Assembled… now with handles! This latest batch of hybrid mugs finally all have handles… thus making them MUGS!!! I’m a firm believer that a “mug” by this potter’s definition must have a handle!!! So they’re all attached & ready to “relax” a little under some plastic overnight… before I come back to touch them up a bit more before drying.

Here they are… a bunch of handles pulled and almost ready to go! I like to loop them over like this so they can set-up for awhile before attaching. I want them to be soft & malleable… but not sticky & squishy. Plus, the loop sets-up most of the handle’s curve for later when it goes onto the mug!

And here we go… this is how my mug handles begin!
Little wedged clay nuggets ready to be pulled the traditional way!

HAPPY EASTER to everyone who celebrates… and HAPPY SPRING to the rest of us!
So pretty now that Spring has made it to Chicago with flowers starting to bloom around my neighborhood. Let’s hope these magnolias hang around for at least a few more days!

Clear skies with a chilled breeze coming in off the lake. Luckily, that big low-flying cloud mass that was moving up from the south didn’t quite make it in time to overtake the sunrise… I was waiting for it... as it kept creeping closer & closer…

This week in my SURFACE DECORATION class, we tackled stamping & sprigging. I showed them the basics of how I approach a pot, how try emphasize the shape & geometry of the pot with my stamps… and the most important part… how to stamp! Sure, not rocket-science, but there are a few tricks!!! I did my demos and then set them loose… with their own stamps they had made the week before, as well as some of my collection. Many of them had made their “homework” pieces to work on, but I was glad I had a made a bunch too so they had more to “play” with! I tried to emphasize how stamping can become addictive… and they heard the mantra more than once…

MORE IS MORE!!!

Hybrid mugs moving along! Trimmed the bottoms today on the wheel. You know how much I LOVE trimming & a good footring!!! Gives everything a sense of style & refinement.

White to black… and black to white. Just playing with some fun ombre’ blended slip colors. And then a little squiggling & chattering to add to the surface decoration & textures!

It’s another Floral Friday… this time with an oval vase full of orange tulips gracefully cascading to the side. I love how oval vases allow the flowers to spread more side-to-side… and not always so vertical like in normal vases. A little stamping… a little soda-firing… and a little soda flashing on “raw” unglazed B-Clay!!!

Beautiful clear skies except for a layer of clouds hanging low on the horizon. The temps were surprisingly warm & humid… totally feels like a nice Spring day. Although the clouds will be moving in later with a prediction of rain for this evening. But I’ll take it… a beautiful start and then some of those proverbial “Spring Showers.” And you know what those bring?!!!!