And then… after building, stamping & assembling all FORTY of the Ghouls, it was time for a bit of color! I started by adding a full base of white underglaze… and then a colorful interior!

After making my first test piece… I started tackling the forty cylinders to make them into GHOULS!!! Using some of my stamps for design continuity to help them fit with the other ghouls… full production-mode set in!!!

And sure, I could have used just three feet for the bottoms… but for some reason I thought EIGHT would look even cooler?! So yes, I made it harder on myself with 320 rolled feet to score & slip in place!!! No worries… just rushing towards the deadline!!!

So it took me a little while to figure out what kind of “ghoul” I wanted to make this year to add to “The Ghouls Collection.” Running out of ideas, and a bit of inspiration as ART IN THE BARN has been cancelled for months now… it was tough to dive in. But when I realized I should make them for ART IN THE GARDEN… I was ALL IN!!!

So I did a bit of brainstorming… even employing my summer camp kids for ideas… and finally made a “Ghoul-ish” decision… and a small test piece!!!

Totally loving these cool beaded bracelets that Lynda Wallis has made with some of my soda-fired beads!!! She’ll be bringing them to Glenview this weekend for ART IN THE GARDEN… fun in the garden with MASKS and a lot of cool collaboration projects you won’t find at any other art fair!!!

What a difference a little underglaze can make?!!!
A whimsical “paint-job” by my “cohort in collaborations” Cory McCrory on her bowls for this weekend at ART IN THE GARDEN. We’ve been working on this little project for awhile now… and now we’re both in our final kiln firings!!! Getting ready to put our collaboration pieces together in Glenview for every one to see!

For more info – www.grassrootsartfair.com

With ART IN THE GARDEN this weekend… we’ve all been scrambling to get our work ready, especially our collaboration projects!!! Part of what makes this show so special. And it looks like Cory has been working on building and putting some finishing touches on her part of our collaboration project – racing to get everything into a kiln!!! Can’t wait to see everything when it all comes together this Saturday & Sunday in Glenview!

For more info… www.grassrootsartfair.com

Looks like Cory isn’t the only one who is working on her part of the collaborations… metalsmith Amy Taylor is doing her part here! A small glimpse of her masterpiece of a collaboration… and MORE to come!!! Can’t wait to see what everyone is doing for ART IN THE GARDEN!!! I just love having talented friends!!!

For more… www.grassrootsartfair.com

Looks like my pal Cory McCrory has been making a few little parts & pieces for our ART IN THE GARDEN collaboration… okay, one of TWO collaboration projects we’re doing together!!! I can’t wait to see her creative solutions to my “challenge” come together this weekend in Glenview! Stop by Saturday & Sunday from 10am-5pm for the “Big Reveal.”

Just a little bowl of fun for TEXTURE TUESDAY.
Fun shapes. Fun colors. Fun textures… and what makes them even “FUNNER”???… they all rattle just ‘cuz they can! Come play with them this weekend at ART IN THE GARDEN in Glenview!

Looks like Kristin Conneely has been working her “mosaic magic” getting for this weekend’s ART IN THE GARDEN in Glenview. We’ll be gathering at a new location just down the street from last year for this wonderful grassroots art fair! Not only will Kristin’s mosaics be there… but I also know that we’re doing a couple collaboration pieces just for this art fair!!!

Check it out at www.grassrootsartfair.com