So I had a bit of regret for NOT snagging a fun new mug from Breana Ferreira during the Friday Night Opening Party in Aurora for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. But then I saw small table at Lillstreet with a pop-up moving sale as Breana is moving to Tennessee for a new artist residency. So I scored this great little mug… for a great “moving sale” price!!! Loving the textures & colors!!!

You can check-out more of Breana’s work on her Instagram… @brebreanam

Last Friday night, My Talented Friend Cheryl Holz had an Opening Reception in Aurora… right around the corner from the Opening Reception for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR at the Aurora location. Coincidentally on the same night, but a great chance to see her wonderful work hanging on the gallery walls. I love her work… the colors, the textures, the multi-media collages, and now… oh, but wait there’s more... hand-sculpted, three-dimensional birds perched inside her paintings!

For more about Cheryl’s paintings… https://cherylholz.com/

Even more coincidental… Cheryl took a workshop with Deana Bada Maloney to learn how to sculpt & paint the birds… and Deana was showing her ceramic masterpieces at the Sandwich location of the Pottery Tour too!!! Small world, huh?!

And not only was Cory a great host for the pottery tour weekend… but I also came home with two of her plates that I bought to add to my Cory McCrory Collection!!! And, the artists all got a loaf of homemade sourdough bread as a lovely parting gift… and I “might” have come home with three… allegedly…

SPECIAL THANKS to everyone who came out to Sandwich this past weekend for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR! We had a great time at Stop #6… selling pots, chatting with pottery fans & hanging out with some of my talented pottery friends… Cory, Kenyon, Lindsey, Natalie, Deana & Tanvvi! Always fun to share my pottery passion with like-minded pottery peeps!

And huge THANKS to Cory McCrory who was the best host ever! She hosted & welcomed everyone to her home-studio for the Tour. Even her family pitched in to make the event smooth for everyone. So special thanks to John, Aiden & Rory too!!!

A fun day to celebrate one of our potter friends at the Sandwich location of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. Sure, his birthday may have been yesterday… but feel free to stop by tomorrow & sing “Happy Birthday” to him!!!

Just days away!!! The NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR is this weekend. I’ll be at the Sandwich location out in the far west suburbs. I would start there & work your way back towards the Chicago to get the full “tour” experience. There are seven ceramic artists at our location… functional, whimsical, decorative, sculptural, traditional, textural & so much more. A little of everything!!! Mark your calendar, set the GPS, pack some snacks… and have fun roadtrippin’ around The Tour this weekend!

Just a quick reminder that this weekend is the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. I am returning this year as a Guest Artist at my friend Cory McCrory’s home-studio in Sandwich, Illinois. We’ve got a great group of artists in Sandwich… so I think it makes sense to start the day with us, and then work your way back at the other studio stops along The Tour. Hit all of the locations to see a LOT of pottery next weekend. Hope to see you there!

Big CONGRATULATIONS to my friend & pottery student Martin Sorge who announced today that he’s officially writing & publishing his first cookbook! If you recall, he was also the WINNER of “The Great American Baking Show” last year… which of course we celebrated in our pottery class with a lot of yummy baked treats! Congrats again Martin… we can’t wait to see your cookbook!!!

Oh yeah… and thanks for showing off that fancy stamped cake plate! It was the “prize” I made for Martin… before we found out he had won the real “trophy” cake plate!!!

Be sure to follow Martin on Instagram… @martinsorge

Lookey-lookey!!! The new postcards & posters have arrived! I just got my stash of marketing materials for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. So excited to be returning to the Tour as a guest potter at my friend Cory’ McCrory’s studio in Sandwich, Illinois. Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 8th & Sunday, June 9th and plan for a full day or two of pottery fun! Drive the Tour from studio to studio… visiting artist and seeing a LOT of great pottery!!

For more Tour information… check out the website here!

Looks like it’s Cookie Time at “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS.” Sweet treats to make us all very smiley! Thanks to our friend Nicole for bringing us some yummy goodies from Tag’s Bakery in Evanston.