Another beautiful blue sky day… perfect for pedaling along the lakefront. Getting the miles in & finding new sculptures along the way. I’ve seen the “darker” one several times on the north side during my sunrise rides… but never quite stopped to check it out. And who knew there was a “companion piece” down on the south side too?!

Crazy cool compilations of cast metal animals – stacked, bound, tethered and otherwise defying gravity. Take a moment to try and figure out which animals are in each!!! Both sculptures are by artist Nancy Rubins… thanks for sharing your work on the lakefront!

A few years ago, I went to Colfax with friends to meet sculptor Robert Cumpston at his home & tour his workshop. That was when I was “introduced” to his work… basically building life-sized animals out of rusty farm machinery parts & pieces… and you know how I LOVE rusty metal. \

While I now have quite a Cumpston collection at home, I thought I would pedal through “downtown” Colfax (one street, maybe a dozen buildings?) to see more of his work as I had heard that after his passing, a few of his pieces were donated to the town of Colfax to honor one of their most talented residents. I was hoping for more… as I only found a giraffe and a greyhound!

And sometimes the bird seed just becomes a BUFFET?!!!

Sometimes even the birds need some fun pottery to eat out of…
stamped, soda-fired & seeded…

So have you seen the new breed of Zebras they just got at the Zoo???…
I wonder if this is how Lions visualize the Zebras?!

Looks like another mug has found a comfy home… with a comfy cat!

From Darlene… “Ooo-eee! I love this mug! Thank you Lauren for your kind gift and Thank You Fire When Ready Pottery for making such a great mug! Love the shape, the color, the imprint… ❤❤”

From Lauren… “Cat not included with purchase 😂”

So great to have a little visitor to my porch as the snow was coming down today! I usually get pigeons, doves & sparrows… but today I saw this little Downy Woodpecker having a bite of lunch at the suet feeder on my front porch!

So excited to add two new Cory McCrory ornaments to my Christmas tree this year! Such an adorable addition to my handmade ornament collection! Cory makes amazing pieces handbuilt with paper clay, great textures, fun colors… and always a dash of whimsy!!! I mean… who doesn’t need a chicken and a bunny on their tree?!

And they’re BELLS too!!! That Cory McCrory thinks of everything!!!

One of the funniest collaborations at ART IN THE GARDEN last weekend were the funky chickens made by Cory McCrory & Jill Miller. As artists we love the chance to “play” with another artist to see what happens! I’m sure these two had a great time creating these fantastic creatures… with Jill dyeing the fabric & Cory making the ceramic body parts!!!

Enjoying a little sunshine this afternoon lunching on the Lillstreet Rooftop with my Summer Campers… along with a black swallowtail butterfly who seems to be enjoying his floral lunch as well.