C’mon now, so who DOESN’T love a good doughnut?
Well, there’s a great installation of “glazed” doughnuts currently in The Gallery of Lillstreet Art Center. The non-edible treats were created by Jae Yong Kim. Each one more yummy than the next!!! My Beginning Wheel class got a little “sneak peek” at them as Gallery Director Brian was installing the collection. My stomach has been grumbling over them ever since!

Some even have “sprinkles” which are REAL Swarovski crystals!!!

If you would like to see them in person, there is a Closing Reception tomorrow evening in the Gallery. And then sadly, the doughnuts will most likely be packed up and shipped off this weekend. So you’ve only got a few days left to see them. Be sure to swing by after seeing all of the crazy-cool art at SOFA Chicago this weekend!!!

Another great clay creature on the student “Brag Shelf” at Lillstreet last night.
Someone is making adorable little monsters!

A simple drawing of a simple glass of water.
Oh wait… maybe not so simple!!!

Such as wonderful talent to be able to draw like this.
Wish I could, but they didn’t teach me this in art school.

Click here for the amazing video of this guy drawing!

Just one more Halloween pumpkin. This one from the talented hands of Mike Skiercsh . It’s the first in a new annual Limited Edition series of Jack-O-Lantern tiles. A very cute addition to my Halloween decor… and I can’t wait to add to the collection every year!!! This one is #13 of 50. I hope to collect “lucky number 13” every year!!!

For more on Mike and his beautiful handmade tiles & installations,
click here for the Skiersch Studio website.

At the “glitter gig” today we had a bunch of floral come back from yesterday’s events. Sadly, most of the flowers were destined for the dumpster. Except for the ones that I “saved”… and brought to the studio to share with my studio neighbors! A great surprise for three of my neighbors… and a great way to make a vase’s true destiny come to fruition!

In my studio, I now have some structural orange Asiatic lilies… hanging out in a stamped & soda-fired oval vase. Surprise huh?… you know orange is my favorite color. So of course I kept these ones for myself.

And a second group with some red roses in another stamped oval. I love the layered “organization” of a rose as it opens. Some structural repetition… sound familiar?

Over in Lisa Harris‘ studio, I used one of her rectangular footed box vases for an autumnal collection of roses, mums and kale. For more about Lisa’s work, click here.

In the corner, Karen Patinkin got a collection of vibrant red roses. Perfect for one of her porcelain vases with intricate glazing & decoration. For more about Karen’s work, click here.

And Cathi Schwalbe now has a medley of Fall flowers in one of her handmade tumblers. Mums, roses, flowering kale and some seeded eucalyptus. For more about Cathi’s work, click here.

So much fun to see a great splash of color in my neighbor’s studios. Knowing that the flowers should have been in the dumpster by now, but instead now get a “new life” in some beautiful handmade vases!

Possibly the last of the back porch flowers in a beautiful new wood-fired mug by Simon Levin. Just one of the hundred mugs he offered up as a “perk” in his recent Kickstarter campaign. ‪#‎mugshotmonday‬

For more on Simon Levin’s work, click here for his website – www.simonlevin.com

Last night was the “Benefit For Eric” at Lillstreet Art Center.
One of our own Lillstreet Community who is battling brain cancer and incurring a ton of hospital bills. The prognosis isn’t very good, but it was quite uplifting to see so many people pull together for this special cause. It was a nice event in the Lillstreet Gallery with food, drink, raffles and Silent Auction with all proceeds going towards Eric’s mounting medical expenses.

Luckily, I came home from the event with this beautiful woodfired bowl by Simon Levin. One last bid in the Silent Auction at “just the right time” and I was the proud winner of this stunning bowl. Thank you Simon for donating this bowl to the Silent Auction… so that I could add yet another one of your pieces to my collection! And help a good cause at the same time.

So wee more of Simon Levin’s beautiful wood-fired pottery, click here for his website.

So what would happen if two of my favorite things came together???
Pottery AND Reality TV.

Well, it looks like it’s about to happen over “on the other side of the pond.”
Seems like there’s a new Reality TV show brewing with potters as contestants.
Not sure of the details, or if we can see i there in the States, but… I’m in !!!

Click here for the preview commercial on YouTube!

Look what showed up on my shelving at ART IN THE GARDEN today?!
No one has claimed responsibility for the placard… but it’s OBVIOUSLY someone who knows me very well.

I narrowed it down… I know it showed up sometime on Saturday.
I thought it might be our host & metalsmith Amy Taylor’s doing as she has seen me at MANY an art fair always barefoot. She claimed no knowledge. Next up?… Cory McCrory. She too claimed no responsibility, but did fess up that she saw who did it. So I’m not positive… but I do think I’ve narrowed it down to one of my good “groupies”. Let me just say her name starts with a J… and rhymes with Trudy. I’m just sayin’…

And I’m saying THANK YOU!!!
It was a rough weekend personally and this little slice of whimsy brought a smile to my face. It reminded me that even though we’re currently dealing with some family health issues, there are so many good people out there to bring a smile & share a hug. This little warm fuzzy came at just the right time.

Okay, so I mentioned other ART IN THE GARDEN artist collaborations…
here’s another little glimpse to whet your whistle…