Time to get my groove on… starting with another groovy & crisp pattern from an MKM Pottery Tools handroller. Starting with a textured slab… with a plan in mind for a new oval vase project! Coming soon… deadlines are approaching!!!

I’ve always said that the half-hour BEFORE the actual sun rises over the horizon is my favorite part of a sunrise. Because that is when the beautiful colors appear… and THIS kind of morning magic happens!!! Amazing!!!

Handles are finally attached… and my new holiday mugs are really coming together! The theme stamps worked well. Now I just need to add some colored slips… and then RUSH to get them all done in time for my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW on November 23rd & 24th! Giddy-up!

Pulled handles setting-up & stiffening-up just a bit. I want them to be firm enough to handle, not squishy, but still wet enough to alter the curves. By pulling them and looping them over in this way, I establish about 85% of the curve before even attaching! Makes it a lot easier later…

Huge thanks to Rus & the crew at VILLAGE CYCLE CENTER in Old Town for fixing up my bike again. I finally got to pick it up before teaching class last night. They replaced the broken crankset parts… and did a bit of tuning-up at the same time!!! So now I’m all pumped, lubed, tightened, cranked & ready to get back to putting some good miles on my trusty steed. Thanks again Village Cycle Team!!!

Also, thanks to the TREK Bikes Warranty Program that fixed my bike for FREE!!!
This is my third TREK bike… and I’m loyal to the end.

I’m back in the saddle again… and it was well worth the wait! My bike is back, and it felt great to get out this morning for a windy & cloudy ride along the lakefront. For awhile I thought there might just be too many clouds to allow for a colored sky-show… but I was wrong! A wonderful splash of color for just a few minutes before it faded behind the clouds once more. But I still got to pedal… with new & improved, non-broken, pedaling mechanisms!!!

It’s a BIG day for trimming in the studio today. Have I mentioned lately that I LOVE trimming?… especially with great trimming tools from DiamondCore Tools & my Giffin Grip! The perfect trimming combo!!!

Another batch of mugs assembled… handles attached & drying in my studio!

Another favorite task… pulling mug handles! A lot of potters shy away from pulling handles. But the more you make… the better they get. The better they get… the more fun they are to make. The more fun they are… the more mugs you’ll make!!!

Holiday mugs need holiday handles! So here we go…
getting ready to pull a bunch of handles the traditional old-school way.