We started out at the studio of Robert Briscoe. Always our first destination. So many great artists all in one location. It’s also the furthest north… and then we work our way down from there. There are seven studio locations on the St. Croix River Valley Pottery Tour… showing 51 artists along the way. It’s a wonderful day of pottery fun with friends, artists & pots!!!

So many great potters… so much great pottery… which only makes me dream…
“Wouldn’t it be GREAT to be one of the invited guest artists of the Minnesota Pottery Tour?”
Of all the locations, Bob Briscoe’s would be my dream location to join the group!!!
The array of work there is wonderful. Closest to my style and yet completely different.
Plus the artists there are all so nice… I would love to “play” with them for a full weekend!
Some day… dare to dream… maybe we need to start a grassroots, write-in campaign???

Bob Briscoe pots… so many everywhere… so many that I would love to take home with me!

Fun to see so many pots… and so many people admiring them. Like this pair admiring the work of Suze Lindsay. It’s a great weekend for potters everywhere… promoting the “culture” of handmade wares by ceramic artists from around the country.

And a welcome “surprise” from Matt Metz with a slight change in his signature style… dark clay with a quick slip-dip before his trademark sgraffito technique.

One of my favorites at the first stop… ceramic banana salt & pepper shakers
by Kent McLaughlin!!!

So many pots… so many textures… so many great ceramic artists in such close proximity.

Fun to get a glimpse behind the tent of my friend & potter Steven Hill… and his box of overstock mugs!!! Especially good to see that there are so many “holes” in the box from those that have already sold!!!

Throughout the day, it was so nice to see so many of the vase hosting beautiful flowers – fulfilling the “destiny” of the vase and its ultimate purpose!

One of the most “shocking & amusing” sights during Day One of the Pottery Tour?… discuss.

Stop #2 on the Minnesota Pottery Tour.
Already did some damage $$$ with Bob Briscoe & Matt Metz.
Now we’re moving on to Steven Young Lee… one of my former teachers!!!

I’m headed up to Minnesota for a fun weekend with friends, family and a LOT of pottery!!! It’s the annual St. Croix River Valley Pottery Tour. Seven studio locations with 51 incredible potters… with TONS of pots for me to see, fondle, covet and possibly add to my collection?! This could be dangerous $$$ ?!

Hard to believe it’s almost time to start up again…
seems like Spring might have finally made it to Chicago?!
Ironic to be talking SUMMER Art Fairs already, huh???

Mark your calendars…
and let’s hope the weather clears up for these art fair weekends.
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Schaumburg Prairie Fine Arts Festival
Saturday, May 24th, 2014 – 10:00am-6:00pm
Sunday, May 25th, 2014 – 10:00am-5:00pm
Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center
201 Schaumburg Court in Schaumburg, Illinois

Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival
Saturday, June 7th, 2014 – 10:00am-6:00pm
Sunday, June 8th, 2014 – 10:00am-5:00pm
Burlington Park on Chicago Avenue between Washington & Garfield Streets
in Hinsdale, Illinois

Evanston Lakeshore Fine Arts Festival
Saturday, August 2nd, 2014 – 11:00am-6:00pm
Sunday, August 3rd, 2014 – 11:00am-6:00pm
Located in Dawes Park along beautiful Lake Michigan
on Sheridan Road between Church & Davis in Evanston, Illinois

Art In The Garden : A Grassroots Art Fair
Saturday, August 30, 2014 – 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday, August 31st – 10:00am-5:00pm
1205 Hutchings Avenue, Glenview, IL 60025
One block west of Waukegan Road, between Lake Street and Glenview Road.
It’s a special weekend to play with My Talented Friends!!!
We’re at the home of metalsmith Amy Taylor, with our other artist friends…
ceramic artist Cory McCrory, metalsmith Carole Axium and photographer John Caruso.

