Celebrating another MUGSHOT MONDAY with some quick peeks at some of my new “hybrid mugs” that came out of my latest soda firing. So pleased with the results… although I still need to clean & prep some of them before they head out. I need to fulfill a few orders & prepare for my next art fair in July in Glenview!!!

Just a reminder … groovy cool textures made with handrollers from the folks at MKM Pottery Tools!

Today was my first day of Summer Camp!!!
You know it’s my favorite thing!!!
I mean, what could be better than being “entertained” by kids all day
while playing with clay making cool projects on the wheel?!

This week it’s back-to-back Wheelthrowing Camps… with pre-teens in the morning & teens in the afternoon. My “Summer Camp Tour of Duty” has officially begun at Lillstreet Art Center!!! Giddy-up…

On a clear day… you can see forever!
And today was one of those says with not a cloud in the sky!!!
Sure, still a lot of heat & humidity… but no clouds!!!

When I came into the studio today, I intended to make more pots. But then saw my huge pile of reclaimed clay sitting there waiting for me. So I decided today was the day to finish processing my reclaim.

First I chunked it up into blocks.

Then I cut thin slices & layered them with slices of fresh new clay & slightly dried clays. I’m not to particular… any high-fire clay can be layered in. It’s a great way to “use up” any partial bags of clay… as well as intermingling it with drier & wetter clays. A lot of slicing & stacking.

Then I tackle each pile by slicing it in half vertically… stacking it tall & slamming it down on the table. Let gravity do some of the work. Slice it, stack it, pound it, repeat. Eventually the layers get thinner & thinner. Doing a lot of blending for you.

Close enough for now… into bags to store my new batch of clay. I’ll do some real wedging when I start using the clay. All mixed. All blended. After all… IT’S JUST CLAY!!!

In the studio today… soaking up some much needed air conditioning!!!

Surviving the heat… enjoying a little flicker of sun.
This is a new clematis in my garden… “new” as in the second year,
but the first year with flowers!!! So pretty…

Burning through the haze! We greeted the morning with warm temps & humidity… with a layer of haze hanging low on the horizon. It took awhile for the sun to work its way through the haze… as I could feel the temps rising quickly already as I was pedaling. It’s going to be another hot one today!!! Stay safe.

So it’s been a hot-minute since I unloaded my soda kiln…
and a very HOT day today!!! But I digress…

So I’m finally getting around to sharing some photos from this latest firing. You know MUGS are my favorite thing to make… and these turned out great with fun colors & flashing marks!

Another early start for another beautiful sunrise. Thought I should get in some miles before the heat kicks in… as we’re supposed to be getting a little burst of a heatwave for the next few days… starting today!!! The heat & humidity is coming… hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!!!

With a bit of a “chocolate hangover” from last night… it felt great to get outside for a cool morning along the lake. All the while knowing that the temperatures are going up quickly for the next few days. But I’ll take it where I can… beautiful this morning!!!