As part of the Sculpture Show in Evanston this weekend, another one of “My Talented Friends” was showing off her sculptural work too. Darlys Ewoldt makes these amazing metal sculptures… hollow forms assembled & colored. I have no real concept of how she makes metal do this… but they are always crazy cool forms that draw you right into them! For more work by Darlys, click on her website at www.darlysewoldt.com

So much fun to spend time with one of “My Talented Friends” today… as metalsmith Sarah Chapman was part of a sculpture show this weekend in Evanston. I had the chance to swing by today to see Sarah with some of her newest work, sculptural pieces & beautiful jewelry. To see more of Sarah’s amazing metal work, click on www.chapmanmetals.com

Looks like Rhonda has brought in some fresh basil from the garden… washed it off in a handmade berry bowl and getting ready to make something YUMMY!!!

Thanks for sharing your “freshly-cleaned produce” Rhonda!

Looks like the new Lillstreet soda kiln is coming along quite nicely… brick by brick. Thanks to Doug Jeppesen & Neil Estrick for working on our kiln for us!

Just received a new carved rolling pin from Elaine Diamond at Vermont Pottery Works @epdiamond! Ready to give it a test run!!! It worked great… with nice crisp lines & patterns. But I kinda like the overlapping & interaction of patterns… so I embellished a bit more with two other rollers. More is more, right?!

For more about these carved rolling pins, click here to check out Elaine’s website!

So I got this really nice message a couple days ago from one of my Instagram Followers. She has been doing a little “stamping” of her own… dabbling with the textured stamp addiction! It was so nice to hear from Lori and to see a few of her stamped pieces. Looks like she’s off to a great start. Keep up the good work Lori… remember, MORE IS MORE!!!

“You have been an inspiration for my own artwork and I have a few pieces of stamped work on them but need to post them up. I had a blast following your blog post for about 4 years while I had studied ceramics at Sul Ross State University. I even did a contemporary ceramic artist presentation about your stamped pot designs, the process of soda fire, and the Christmas ornaments you make.” – @loriyugen

Well, it’s Day Three of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR… the final day… and there’s still plenty of time to curb your pottery addiction! Twenty-one ceramic artists with a wide range of styles, techniques & aesthetics. You can find them all through the Pottery Tour website… www.northernilpotterytour.com

And if you want to add some of my stamped & textured pottery to your collection, you can always go directly to my new ETSY SHOP… www.etsy.com/shop/firewhenreadypottery

So today is the final day of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. We’ve had a great weekend with 21 potters, studio demos & lots of pottery for everyone! Don’t forget that you can still check-out all of the potters on the Pottery Tour website… and my brand new ETSY SHOP is always open with perfect gift ideas for yourself & all of the other pottery lovers in your life! Giddy-up!!!… www.etsy.com/shop/firewhenreadypottery

It’s Day Two of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR… plenty of time to check-out all of the potters & today’s free demos on ZOOM. And don’t forget that my brand new ETSY SHOP is now open with lots of stamped pottery for everyone. Pottery make perfect gifts for friends, family & especially yourself!!! – www.etsy.com/shop/firewhenreadypottery

The NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR is now officially underway… and these two mugs were the first to fly out of my new ETSY SHOP!!! Thank You!!!

Be sure to check-out all of the Pottery Tour details, links to all twenty-one Potters & register for free studio demos today & tomorrow on the website… mine is tonight at 8:00pm!!! www.northernilpotterytour.com