luckily for us, my cousin Kim was willing to share!
A quick ride on The Viper… one of Taylor’s favorites!!! A great wooden roller coaster with lots of hills & bumps…. lots of flying out of your seat!!! Which I love!!!
Next up for me and Kim… Vertical Velocity. A quick twist up one end, and straight up the other. Not big hill to ride up and ride down… just magnetic propulsion sending you soaring up into the sky. Needless to say, Jen & Taylor decided to sit this one out.
While waiting for Logger’s Run… we saw momma robin had set-up her nest right above the the roaring rapids of the water ride. Not too calm or serene… but she sure seemed to like her vantage point.
After the ride, we were a little drenched… but happy!
Ready to move on to another roller coaster to help us dry out a bit!!!
As our day of roller coasters, water rides and snacks continued into the late afternoon, the sun began to set creating some great views & vantage points.
All of a sudden, the sunset turned the sky ablaze with colors. Creating a beautiful sky show creating a wonderful sky show with the roller coaster silhouettes.
All too soon, our day at Great America had come to an end. A wonderful day, beautiful weather and so much fun with Taylor, Jen & Kim!!! And luckily, we have our season passes… so more fun to come!!!
