Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: classes, mugs, porcelain

At the end of the Fall session of my Beginning/Advanced Beginning Wheel class, we did a fun trading-stealing-exchanging game with mugs! We each put in one handmade mug… and came away with someone else’s mug! I got this beautiful porcelain cup with subtle details… and a bright red bottom from Catherine!

Categories: food, holiday, pottery

Looks like a yummy Thanksgiving meal… homemade food on handmade pottery! So glad that my pottery could part of the holiday celebration. Thanks for the photos Matthew!


If you have photos from your Thanksgiving festivities, I’d love to see them… shoot them over to ‘gary@firewhenreadypottery.com’

Categories: holiday

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving today. Last year we ZOOM’ed… but this year I hope you’re finally able to celebrate with some family & friends today… cautiously getting a bit more back to “normal.” Have fun & stay safe while enjoying your pumpkin pie!

Categories: nature, weather

With an overnight rain, the gingko leaves came tumbling down… creating carpets of yellow leaves wonderfully spotted with some lingering raindrops!

Categories: bike, Chicago

Thankful for yesterday’s sunrise… but today’s?… not so much. I was hoping that these clouds might turn into something cool as the sun came up… but the sun NEVER came up! Instead, it was just gray, cloudy & SO WINDY!!! But I kept thinking…. with every mile I pedal, I can eat more PUMPKIN PIE!!!

Categories: bike, sunrise

After a string of uneventful, not-a-cloud-in-the-sky freezing cold mornings, it was great to finally get a beautiful sky show worthy of tackling the chilly winds! Incredible sunrise colors this morning across the horizon while the wind was in my face the whole way. But once I turned around, it was an amazing ride with the strong tailwind pushing me all the way home!!!

Categories: food, friends

You gotta love when your friends come to the Holiday Home Show bearing gifts… and super sweet gifts at that!!! Keith & Julie brought me a yummy goodie bag from their candy store in Eureka, Illinois!!! Homemade fudge & marshmallow s’mores pops from MAURIE’S SUGAR SHOPPE!!! Let me just say… the goodie bag is a little “lighter” than it was when they dropped it off… burp!

Categories: art fair, pottery

HUGE THANKS to everyone who came out this weekend for my Holiday Home Show… and thanks to the sun for shining in & hitting the pots on the dining room table just right throughout the day. We’ve officially kicked off the holiday shopping season… giddy-up!!!

Categories: friends, My Talented Friends, wheelthrowing

After a couple hectic days at my own HOLIDAY HOME SHOW… it was a great way to relax watching Mike Stumbras throwing large plates in his studio on Instagram Live! I could easily watch people throw on a wheel forever… so soothing, so mesmerizing… especially when it’s a talented thrower & teacher like my friend Mikey!

Categories: art fair, bowls, food

Just spending a little time this morning restocking & replenishing shelves for Day Two of my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW… including the “Tired Of Shlepping Sale” shelves on the back porch! Don’t forget, we’re open again today from 10:00am-6:00pm!