Classic beauties in reds & pinks on Valentine’s Day!

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Special thanks to all of my loyal fans & followers… you light up my life! 

See what I did there?…

Kinda makes me wish my gas fireplace burned actual wood?!

So have you noticed how the days are getting longer?…
the mornings are earlier and the nighttime is later?

Sure we may still have Winter around for awhile… but there’s a glimmer of hope and a beautiful sunrise always makes it better!

Adding handles. Making mugs… one of a kind one at a time!
A quick baker’s dozen… plus one!

Can’t think of a clever phrase for fourteen of something. Can you?

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Another chilly day here in the City as buildings are spewing ice everywhere you look!
Beautiful stalactites of ice!!!

Just a “small collection” of wire tools in my studio. You know. Just in case.

And thanks to Jon aka “Joe Bowl-a” for the photo…
and for not mocking me too much!

A SNEAK PEEK of the ongoing challenge that my Lillstreet Throwdown students are working on. Last week they were tasked with making a handbuilt butter dish. The challenge is “glazed & done” so they still have some time to finish them as these ones are now drying for their bisque firing. Lookin’ good so far!!!

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So we started our Great Lillstreet Throwdown class last night with a bit of inspiration…

Which revealed the chosen challenge for the evening… CHIP & DIP BOWLS!!!
And then I did a demo for my students… none of whom have ever made one before.
Perfect choice. Perfect challenge!!!

So I threw a sample one for them… discussing some of the factors & parameters to watch out for. Proportion, design, consistency, even wall thickness and making it look “as finished as possible” since this is basically a THROWING challenge, and not a finishing challenge!

And then I gave them 30 minutes to throw their own version of a chip & dip bowl
using six pounds of clay! On your mark, get set, GO!!!

And then with about eight minutes left, “Ry-Ry Joshblue” asked if they were allowed to use colored slip… of course I said YES< whatever it takes to make your chip & dip bowl look more “finished.”

Meanwhile, everyone else was still trying to finish up their chip & dips!!!

At the end of the thirty minutes, we had some pretty amazing results!!!
Keep in mind, my students had never throw a chip & dip before. Ever… until now!
And look at their amazing results!

And oh, but wait there’s more… none of my students brought some AMAZING COOKIES!!!
Yummy homemade chocolate chip cookies by “Clay Eagerman.”

Remember, my students now all have their “superhero” pseudonyms…
scroll back a few posts here on the blog to find all of their pictures and new names!!!
And then remember to VOTE for who you think is going to win The Great Lillstreet Throwdown as they’re earning points for every challenge & project along the way!

Cookies were so good… that we even had a little “Lady & The Tramp” moment over the chocolate chip cookies. Best part?… these two cuties don’t go together… each of their better-halves were right there watching this go down!!! And didn’t really care… as the cookies were THAT good!!!

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Another batch of textured tiles drying in my studio. I love how the textures and different colored slips will all work together after soda-firing. I like to refer to them as a ClayQuilt… as though each square is a different piece of clay “fabric.”