Sure, the day may have been gray & gloomy… but it sure felt AMAZING to get outside to feel just a little “normal” during these tough times. And this bright & cheery mural on my way home was the perfect ending to a perfect run… err, walk-run combo?!

Cheers to the endings of the Pottery Throwdowns!!! The British TV Show aired its finale this week for “The Great Pottery Throw Down.” Click the link below to watch the final episode. Coincidentally, our LILLSTREET THROWDOWN “finale” class was this week also!!! We had a great class, great project, and GREAT FUN!!! More photos & stories to come… until then, see who won the British version!

Click here to watch the final episode on YouTube!

So their FINAL CHALLENGE was to build an entire tea set… based on the Alice In Wonderland stories. They each took a different approach, some more literal, some more whimsical, some more “handmade.”

And yes… HE CRIED AGAIN!!!
We love when Judge Keith breaks into tears…
but at the same time, kinda hate when he breaks into tears!
Enough already… sometimes IT”S JUST CLAY!

No. spoilers here… WHICH POTTER WILL WIN???
Will it be Matt?… or Rosa?… or Jacob?
You’ve got to watch to find out!!!

And yes… one of them will win the “big” POTTERY THROW DOWN trophy!!!

Some smaller wall pieces by metal artist Darlys Ewoldt. Each one perfect it it’s own right… but even “perfect-er” when grouped together. I mean… more is more, right?!

Two AMAZING sculptural metal wall pieces by Darlys Ewoldt… hollow constructed forms with amazing color & patina surfaces. Just one of the talented artists at the Pop-Up Gallery Show this weekend at Space 900 in Evanston.

Just a couple of Sarah Chapman’s sculptural wall pieces… each with an actual pendant necklace that works into it now… but can easily be taken off to wear out as a piece of jewelry!!!

So good to spend time with my talented metalsmith friend Sarah Chapman this afternoon! She was here for a quick Pop-Up Show in Evanston at Space 900. Three talented artists working together to put on this gallery “sculpture” show… Sarah Chapman, Darlys Ewoldt & Steve Skinner.

And then if you’re going to binge-watch two episodes back-to-back, here’s a few pics from this week’s episode of THE GREAT POTTERY THROW DOWN. This episode is The Quarter Finals with their largest handbuilding project where some get “wet & messy”… as well as a little “wet & fussy” decorative spot challenge of underglaze transfer along the way! And then next week is The Final episode… WHOO-HOO!!!

There’s a new sculpture along the lakefront!!! A new Keith Haring piece installed alongside Belmont Harbor. It went in late last Fall, and it’s still surrounded by construction fencing… probably until the memorial gardens are planted this Spring. It’s a large piece… see it in comparison to my bike!!!

And then if you’re going to binge-watch two episodes back-to-back, here’s a few images from this week’s episode of THE GREAT POTTERY THROW DOWN. This episode is The Quarter Finals with their largest handbuilding project where some get “wet & messy”… as well as a little “wet & fussy” decorative spot challenge of underglaze transfers along the way! And then next week is The Final episode… WHOO-HOO!!!

Enjoying a stroll through the West side with a few colorful murals catching my eye… they always make me smile!!! Another mural. Another giggle.