A new favorite in the neighborhood! I noticed these striking asiatic lilies about a block or two from my place as I was pedaling home this morning! Pretty striking with their mix of colors & crazy patterns!

Plants on trees… now made possible with a trio of ceramic wall pockets made with drainage holes! A sweet little collection enjoying the morning sun. Thanks for sharing Kimberley Sue!!!

Another weekly installment from Cirque du Soleil… this time featuring the acrobatics of fan-favorite shows like LA NOUBA, VAREKAI & QUIDAM. When they came to Chicago with VAREKAI, I actually got to work with them so this episode has some special memories for me!

Click here to watch the video on Facebook.

And if you want even more VAREKAI… be sure to check out “The Fire Within” – a great documentary about the show from casting through rehearsals up to Opening Night. An amazing insight into how these shows are created & come together! Pure magic!

Big sky. Colorful clouds. Stunning reflections…
all better with a panoramic photo!!!

Warm, humid & sweaty… a hazy start to the morning. Lots of clouds breezing through the City… sometimes blocking the sun, other times revealing some amazing colors & wonderful reflections.

Freshly thrown… soon to be made into little flower pots. I finally scheduled my next soda-firing, so these might be the last “new” things I can crank out to get into that kiln?! We’ll see… you know I love a deadline… and a good challenge!!!

Enjoying late afternoon flowers on the back porch. Vibrant & fragrant bee balm flowers & furry smoke bush clippings in a soda-fired ikebana vase… and a mini hosta in a handmade flower pot!

What a beautiful day along the Chicago Lakefront… although it was one of those days where I couldn’t quite tell if it was sunny or cloudy?! I changed my mind every five minutes or so… either way… BEAUTIFUL!!!

So the birds are still “naked”… while the jars have now been glazed & wadded for the soda kiln. I can’t wait to see how my flock turns out after soda-firing. The random flashing effects & soda atmosphere should change the colors a good bit… and hopefully all in a good way!

Okay, so my birds are still working their way closer to the soda kiln… I’ve added some colored details to the twigs & leaves! Not quite sure what I’m doing with the birds yet… I have too many options, but not enough decisions!!!