Thank You… Thank You… THANK YOU!!!

I couldn’t be more thankful to all of the people that made my Alaska Adventure possible up in Fairbanks earlier this summer. I had the best time experiencing Alaska… and getting there to teach a two-day workshop for the Fairbanks Potters Guild was a “great excuse” to go to Alaska. So huge, HUGE THANKS… and a couple Thank You gifts that followed…

To Theresa who scheduled, organized, facilitated, chauffeured & tour guided my whole experience. She literally took a week off work to take me all around Alaska to see the sights on her own time. Amazing. So I hope she enjoys adding a teapot to her collection!

To Tammy & Matt who hosted the workshop at her Raven City Studios, provided a LOT of clay, plenty of tools, hosted dinners & even took me hiking!

And to Ida… my favorite! I told her while I was here that I believe every studio should have their own Ida. She obviously has more ceramics knowledge than any of us. She was a steady “support” for me with her knowing glances, her nods of approval, her offering assistance & overall making me feel like I was doing a good job throughout my workshop experience. I’m guessing she’s the matriarch of the group… an probably doesn’t always get the accolades as she should. So there… YOU’RE THE BEST IDA!!!

It has also been fun after teaching my workshop in Fairbanks, Alaska… to see some of the glazed results of the local potters there. Like these beauties from Bianca of WILLOW STUDIOS in Ester, Alaska. Many of them with some nice stamping & one hybrid mug using one of my favorite textured rollers from MKM Pottery Tools. It was so much fun to share my techniques… but even more fun to see them carry on into finished pottery! Nicely done Bianca!!!

Hard to believe that it has already been three months since my Alaskan adventure!

Traveling to Fairbanks to teach a two-day workshop with the Fairbanks Potters Guild. We had such a great weekend playing in the clay together. It was such a great group of potters all ready to share ideas, tips & tricks! We had a great time… and I’m looking forward to “taking my show on the road” more often in the future.

If anyone else is looking for a Chicago potter to come to your studio, art center or pottery guild… keep me in mind! We made so many pots in just two days. We made stamps… made mugs… made platters… made bowls… and made memories for a lifetime!

Just finished doing a bit of quick garden work… a tiny clean-up before the bad weather hits tomorrow! Back porch plants safely tucked away in the basement… and I pulled off the last of my yellow cherry tomatoes before chopping down the plant. Kinda hoping a few more of these will ripen in a sunny window??!

With a weekend forecast of dropping temperatures, arctic winds & our first snowfall… I sadly believe that this is my final dahlia of the year! They had a good run… but Winter is coming… and starting this weekend?!!! ugh.

Enjoying what could be the end of our Fall colors with a dicey weekend weather forecast… that might even include some snow?!!! But for today, this sumac bush is really showing off in all of its Autumn glory!!!

A new “forest” of Christmas Trees has been growing in my studio lately. Now with stars on the tops of some of them… this batch is ready to dry, bisque, glaze & fire again. Still a few steps to cover before they’re ready for my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW on November 22nd & 23rd. Mark your calendars…

We knew that the running streak of stunning sunrises couldn’t last forever… but what we lacked in stunning, may have been made up for with a few great splashes?!!!

Last night in our pottery class, we had another international journey of OREOs… this time Lemon Pie Flavor. At least according to Google translate. We couldn’t really tell as there wasn’t much lemon flavor… let alone any citrus vibe?! I’d like a little more zesty flavor with a “lemon” cookie. Thanks to Andrew for bringing them in for the class to try!