What do you do with a bunch of beautiful vintage buttons?!

Well, come to my condo this weekend to find out!!!
It’s my Second Holiday Home Show. And my talented friend Rhonda Gurgone will be there with her fantastic jewelry made with antique buttons. Plus she knows the history & story of every button!!! Crazy cool, right???

With fresh snow yesterday morning…
it was perfect timing for some reindeer to arrive at Navy Pier!
Up close & personal with my new antlered friends!!!

Looks like the Elves are getting a little crazy on their Shelf… the liquor shelf!!!
Can’t wait to see what else they get into up in Stevens Point… thanks to Matthew & Kristy!!!

Anyone else have mischievous Elves this season playing with my pottery?!
Send me photos!!!… gary@firewhenreadypottery.com

Spent the afternoon today at the ONE OF A KIND SHOW downtown at the Merchandise Mart… helping My Talented Friend Sarah Chapman in her booth. She makes the most incredible jewelry… each piece completely handmade & one of a kind. Well better again tomorrow until 5:00pm. Be sure to stop by Booth 2118 to say “Hi.”

And take a second to really look at the last necklace with the seashell. I asked Sarah how the real seashell in that pendant got all glittery? And then I hit a full lesson… and it got glittered during the fossilization process!!! Who knew?… and that’s a REAL fossilized seashell. Totally cool.

Can’t make it tomorrow?… you can always check her website at www.chapmanmetals.com

It was a very productive evening. Lots of strings on LOTS of ornaments & gift tags. Lots of replenishment for next weekend’s Second Holiday Home Show! And lots of laughs chatting it up tonight during Lillstreet’s Holiday Open House.

Lots of patterns & textures made with some of my MKM Pottery Tools.

In between chatting with festive Lillstreet shoppers, I’m trying my best to stay focused & stay busy! Adding gold strings to a fresh batch of ornaments & gift tags. Replenishing for next weekend’s “BOWLS & BUTTONS Holiday Home Show” at my condo!

LILLSTREET HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE is tonight from 5:00pm-8:00pm
I’m in my studio ready to help you with your holiday shopping.
I have plenty of MUGS for everyone. Be sure to stop by!

Lillstreet Art Center
4401 North Ravenswood at Montrose – Studio 205 West… on the second floor
Chicago, Illinois 60640

Coming soon… another HOLIDAY HOME SHOW for those who need to do a little last-minute holiday shopping! I’m restocking the pottery shelves & prepping for another go-round. And this time I will also have a jeweler friend of mine joining me. Rhonda Gurgone makes her jewelry out of antique buttons from around the world. And she knows the history of every button… most of them over a hundred years old!!! So mark your calendars… and start making your holiday gift shopping lists!

Looks like Emily has been knitting up some much needed warmth these days!!!
Glad my yarn bowl can be there to help… thanks for the photo Emily!

Looks like “someone” (me) might have forgotten to move the pumpkins & gourds before the snowfall??? Looks they might live here for awhile now?… oh well !!!