So in the creative world of collaboration projects… I gave these tiny stamped & soda-fired “cutie-patooties” to metalsmith extraordinaire Amy Taylor a little while back… with the anticipation that she’ll do something really cool with them!!! I have a clue… but can’t wait to see them in-person at ART IN THE GARDEN on September 10th & 11th in Glenview!

While making a bunch of “realistic” pumpkins for the soda kiln, I decided to make a few of the “ghouls collection” jack-o’lanterns for the soda kiln too! I’ve made these little pumpkins for years with terra cotta & underglaze. But this will be my first batch going into the soda kiln… fingers crossed that they’re as cute as the originals!

Another clouded morning with some pretty gusty winds blowing in from the north. A dark & gloomy morning with very little chance for a sunrise… but luckily we got some blue skies peeking through at the end of my ride!

Okay, so I must say that I’ve been kind of enamored by that first batch of pumpkins… so why not try to crank out another batch in time for my soda firing?! So here we go again… another batch, even more this time & slightly smaller. I mean, you gotta have all different sized pumpkins, right?

Working on some collaboration parts & pieces… textured of course! Working on a few “things” I can share with my pal Cory McCrory as part of our collaboration project for ART IN THE GARDEN!!! Gotta love a good “teaser” photo…

Hard to believe that August is almost over, and September is right around the corner! Which also means that ART IN THE GARDEN is just over two weeks away! It’s a wonderful grassroots art fair in a charming setting right along a branch of the Chicago River.

Saturday, September 10th – 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday, September 11th – 10:00am-5:00pm

One of the best parts of this show is that several of the artists are working on collaboration projects… working together to combine their mediums & styles. Offering one-of-a-kind pieces you won’t see at any other art fair! I know I’m working on collaborations with at least three different artists!!! Mark your calendar… we’d love to see you!!!

So for now my pumpkins are drying. If you remember back to last year, I kinda “rushed” the drying process and put my pumpkins into the bisque kiln too soon. We had a little “explosion” situation because they weren’t dry yet. Let’s just say, that mistake will NOT happen again this year. I have plenty of time to let these dry this year!

Sweet treat when one of your favorite students stops by your studio with a sweet snack while I was working late last night… I mean, who doesn’t want a chocolate chip s’mores cookie?! Thanks Katie!!!

So while our adorable little Pottery Puppy has been hanging out at our Tuesday night class, we missed him this week… and fear that with the summer session ending he might not be back?! However…

This little cutie has moved in to the condo next to me! So now I get to be the best “Uncle Gary” to this little pup! Officially named Michigan Blue… but going by “Michi”... this little German Shepherd ain’t gonna be little for long! Can’t wait to play with this little guy… especially when he’s hanging out on my back porch!!!

Moments before the rain… another dramatic & moody sunrise along the lakefront. Huge dark clouds covering the sky as the rain blew in. Yet with a sliver of sunrise beauty hovering below the ominous clouds.

And yes, I did get rained on as I was pedaling home… mwah, mwah, mwah…