Well, we’re just a day away from the start of “4×4″ : FOUR MAKERS”… so today is a going to be a very busy day!!! I’ve still got a lot of projects to finish up, as well as setting up my shelving display & teaching class tonight! Our show goes Friday 2-8, Saturday 10-8:30 & Sunday 12-4. But if you decide to stop by on Saturday, it is also the “First Saturdays” of art events in Evanston… so there will be a lot of other galleries & shows around the area to see… AFTER visiting us of course!!!

Mark your calendars now for “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS” next weekend in Evanston, Illinois. It will be another fun showcase with me & three of “My Talented Friends.” Come see works by metalsmith Sarah Chapman, metal sculptor Darlys Ewoldt & fused glass by Robin Kittleson… plus my pottery obviously!!! We’re be doing a pop-up exhibition & sale at Space 900 Gallery on Dempster in Evanston. We’ll be open Friday night 2:00pm-8:00pm, Saturday 10:00am-8:00pm & Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm. We’d love to see you… so come by to see some beautiful art, chat with the artists & maybe even go home with something that makes you smile!

For more a sneak peek at Sarah’s work… click here.

For a sneak peek at Darlys’ work…. click here.

For a sneak peek at Robin’s work… click here.

We’re just one month away from “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS”… and I’ve really got to get my act together in the studio!!! It’s a great pop-up show with some of My Talented Friends… Sarah Chapman, Darlys Ewoldt & Robin Kittleson… giving us a talented metalsmith, sculptor & glass artist in that order!!! Mark your calendars now for the first weekend in March… with more details & photos to come!!!

While it’s still freezing in Chicago, it’s never to soon to start planning a fun pottery adventure for the warmer Spring days! So excited to see the newest poster arrive in my mailbox for the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour up in Minnesota! So much fun to travel around to see pottery studios, potters & beautiful pottery everywhere! I’ll be up there touring & shopping… and you should too! Mark your calendars now…

This weekend at my condo! Pottery & festive fun in every room!
Plus Amy Taylor’s beautiful jewelry. It’s the perfect chance to finish off your holiday shopping list!

Saturday 12/16 & Sunday 12/17 – 10:00am-6:00pm
1353 West Rosemont #3, Chicago, Illinois 60660

So last night my longtime friend & pottery student Kristen had a little “First Dibs” party before launching her pottery website today! As a former metalsmith, it’s been fun watching her work in clay instead of metal. And seeing her skills & designs grow & evolve so quickly. You can tell she’s been listening to my lessons… especially my “More Is More” mantra! Congrats Kristen… so proud of you!!!

I came home with this little brown cup. Which was actually a class demo… that I offered for someone else to finish. Kristen was the first to claim it… and look what she did to my “plain” demo cylinder!!!

You know we potters make mugs… but we also LOVE mugs! And I would say that “most” potters have a mug collection of their own… collecting mugs of friends, teachers & fellow potters from around the world! So it was great to see one of MY mugs “out in the wild”… playing in Marsha’s studio while she’s making mug handles. Kinda Meta… my mug in the studio while she’s making mugs in the studio on Mugshot Monday in Marsha’s studio!

Follow Marsha on Instagram – @marshasclayart

I love having talented friends… and trading art with those “Talented Friends”!!! During ART IN THE BARN last weekend, I struck a great trade with Sandy James! She makes wonderful pieces “Of Nature” by electroforming copper on actual leaves, branches, seed pods, etc. Such an amazing way to capture nature & preserve it forever. I was lucky enough to grab this one… so enamored by the “skeleton” of the decaying leaf being captured in copper… forever!

And who knows… there has even been some discussion of some future collaborations down the road… you know how I LOVE a good collaboration project!!!

For more about Sandy’s beautiful pieces “Of Nature”… click here… https://ofnature.com/

And huge congratulations to my friend Cheryl Holz who won “Best Of Show” at this weekend’s ART IN THE BARN!!! I’ve always loved Cheryl and her amazing multi-media artwork… but this time she really blew it out of the water with this new piece using an old letterpress type drawer! Such an amazing piece… such an amazing talent. You’re the best Cheryl!! Well deserved.

Another huge THANK YOU to all of our loyal customers who came out to our grassroots ART IN THE GARDEN last weekend. Especially those who got there and snatched up some of our one-of-a-kind collaboration projects! Like these black & white sgraffito platters… where I made the porcelain pieces & metalsmith Amy Taylor did the sgraffito doodles. I think they turned out great.. and they all disappeared very quickly!!! So thanks again for supporting your favorite artists!