The old-school traditional way. But then I like to loop them over onto themselves… so that the majority of the curve is already established as they start to stiffen up before attachment.

Got some clay nuggets here… ready to go… time to start pulling some handles!!!
And yes, contrary to popular opinion… I do love making handles.

Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE trimming?! Well I do… so this was a fun time trimming all of these mug bottoms!!! And yes… I do hand-sign the bottoms of every piece.

This week in our LILLSTREET THROWDOWN class, I challenged my students to replicate three distinct forms in one hour. They had sixty minutes to make all three. And they couldn’t move the examples off the table. With very little guidance, it was fun for me to watch how each of them approached the task differently. Most quickly jumped on the wheel… one handbuilt them all… yet size & shape were still a challenge for everyone. But it was the “oval” vase that proved to be the real challenge. With a wide range of “success”… some used the wheel while others handbuilt the shape. It was a great challenge for everyone.

Although I will say, I was a little “disappointed” that no one thought to paint them all with the new orange slip we have in the classrooms now! Given another five or ten minutes, maybe someone would have gotten there?! I mean… the examples were ORANGE, right?!

Lots of shamrocks popping up in the studio today! Well on my way to this year’s batch of Shamrock Mugs!!! Trimming & handles coming soon…

With just about a month until St. Patrick’s Day…
gotta get stamping if we’re going to have mugs in time!!!

Yummy start to the day… a fresh bakery scone on a Cory McCrory plate!!!
So bright, so fun, so Sunday!!!

Little textured nuggets ready for a bisque kiln!

Hard to believe we’re just two weeks away from “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS”… the last Friday of February & two days into March! I’ve got a lot to finish, glaze & fire before then. Luckily it’s dry & warm in the studio today… good reason to stay inside to keep working!!!

From up in the frozen tundra of Stevens Point, Wisconsin… looks like Matthew braved the elements to get some yummy treats. Turns out he found Chinese OREOs… surprisingly thin, but I’m sure tasty nonetheless! Thanks for sharing your OREO adventure… looks yummy with a glass of milk!!!