Finished up another batch of stamped mugs. This batch is destined for a trip through my next soda kiln… as they have been accented & detailed with colored flashing slips which will show up a lot more after the atmospheric firing.

Looks like “shared-birthdate-buddy” Allyn is enjoying her mornings a bit more with her new handmade mugs!!! A perfect way to celebrate another Mugshot Monday!

#mugshotmonday

It’s another national holiday today… one near & dear to may heart… NATIONAL OREO COOKIE DAY!!! And we’re celebrating OREO’s birthday with another special flavor with tow layers of filling, one white & one chocolate… as well as actual edible glitter on the cookies!!! It’s a party in my mouth!!!

Also part of the sculpture show in Evanston this weekend, was another one of My Talented Friends Darlys Ewoldt… who makes these crazy cool metal sculptures!!! Swirling dimensional sculptures with great patina colors that are simply amazing. I have no idea how she makes them!!! Crazy, right?!

So much fun hanging with my friend & master metalsmith Sarah Chapman this afternoon… after her pop-up gallery show in Evanston this weekend. She makes such cool stuff… so talented, so creative. You should definitely check out her work… and then come see her this spring at the One-Of-A-Kind Show in Chicago!!! www.chapmanmetals.com

After a fun evening of carving with my Monday night intermediate students, we ended up with some pretty groovy textured bowls to send into the kiln. I can’t wait to figure out some glazing options for these to show off the carved textures?! Ugh… everyone knows that glazing is my least favorite part of the whole process!

Always fun to play with some great tools… and sharing them with my students!!! Using my favorite DiamondCore Tools in class to carve cool patterns… leaving a pile of carvings on the table!

Little chunks of clay destined for the reclaim bucket…

Here’s a few shots of my students getting started… a bit tentative at first… but quickly got their groove on!!!… and loving the sharp carving edges of my DiamondCore Tools!

Last week in my Intermediate Wheel class, we tackled some decorative carving techniques. So we came into class with some pieces with thicker walls, knowing that we would be carving into the sides…. and I brought down most of my DiamondCore Tools for my students to use. So we sat around the table and just started carving & making random patterns… having fun & trying our best not to cut through the walls!!!

After sub-teaching another class this morning, it was great to get out for another bike ride this afternoon… as the temps almost made it to 70-degrees!!! It was a bit windy & gusty… but still a great ride with a few souvenirs from the beach. A few more pieces of beach glass for my “covid collection” that I started during the shutdown!