So I saw a pretty great video on Facebook. I don’t do a lot of painting on my own work… but I can tell that this is pretty impressive. I love the attention-to-detail and manual dexterity. Love the patterns & designs. And I’m TOTALLY intrigued by the “glazing with a pastry bag” technique shown here. Pretty cool.

Click here for the video on Facebook.
Unfortunately, the page is originally in Arabic and I can’t find an artist reference?!

Here’s a great time-lapse video of a very large pot from start to finish. From throwing the base, building it up layer by layer, a coating of slip and then some pretty impressive carving. I love to watch people working. And apparently these large, beautifully decorated pots are the hallmark of North Carolina potter Kate Johnston. Her work looks incredible… might just “need” to make the trip down to Seagrove soon for all of its pottery riches!!!

And a quick side-note to my students…
We will NOT be using blow torches in class!!! Just sayin’…

Click here for the video on Facebook.
And click HERE to see more works by Kate Johnston of Seagrove, North Carolina.

And done… for now anyways. I’m sure there is still some glazing to come?!

For those of you who may have missed MUD & METAL this past Saturday, here’s a quick glimpse of the beautiful metalwork by Amy Taylor. She had quite a few beautiful pieces in my dining room!!! If you’re still looking for holiday gifts, be sure to check out her website or shop on her Etsy page.

Website : http://amytaylorjewelry.com
Etsy : https://www.etsy.com/shop/hingedjewelry

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by my place yesterday
for the MUD & METAL Holiday Home Show. Me the MUD… Amy the METAL.

We had so much fun playing with so many great people!!! I love knowing that so many pieces are going to good homes, whether as holiday gifts to the loved ones on your list, or to yourselves!!! Special thanks to my friend & talented metalsmith Amy Taylor for joining me again this year. Her work is amazing, she’s so much fun to play with… and I came away with a few new pieces in my “Amy Collection”!!!

Apparently my friend Amy Taylor has been making more than just pendants for our collaboration project. Now there are some new “mud & metal” bracelets in the mix too!!! Be sure to stop by my condo this Saturday 12/12 for MUD & METAL. There will be a limited number of collaboration pieces available… all being revealed Saturday morning!!!

That Amy Taylor is such a tease!!! We can “almost” see what she’s been doing on our collaboration project. Remember, the BIG REVEAL is this Saturday at my place for our annual MUD & METAL Collaborative Holiday Home Show from 10:00am-6:00pm. She’s only making a few… so come early to snatch one up!!!

So my friend Amy Taylor and I have been collaborating on a few pieces… with their BIG DEBUT scheduled for this Saturday 12/12 at my condo for “MUD & METAL : A Collaborative Holiday Home Show”… appropriately named, huh?

Well, anyway… I finished my part of the project, and now Amy is faced with the deadline of finishing in time for this weekend’s big sale. Here’s a quick peek at her part “the metal” … which ironically kinda looks like mud until she polishes it?!

Just showing of “My Talented Friend” Amy Taylor… and her amazing metalwork.
She’ll be joining me this Saturday 12/12 at my place for the Second Holiday Home Show : MUD & METAL. Her work is amazing and it would be the perfect holiday gift for that special someone… or yourself for that matter!

She even has these wonderfully whimsical characters…. they’re ADORBS!!!
Each with a different wacky expression. Some wide-eyed. Some smirking.
I love mine. It makes me smile every time I wear him.

Be sure to stop by my place this Saturday, December 12th between 10:00am-6:00pm.
MUD & METAL : A Collaborative Holiday Home Show
1353 West Rosemont #3, Chicago, Illinois 60660 in the Edgewater Neighborhood

And did I mention that there will be a VERY limited quantity of collaboration pieces???… yep, come see what happens when a potter and a jeweler combine forces and work together!!!

Click here for even more of a preview of Amy’s amazing work.

If you live in the Chicagoland area, and would rather shop in person…
skip the online sale tomorrow morning!!!

Mark your calendar for NEXT Saturday, December 12th and my Second Holiday Home Show. We’re only a couple weeks away from Christmas so it’s the perfect time to check some names off your holiday gift list. “MUD & METAL” will feature my pottery, as well as beautiful, handmade jewelry by my friend Amy Taylor. There will even be a few collaboration pieces merging both MUD & METAL!!!

Click here to see more of Amy Taylor’s beautiful metalwork.

‘Tis the season... to support the local artists, your neighborhood businesses and other small stores who are part of your local community. Shop direct with the maker. Make their holiday more successful, and your holiday gifts more meaningful. Those “big box stores” won’t be selling wonderful one-of-a-kind, handmade products. Your local artists & craftsmen will be.

We appreciate your business. We appreciate your support. Thank you.