Hoping to crank out one last batch of hybrid mugs… quick, quick, quick!!!
Fingers crossed that I can get them done in time for next weekend’s soda kiln?!!!

Looks like potter Cory McCrory & stained glass artist Retta Hentschel are working on something pretty, shiny & flowery for ART IN THE GARDEN!!! Lots of collaborations are currently in the works… different projects at different studios. Can’t wait to see everyone’s creative collaborations in just a couple weeks!!!

For what has become an annual tradition, there’s always a “photo-shoot” with your Triathlon Finisher’s Medal at Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain. Such a beautiful spot for a few photos… especially on such a beautiful blue-sky day!!! Plus it just happens to be along the long walk back from Finish Line to the Transition Area to reclaim my bike & gear. The end of a beautiful day downtown… and fun another race in the books!!!

So while I’ve had a sore ankle for about a week now, I’m also just a “little bit” stubborn… so… today was the CHICAGO TRIATHLON, and I was not going to miss it!

But when we got downtown, we found put that the Swim portion had been canceled due to the high crashing waves. They quickly turned it into a run-bike-run DUATHLON instead (just like we did in 2019). My ankle was not happy, but I was happier to NOT be swimming! So we ran the distance of the Swim, then did the Bike course, followed by the Run distance. The weather was otherwise perfect, and the Triathlon… err, Duathlon… was great fun once again! As it always is playing with my Tri-Buddies Chris & Nancy!!!

And on a good note… my ankle doesn’t feel any worse for the wear! If anything, if feels better. We’ll see how it feels tomorrow morning?!

Today started out very, very early… about 4:00am… with a drive downtown for an early morning swim. Only to find out it had been CANCELLED! Too many waves crashing in causing a Swim Advisory Warning until 10:00am. At least the sunrise was still beautiful… and there were still plenty other things to do for me and the thousands of other people now on dry land!!!

Here’s a quick glimpse of something that’s been going on in my studio lately… the beginning of something fun! Parts & pieces coming together as part of a new collaboration project with my buddy Cory McCrory for ART IN THE GARDEN!

So hard to believe that we’re now just two weeks from ART IN THE GARDEN!!! One of my favorite art fairs of the summer… a great grassroots effort by a bunch of talented friends! We have a LOT of collaborations currently under way with several of the artists mixing it up & creating cool one-of-a-kind pieces together! So mark your calendars & hopefully we’ll see you in two weeks!!!

For more information, click here – www.grassrootsartfair.com

To finish off one of my favorite weeks of Summer Camp… I showed my kids how to do bubble glazing. And they LOVED IT!!! Such a fun way to top off an amazing week with a great group of kids! Most of them had never thrown on the wheel before. They struggled a bit on Monday, but with some practice they were making cute pots soon enough. They were all so focused, talented & entertaining. So helpful & willing to pitch-in all week long. They made such great progress… and bubble glazing was a great finale for them!

But the real quote of the week was from Luca at the end of Friday…
“The was the best week of my life.”

Another summer camp mishap… but they all learned another valuable lesson! This is what happens when someone doesn’t put the lid on correctly! Luckily, it’s just wax… and even better… it splattered so close to the floor drain!

Of course it wasn’t all fun & games in camp… as Isla didn’t quite pull her hair back far enough while throwing at the wheel! Her hair dangling too close to the spinning ball of clay. After several warnings… she ended up with a glop of clay tangled up in her curly locks!!! I gave her three options…

1. scissors

2. wash it out in the gross slop sink

3. let it dry completely and crumble it out later that night at home.

She chose option three… so this chunk dangled in her hair all day!!!
A good reminder for the other kids with long hair… listen to Gary!!!