Big sky drama over the lake calls for a big panoramic photo! From the colorful clouds to the Chicago skyline off in the hazy distance.

Celebrating a little TEXTURE TUESDAY with one of my stamped, soda-fired & handbuilt square vases. I love how the dried allium blossoms work so well with the wavy pattern of the vase. Thanks so much for sharing your vase & flowers with all of us Rhonda!

Crazy cool smoke bush “flowers” covering the dark purple leaves. This one is in front of Lillstreet… as the smoke bush in my front yard hasn’t started “flowering” quite yet!

More rain. More raindrops. At least these trumpet vine flowers are enjoying the rain… and I’m enjoying the raindrops hanging on the flowers! Looks like the ants are pretty pleased too!!!

Big sky drama over the lake calls for a big panoramic photo! From the colorful clouds to the Chicago skyline off in the hazy distance.

Before the rain. Before the gray skies. Before the sunrise… I started pedaling early this morning. It was a nice morning with great clouds… and a TON of humidity! I was already sweating within the first five minutes on my bike! You could practically “feel” the rain storm moving in. But photos first… and miles to pedal… safely home with 15 minutes to spare! Whew!!!

Working on the mugs again… spending some time stamping the geometric patterns! Pretty pleased so far finding out that the new stamps are working well. Making the quantities as requested… plus a few extras “just in case” something happens along the way! Perfect for another MUGSHOT MONDAY!

Beautiful white “snowball” hydrangeas popping up all over the neighborhood. So much fun to see these wonderful floral spheres of tiny blossoms when they begin to bloom each year.

Trimming off the ribbons from this bowl thrown with marbled clay. I love trimming with my DiamondCore Tools … especially when shaving off the outer “skin” of the blurred clay to reveal the stark contrast of the marbled clay inside. Looks like it’s MARBLED MONDAY… spinning & trimming on my wheel!

Some of the coolest flowers EVER have once again decided to pop-up & start blooming in my garden. These “Bears Britches” have such great “towers” of purple flowers… and the dark green leaves have such great shapes too! Always a treat when these favorites make their annual appearance!