So I had a wonderfully “sweet” surprise this past weekend at ART IN THE BARN. My niece Taylor has gone off to college about six hours away for her freshman year… so I knew I would be flying solo without her help at the art fair. But then imagine my surprise when showed up “out-of-nowhere” to surprise me!!! I couldn’t process it at first… you’re here?, you’re at college?, what are you doing here?, why aren’t you at college?, thanks for coming?, great surprise?, etc.!!! And then she handed my a tin of homemade chocolate chip cookies that she had made for me… just like my Mom did for every art fair before she passed. The sweetest cookies, the sweetest gesture, the sweetest memories!

But then… oh, but wait there’s more!!!

I also spent the night at Taylor’s house out in the ‘burbs instead of driving back & forth. When we went out for dinner… this PILE of cotton candy came out for dessert… passionfruit flavored cotton candy!!! Just sealing the deal… as the “SWEETEST gestures of the weekend! Taylor’s the BEST!!!

And huge congratulations to my friend Cheryl Holz who won “Best Of Show” at this weekend’s ART IN THE BARN!!! I’ve always loved Cheryl and her amazing multi-media artwork… but this time she really blew it out of the water with this new piece using an old letterpress type drawer! Such an amazing piece… such an amazing talent. You’re the best Cheryl!! Well deserved.

Huge THANKS to everyone who came out to Barrington this weekend for ART IN THE BARN. The weather was fantastic, the customers were great…and I do believe this may have been my BEST Barrington show ever!!! I need to check my records, but I could tell that a LOT of mugs, bowls, vases & Ghouls went off to new homes. It was a great weekend…. and once again, THANK YOU all for being so supportive of your “Favorite Potter”… me!

One of the cutest parts of ART IN THE BARN… are the kids who stopped by my booth and actually got to purchase some art for themselves!!! Yes, I make cute little Halloween necklaces for the kids… pumpkins, candy corns, ghosts, skulls & eyeballs! And the “marketing scheme” is that if they are 10-years old or younger, and paying for themselves, the necklaces are just one dollar. But if you’re an adult… FIVE dollars! So it encourages the littler kids (with the help of their parents) to engage in their first art purchase! They do the transaction, they get their change back, they get a shopping bag… they get to pick a piece of art & appreciate their first art purchase!!! So much better than the parents yelling at them all day not to touch anything at the art fair!!!

After a long weekend in The Barn, it felt good to have the Ghouls all done, the art fair over with & celebrating with a relaxing morning along the lake. And the sky show did not disappoint!!! Dramatic clouds, crashing waves & moody moments… love them all... before the rain clouds moved in later this morning.

Another beautiful morning in the Lower Barn! My double booth is all set & restocked for Day Two of ART IN THE BARN… so be sure to stop for some pottery, chit-chat & art fair fun! We’re here until 5:00pm!

A beautiful start to a beautiful day! Looks like we’re going to have PERFECT weather for “Art In The Barn” in Barrington! And the forecast looks pretty good for tomorrow too!!! So come on out for a fun day of pottery, artists & barns!!!

Just in time for ART IN THE BARN… the “big reveal” of this year’s new Ghoul to add to the collection! SCARECROWS!!! Adorably smirky “brainless” scarecrows… each with a hat to finish the look. It’s a Limited Edition of forty and they’re available this weekend at ART IN THE BARN in Barrington, Illinois. On the grounds of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital. It’s the original farms of Quaker Oats, so the barn is pretty cool… as well as the corn crib, machine shed, silo, and so much more! And this weekend… it’s all filled & surrounded by talented artists. Come on out this weekend for a fun Fall art fair! And stop by the Lower Barn in booths E4&E6 to say hello!!!

A single dahlia flower in a simple ikebana vase… stamped & soda-fired. A striking floral statement on any table.

Fresh out of the soda kiln… and packing them up for this weekend’s ART IN THE BARN! I have a double booth again this year… so it’s twice the shelves & twice the pottery!!! I can’t wait to send some of these hybrid mugs off to new homes this weekend in Barrington!