Art In The Barn
Saturday, September 27th, 2014 – 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday, September 28th, 2014 – 10:00am-5:00pm
Located on the grounds (and in the barns) of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
on Route 22 in Barrington, Illinois – Lower Barn E4 & E6

“My Home For The Holidays” Home Show
Saturday, November 22nd, 2014 – 10:00am-6:00pm
Sunday, November 23rd, 2014 – 10:00am-6:00pm
Contact me for invitations & more information…

Today is the SECOND (and final) Holiday Home Show of this year. Yeah!!!
And to celebrate, the first Facebook Fan to stop by my place
and sing the first verse of “Jingle Bells” wins a FREE MUG…
and plenty of warm apple cider to fill it up!!!

My good friend Nancy told her little boy Jimmy that she was coming
to help tomorrow at the Holiday Home Show. He replied…

“Why are you going to help him?  He’s the best artist we know!”

I’d say Jimmy is very wise!  Ha.

Don’t forget that tomorrow is my SECOND Holiday Home Show.
It’s the perfect chance to finish your holiday shopping & relax on my sofa at the same time! We’re open from 10:00am-6:00pm with pots in every room, and a newly replenished “Tired Of Shlepping Sale” on the back porch! Just send me a quick message if you need my home address!

Mark your calendar for next Saturday, December 14th!!!
I’m throwing another Holiday Home Show at my place. With pots in every room so you can finish off your holiday gift shopping! Plus, I’m replenishing the “Tired Of Shlepping Sale”…
and oh, but wait there’s more, offering 20% off Ceramic Masks & Tiled ClayQuilts!!!

“My Home For The Holidays” Second Home Show
Saturday, December 14th – 10:00am-6:00pm
If you need my home address, just let me know!

Tonight I stopped in at the Ceramics Showcase in Evanston. So much fun hanging with a few of “My Talented Friends.” Cory McCrory, Roberta Polfus, Delores Fortuna, Amy Higgason & Mary Dye, Glad I got there when I did, as Delores was running really late and I got to “save the day” by helping her unload & get her space set-up! If you’re looking for some nice pottery this weekend, be sure to stop by Evanston and say “hi” to my friends!

Here’s a quick peek at what I came home with from the Evanston Ceramic Showcase…
wonderful goodies from my friends Cory Mccrory & Delores Fortuna.
I love having Talented Friends!!!

A wonderful tufted & textured goblet by Cory McCrory…

A whimsical, dotted mug by Cory McCrory…

A little party blackbird ornament by Cory McCrory…

And a beautiful dinner plate by Delores Fortuna.
It was actually a “thank you gift” from Delores for helping her out this evening. As she said, it was one of the worst days ever for her… lots of problems, conflicts & personal crises… capped off with a flat tire as she was driving in from Galena.

So there she was, arriving in Evanston “after” the show had already started! Luckily I was there – ready & willing to help. Trying to quickly get her shelving & pots into the room so she could get set up. It wasn’t until I was taking a couple extra plank shelves back out to her van that I ran into a little trouble.. err, well ran into a shelf… literally!!! The plank shelf that I was carrying out was apparently longer “taller” than the door frame I was trying to go through. The plank hit the door frame and stopped… unfortunately, I didn’t stop. Wham!!! I walked right into the plank. Ouch. But I was still trying to get Delores all set up, so I didn’t really think too much about it until I felt a little bit of swelling. It wasn’t until I got home and looked in the mirror that I noticed I might be getting a little shiner!!! Yep… took one for the team!!!

But I digress, back to pottery…
My new Delores plate is a great “partner” to this other Delores Fortuna plate
that I’ve loved using for years! Whoo-hoo… now I have TWO!!!

Looks like ALL of the mugs have been claimed…
and we’re down to the last six ornaments!!!
They’re still looking for a good tree to hang on… yours???

Thank you all for making my first “Happy December Online Sale” a huge success!!!
In fact, this was my very first online sale EVER! I may need to consider doing more of this?
Which means I may need to “get over” my dislike of packing & shipping pottery?!