As this weekend was “supposed to be” the Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival… which was “pandemic-postponed” until the middle of August with fingers crossed… I’ve decided to host a little pop-up sale on my Fire When Ready Pottery Facebook page with some of the bright & colorful new pieces I’ve been working on. Pottery which would have been on display this weekend in Hinsdale… but instead, we’re going to go online! Check my Facebook page tomorrow evening at 7:00pm CST for the kick-off – Sunday 6/7/20!

And sure, looks like we have PERFECT WEATHER this weekend… when does that ever happen for an outdoor art fair?! Really?! I can’t wait until we can really get together for a “real” art fair again… I miss seeing everyone!!!

You know I already love a good mural.
Even better when it’s for a good cause.
Making a good statement.

According to ThisIsColossal.com…
“In a show of solidarity, a massive tribute to Black Lives Matter has been painted on the street leading to the White House in Washington, D.C. Completed in permanent street paint, the message features bold, yellow letters that span more than a block of 16th Street and marks a historic moment in the United States after weeks of protests.

Mayor Muriel Bowser commissioned the banner-style piece, which city workers and volunteers began at 3 a.m. Friday morning ahead of weekend demonstrations. The new message is just two blocks north of Lafayette Square, where police charged peaceful protestors and released tear gas and flash-bang shells to clear the crowd for a photo-op for President Trump earlier this week. It sits at the foot of St. John’s Church.”

So they’re finally assembled… lidded jars with birds on them!
Wheelthrown & stamped lidded jars with handbuilt birds on branches as handles! I’ll let them sit out to dry slowly so I can put them into a bisque kiln early next week.

And then I need to figure out how I’m going to finish them… soda-fired, glazed, details, oxides, underglazes… so many options!!! And yes, there’s already a plan brewing…

Now that my birds have all been assembled, I let them sit in the damp box overnight to even out the moisture levels and let them “stiffen up” just a smidge. So tonight I started attaching them to the lids of the jars. Like avian handles… birds on twigs & leaves. I used a few folded yellow Post-it Notes to help prop-up and support the branches while they set-up. I had hoped to make the birds a bit more realistic… but these make me smile!

So I just posted a bunch of spoon rests on my Online Pottery Shop here on my website. Probably the most “functional” piece I make… better than a piece of paper towel, tin foil or just dropping your goopey spoon on the countertop. A lot of people asked about them… so now they’re posted. Click here to do a little shopping online for spoon rests and a whole lot more!

Or… you can ALWAYS click on “Online Pottery Shopping” in the top, right-hand corner of my blog!

Another wonderful “find” along the lakefront. I love seeing stacked rocks like these randomly along the shoreline. It make me happy to see that they have “survived” and no one has seen it necessary to topple them over! Thank you kind folks!

Okay, so just a little bit of coincidence here…
I actually kinda “know” the kid who builds these here! On that morning back a week or so when we had that odd sunrise rainbow, I happened to pedal past a familiar face. It was potter Joanna Kramer who I’ve know for a few years since her days at Lillstreet Art Center. Apparently, her son is the one who builds these here!!! Who knew?… SMALL WORLD.

Another day under Chicago’s Curfew… so again, no morning sunrise ride. Luckily, I got out for a nice afternoon ride along the lake north of Chicago. A little cloudy and hazy, and more than a little bit sweaty, but still a great afternoon escape!

Okay… so maybe we don’t pay any attention to that flat rear tire in the photo?!

Not quite as fragrant, but loving the wonderful colors, patterns & structure to this bi-color iris that is still blooming in my front yard garden! Gotta love iris season!

Beautiful purple iris blooming in my front yard… just love the fragrant smell as it is always creates such a wonderful childhood flashback memory!

While everyone was quarantined during this corona-craziness, Lillstreet Art Center created a page on their website to help some of their artists during the tough times. Knowing that many of us were facing cancelled art fairs, loss of teaching gigs and no workshops… they created MADE AT LILLSTREET. An online gallery featuring several of their “in-house” artists, teachers & studio members. Please feel free to click on this link to see my current offerings through the Lillstreet Gallery.