Just a couple quick “teasers” of the treasures I found in my soda kiln while unloading last Monday night… the front stack, and the back stack. It’s been a busy week unloading, teaching, biking and setting up for MY HOLIDAY HOME SHOW. There’s a LOT of new pots here that need to be cleaned, prepped & priced before they can head off to new homes!

It’s been a crazy year 2020…
so why not expect a crazy HOLIDAY HOME SHOW too?!

It’s traditionally my biggest, best & favorite art fair of the year. But this year is going to have to be a LOT different. It’s time to start making your gift list & checking it twice… as I have a LOT of pottery with precautions! More details coming soon on how we’re all going to stay safe & stay healthy this year!!!

NEVER ENOUGH. After teaching class this morning, I stuck around in my studio and made a few more bowls! Probably my second favorite thing to make… next to MUGS of course!!!

Another beautiful day in Chicago. The sun was shining, the sky bright blue and some of the honey locust trees on the side of Lillstreet are still in full golden splendor. I taught class this morning and worked in the studio all afternoon… but that doesn’t mean you can’t sneak out for a quick break now & again, right?!

Big sky. Big clouds. Big colors… all need a big photo!!!

Colorful clouds & rippled reflections make for a dramatic start to the day. Gotta love it. Pedal on…

The overnight temperatures dropped quickly, and it looks like the ginkgo trees dropped their leaves quickly too! Still more leaves to go… but for now, there’s a beautiful carpet of golden leaves on the ground.

Sure, the beautiful 70-degree days may be gone, but it was still an amazing day for another bike ride. The Fall colors are trying their best to hang on for a few more days… and I’m very thankful. Blue skies, a few more clouds and a few more miles! Giddy-up!!!

With the “success” of our marbled clay experiments, last night one of my students continued wheelthrowing with colored clays. Katie used white porcelain, as well as blue & black porcelains she made with mason stains. We’re all LOVING how these pieces have been turning out. A fun novelty to be exploring during these crazy days! They’re looking great Katie!!!

One special piece that came out of my soda kiln firing, was this vase that was a class demo from a couple weeks back. We’ve been playing with some colored clays & marbled wheelthrowing. This piece started with “white” B-clay, brown clay, and a “green” B-clay we made with mason stains. It was an experiment to see how it would turn out in the soda kiln with nothing but the soda atmosphere to “glaze” the exterior. Looks like a great success to me!!! I think we’re onto something…