Quiet & breezy with low-flying clouds. The sunrise is getting later & later as we’re now into September. So that means more & more of my early morning ride is in darkness!

After a nice sunrise bike ride… what could be better than some gourmet donuts?! They’ve kind of become an annual “tradition” for Day Two of ART IN THE GARDEN. I like to stop by JOE DONUTS in Glenview to pick-up these yummy treats for the artists before the show starts! I cut them all in half so you can try more than one kind without feeling too guilty about it. Not too unexpected… but I ate MORE than my share as the box ended up behind my booth when the art fair started!

So the art fair didn’t start until 10:00am this past weekend… so that gave me “plenty” of time to go for a bike ride beforehand, right?! I mean, when you kick-off your morning with this kind of amazing natural beauty… it’s gotta be a great day, right?!!! So I got up early, pedaled along the lakefront as usual… then rushed home, showered, changed, and drove out to Glenview for Day Two of ART IN THE GARDEN!

After a long day at the art fair Saturday, I met my sister Jen & niece Taylor for dinner… and then we went to see HAMILTON!! Our friend Tracy has started hosting “Movie Night” in her backyard every Saturday night. Sure, I was kind of exhausted after a long art fair day… but who can pass up a good dinner with family, a great movie musical and time with King George & The Schuyler Sisters?!!! Not me… I’m in!!!

Not only was it AMAZING to see so many loyal customers, fans, followers & art fair patrons this past weekend… but I also had a few wonderful surprise visits as well.

Molly & Jacob stopped by with little Benjamin! Just three weeks old and only five pounds tiny!!! A bit of a preemie making huge gains and growing quickly. Also known as “Team Lavender” to many Lillstreeters… Molly & Jacob have been in several of my classes including two “seasons” of The Great Lillstreet Throwdown! You may remember… we helped them make all of the vases for the wedding reception during “Season One”. And then made surprise baby blocks for them during “Season Two!”

At one point I had another visitor to my booth who stopped by and quietly looed around… and then left. He looked familiar, but hard to identify with mask, sunglasses & bald head. When he stepped back in a minute later, he said “You didn’t recognize me, did you?” It was only when I heard his voice that I realized it was my older cousin David… who lives in Ohio!!! I had no idea he would be coming… he’s never been to one of my art fairs… and it was AMAZING and slightly confusing to see him there!!!

Later in the day, I was busy helping someone else… and then when I looked up I saw another familiar face!!! And there before my very eyes was my good friend Anna from high school… her husband, her sister with husband & daughter, and Anna’s Mom!!! Now keep in mind, I haven’t seen Anna since maybe a couple years after college graduation?! She now lives in St. Louis… so imagine my surprise now to have the entire family standing there in my art fair booth!!! CRAZY!!! Sadly, I was so shocked to see them all there in my booth… that I totally forgot to take any pictures!!! But Anna did bring me a little handmade souvenir… showing off her own crafty handiwork!

And then on Sunday, I was surprised by my friend Alison and her daughter Kasey. I haven’t seen Alison for a couple years… ever since they cancelled out Step Classes. Yes, we did Step Class together at the health club for YEARS!!! I love it… and still hope it will make a resurgence! Anyway, they popped into my booth and it was so good to see them. Especially after talking with Kasey who is now a news reporter up in Milwaukee. She had some amazing stories of what she’s had to cover in the field during these crazy times & the riots in Kenosha. Amazing… and more than a bit scary. Kudos for Kasey for stepping it up and reporting the news on camera to make sure the stories get told.

Towards the end of Sunday, I had another little visitor… adorable little Teagan who stopped bu with her Mom Nancy… one of my IRONMAN biking friends. Teagan was so cute walking around and being so thoughtful & cautious around all of the pottery.

Teagan seemed to really enjoy her first art fair… almost as much as she enjoys her morning oatmeal in her own little handmade & personalized cereal bowls!!!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to our little grassroots art fair this weekend in Glenview, Illinois. During these crazy times, so much has changed. Art fairs have basically been cancelled everywhere… except for our ART IN THE GARDEN. We took lots of extra precautions to make everything safe & socially-distant for everyone. Lots of space between the booths, hand sanitizer, social-distance spacing and MASKS ON EVERYONE!!!

It was so great to see people coming outside for a change… many people were thanking US for putting this together so that they would have something to do & somewhere to go. And it sure helped that the weekend was the most perfect weather ever on BOTH days!

It was so nice to have a slight glimmer of “normal” as we welcomed everyone to the backyard meadow for ART IN THE GARDEN. So again, thank you to everyone who came out, said Hello, made me smile and supported local artists!

So good to be back outside setting up my tent & showing off my pottery… and trying to make a little money! These past few months have been so difficult for many of us artists as our primary source of income has been “cancelled” due to the Covid pandemic. I know that it’s tough for everyone, but my artist friends have been struggling and trying to find different options to get their artwork out there for the public.

Okay, so sure… maybe the mask this isn’t “normal”…
but it’s a small price to pay for getting outside, seeing friends & customers, sharing your wares and making some money along the way! Plus, the more pots I sell… the more room I have to make even more pots!

And I LOVE making more pots!!!