A little post-shuffle sweet treat… warm & gooey yumminess from Ann Sather’s. I mean… I’ve already “run” all morning… and it was on my walk home from the “L” train… burp.

Today was the “official” kick-off of the running season… a fun chance to shuffle through downtown Chicago for the annual SHAMROCK SHUFFLE. While many were actually down there to “run” through the closed-down streets… I think it’s more of a chance to play with friends & do a little “touristy” photo-shoot along the way! Sightseeing & shuffling all at the same time!

From Melissa…
“I know you’ve been waiting for this! My kind of an Irish breakfast, missing grilled tomato (ate it last night) and black and white pudding (not allowed in my house). Have a little tea spoon my Mother stole from somewhere in Ireland in my lovely Shamrock mug! Got to have the Heinz beans made in the UK!”

Revisiting an old favorite… and making a batch of oval casseroles! Tomorrow’s project is to make the lids & add handles!!! Yep, little baking dishes coming soon!!!

Celebrating a little FLASHBACK FRIDAY with these wonderful chess pieces made by Mathieu last summer during Chess Camp at Lillstreet Art Center! He came in with a plan & made a wonderful version of the Terra Cotta Warriors. His chess set was all handbuilt with terra cotta in five days! He decided to keep his set unglazed to be more “authentic.” It was my favorite set of chess pieces from last summer!

And for those who don’t know… The TERRA COTTA ARMY was created by China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, who began the construction of the army in 246 BC after he (then aged 13) ascended the throne. It was an afterlife army for Emperor Qin. It was believed that objects like statues can be animated in the afterlife. The clay soldiers remained untouched for more than 2000 years, until 1974, when they were unearthed by Chinese farmers. Experts estimate there are more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, and 670 horses.

For the final class of my Intermediate Wheel class this session, we decided to do a trading-stealing-exchanging-White Elephant kind of game… with the category being large serving bowls. We had so many beautiful bowls in the mix… that all got mixed up, traded up & each went home to new homes!

Maya has been in my Intermediate Wheelthrowing class for awhile now… still working on her platters! Her plan is to do a “constellation” installation at home of about a dozen large platters all with a theme of leaves… but done in different sizes & surface decoration techniques! Can’t wait to continue this journey with Maya when she returns for my Spring class too!

Always a stunning night when you go to the Nederlander Theatre in Chicago. Beautiful architecture, interior design & crazy-cool craftsmanship everywhere you look. And that’s well before you even get to see the talent onstage!!!

Eternal flame at Chicago’s Daley Center Plaza… honoring those who have served.

Looking over the shoulder… the Chicago Picasso from a less well-known vantage point! And the view that I think “explains” a lot. Notice the profile silhouette that lines-up if you pay attention as you walk around it. Brilliant… and I love that so many people have never seen this!!!