After yesterday’s spectacular “surprise” sunrise, this morning was still warm but looked a lot more like Winter. Gray & gloomy before the afternoon sun. The lake may have thawed, but there are still a few “icebergs & glaciers” lingering around the edges.

And yes, sure it was warmer than a normal January day… but methinks some of these folks have taken it a bit too far?! Yes, those are indeed people going for a swim in Lake Michigan this morning. Sure, wetsuits help a bit… but one of them was sleeveless too!!!

Still a few “icebergs” floating around at Belmont Harbor…

And another large “glacier” perched on the pier of the Foster Beach lighthouse. A little “dirty” around the edges because of all the layers of sand from the beach mixed in with the ice & snow.

Save

Save

So now that they have their mugs assembled, it’s time for my Pottery Throwdown students to embellish them. So last night towards the end of class, the next challenge was revealed. They now need to take their four matching mugs and decorate them to represent, signify, resemble, interpret or otherwise show some influence by The Four Seasons. They have until class next Thursday to “finish them up” and bring them to class as they’re drying to greenware!

It’s completely up to them how they approach the project…
stylized & graphic?… sculptural?… illustrative?… carved?… stamped?… sgraffito?… painted?…
or otherwise “naturally” inspired!!!

Save

Save

Save

Last night in our Pottery Throwdown Challenge class, my students were tasked with trimming and adding matching handles to four matching cylinders in ninety minutes. Sounds like a lot of time, but it went right down to the wire! It was great fun to watch how they processed, produced, prioritized and approached the challenge. A matching set of four mugs compared, judged & points awarded as the coolest clay contest continues… and these mugs are NOT done yet!!!

Special thanks to Fred for (eating our cookies and…) being our special Guest Judge last night for the matching handles challenge!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Another class. Another OREO.
Last night we had the new Chocolate Hazelnut flavor.

I know I “should” like them… but why “ruin” my chocolate with that darn hazelnut flavor?!
I actually preferred the red-hot cinnamon ones!!! Yes, I have the palate of a four-year old.

Thanks to Taylore & Ryan for “importing” them for class last night!!!

Save

Warmer than yesterday with just a few clouds on the horizon. We’re thawed and a lot drier… making it also “safer” for early morning pedaling. So great to squeeze in a sunrise ride in January!!!

With a bit of a wind, this morning was easy, breezy, beautiful…
oh wait, that’s someone else?!!!

Save

Save

Surprise treats in pottery class tonight… I hadn’t even heard of this flavor yet, but somehow, somewhere Sara found a bag and brought them into class! I will say the flavor combination was a LOT better than I had first expected… and need I say we polished them off!!!

Looks like we may have had wee bit of a Nor’easter here overnight?!
Playing in the snow. Frozen in time.

Save

Save

Just making some new stamps for the next set of pots coming soon. And for the first time, I decided to see what would happen if I tried my new carving tools from DiamondCore Tools for stamp-making?! Huge potential here with these great tools… I just think I need to let the clay stiffen up more & go bigger!!! No time to be timid with sharp Zebra Tools from DiamondCore!!!

Save

Save

A New Year always needs some new stamps, right?!
Making some new stamps for the next round of pots coming up soon!

It’s Mugshot Monday again…
and by now you should know mugs are MY FAVORITE!!!