Cory has been cranking ’em out…

And showing off more & more… little teasers pecking & poking out all over Facebook!!!
Guess I need to start getting my act together if I’m going to be ready to put it all together for “Art In The Garden.” Remember, it’s the last weekend of August… which is coming a lot faster than I would like!!!

Two days of standing around selling artwork can be exhausting. Especially with the day before set-up. Not to mention the endless hours of making all the work, packing & transporting. Well, I had a wonderful booth neighbor who makes beautiful watercolor painting. But later this afternoon… she had had about enough…

Luckily, her husband was there to man the booth while she went down for a quick siesta. Getting ready with a quick “power nap” for the rest of the fair… plus the hours of pack-up and her drive back to St. Louis!!!

Every time you go to an art fair, you have your fingers crossed that you’re going to have good “booth neighbors” when you get there. Always hoping for the best. Friendly, fun, upbeat and making good work. It’s going to be a long weekend if you DON’T have good neighbors. No worries this weekend… I have two good ones!

To my left is Maggie McCarthy and her beautiful watercolors. She’s from St. Louis and made the trip up for the show, as well as hanging out with family and beautiful granddaughter. Her work is very impressionistic & calming. Tranquil settings that make you want to be there. Click here to see more of Maggie McCarthy’s watercolor paintings.

To my right is JD Dennison and his intriguingly altered photography. We first me JD two years ago when he was my neighbor at the Evanston Lakeshore Art Fair when my good friend & metalsmith Sarah Chapman decided to bail on Evanston and go up to Minneapolis instead. JD was quick to snatch up the spot. And this year he was back after a one-year hiatus in Evanston. In fact, he actually requested to be my neighbor again!!!

His photography is pretty slick & contemporary. He uses an intriguing technique that he can describe FAR better than I. But in a nutshell, he takes the photos at night with a flash. Then “inverts” the images so the black darkness turns white, and the “flashed” details of the subject matter turn dark. Kinda crazy. Very cool. Click here to see more of JD Dennison’s photography.

So talented are my neighbors that they BOTH received a Blue Ribbon for “Best In Category.” Maggie won for “Best of Watercolors,” and JD won for “Best of Photography.” Congrats to you both… My Talented Art Fair Neighbors!!!

A half hour until we “officially” open…
and I’ve already made my first artist trade!!!
One less cake plate & more rusty metal coming home!!!
Thank you Joanie from Girly Steel.

Another colorful glimpse into my collaboration with Cory McCrory on some wall pieces for the upcoming “Art In The Garden.” Her pieces made it through the bisque kiln. My bisqued “parts” are currently cooling in the kiln… and soon to be glazed!!!

And speaking of hints…
my co-collaborator Cory McCrory has revealed a “sneak-peek” in color!!!
She’s such a tease!!!

It’s official. We even have REAL postcards!!!
“Art In The Garden” coming soon to Glenview, Illinois.
Mark your calendars for August 30th & 31st to play with five talented friends.
More details to come…

In the backyard garden of my metalsmith friend Amy Taylor.
“Art In The Garden” : A Grassroots Art Fair
1205 Hutchings Avenue, Glenview, Illinois 60025
Saturday, August 30th – 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday, August 31st – 10:00am-5:00pm

My friend Cory McCrory has “released” two more glimpses into the collaboration project we’re working on. So much fun to see our “plan” coming together… with more to be revealed over the next few days!!!

A wonderful “teaser two-fer” from Cory McCrory today!!!

You know how I love to hear from my blog followers…
especially when they have such great stories to share!

Another satisfied apron customer, fellow potter and friendly blog follower…
“I have scoured the Internet for aprons that are wide enough to really wrap around and long enough to cover knees when sitting at the wheel. Finally found a special chef’s apron but it still doesn’t quite meet my needs.”

Then she purchased one of my Mom’s aprons, and seemed to like it…
“Great apron. I particularly like the ingenious overlapping slot on the front. I’ve also figured out a way to “crawl” into it so I only button once. I’m afraid to wash it, don’t want it to shrink. It’s my Mother’s Day present. Very special.”
By the way Verna, you can totally wash it…
the fabric was pre-washed & pre-shrunk before sewing!