So here are my finished ornaments for The Kevin Bushell Foundation. They will be used as gifts for those who donate to the Kevin Bushell Foundation. You can get more information on the website – click here.

Live the Kev Life… Do Good, Impact Others, Create Change.

A quick overview about The Foundation…
The Kevin Bushell Foundation was created by Kevin’s family, fellow sailors and friends after his life was tragically cut short August 21, 2017. Kevin was assigned to the USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) when his ship was hit by the Alnic, an oil tanker in the Singapore Strait. Kevin and nine of his fellow sailors were killed. This tragedy has caused unimaginable pain for our family and for everyone that knew and loved Kevin, including all the sailors that survived this tragedy. We felt right away that this grief and pain must be directed in a positive way. Kevin would want us to remain united as a family and positive in our lives. I believe that we, as his family, have the responsibility to live fully in the face of our loss. Our goal is to honor and keep his memory alive and make a difference in the lives of the people around us by awarding scholarships to Gaithersburg High School students and to donate funds to the teachers and students at Goshen Elementary School.

You know MUGS are my favorite thing to make.
And I’ve made more than “a few”!!!

So I’m restocking the shelves and will again have more than a HUNDRED handmade stamped mugs ready for this weekend’s MUD & METAL Holiday Home Show!

Start making your holiday gift list now… so you’re ready to finish off your list this weekend at my MUD & METAL Holiday Home Show. My Talented Friend Amy Taylor will be joining me with her amazing jewelry! Lots of pottery & jewelry for everyone on your list… plus a few extras for yourself!

After painting the anchor logo onto the clay, I started to cut them out to make individual anchor ornaments. Trying my best to keep the logo crisp & clean, and the ornament thin & lightweight… without breaking or smudging! Okay, so there “may” have been a few clay casualties along the way!

FYI – I’m making a few extras…

Working on some special holiday ornaments commissioned by the Kevin Bushell Foundation. So I’ve been making ornaments based on the stylized anchor from the Foundation’s logo. I decided to use a stencil and blue underglaze to “paint” the anchor logo onto the ornaments. When these ornaments are done, the Foundation will be using them as part of their fundraising efforts for local students, schools & teachers.

Special thanks to Scott Hayner from United Graphics for creating the stencils for me to use on this very special project!

The four best letters this week! It always feels great to see this code on the kiln… relieving some of the anticipation of an electric kiln firing. Now it just needs to cool down a bit before I can peek inside. Hoping to see some beautiful new glazed Christmas trees in there… just in time for this weekend’s MUD & METAL Holiday Home Show!!!

Some might argue that the Elvis Christmas Album in the best Christmas album. And what could make it better?… some new renditions of Elvis singing duets with some big country female stars! Yes, many of the Elvis Christmas Classics are now going duet with the likes of Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Amy Grant, LeAnne Rimes, Wynonna & more! Be sure to check it out for the holidays!

And if not Elvis… What is YOUR favorite Christmas song???

So I’ve been working on a little commission project… making some very special ornaments for a very special cause… and getting a little “weighed-down” by the process!

A bit of a late night gettin’ my glaze on! Did more than a bit of glazing on my latest batch of wheelthrown Christmas trees. And if all goes as planned… these festive trees should be glazed, fired & ready for this weekend’s MUD & METAL Holiday Home Show!

Had a nice “shout-out” on Instagram yesterday from the folks at DiamondCore Tools! I used one of their diamond grinding bats to “save” a few mugs from bad glazed & wadded bottoms! So easy, so smooth… all the more reason why I LOVE DiamondCore Tools !!!