Six hundred posts… and still going strong!
Thanks for sticking with me and “suffering through” some of my ramblings.
Fun & production in the studio, my life as an artist, inspirations, updates…
and those incessant bike sunrise photos!!!

I wonder at what point will my “snail-mail” postcard mailing list become obsolete?…
and I can switch everything over to e-mail, blog & Facebook?! Will that day ever come?
Or do some people still look forward to tradtional postcards of art fair listings?

I know my gut tells me that I should continue designing, printing & mailing postcards.
I think that they are important. I think customers like them. I think people keep them.
I know my Mom keeps cards from her favorite artists on her refrigerator all summer!

But then as I’m updating mail lists, sticking on labels, buying postage stamps, etc…
I keep wondering if it’s all necessary?! E-mails are free. Facebook is the current
“favorite” in social networking. This blog is my personal favorite. So… what to do?
Not everyone is on Facebook. Not everyone is willing to give you their e-mail. And I
have a LOT of names & addresses in my old-fashioned mailing list. It’s a tough decision –
and I’m not sure there’s ever going to be a clear-cut answer. So until then, I guess I’ll
keep doing all of them?! So back to the computer & more mail list updates…

Keep up-to-date with instant updates from Fire When Ready Pottery on Facebook.
You’ll be linked into events, shows, projects, summer camp recaps, random musings
and a few of my sunrise bike shots along the way! It’s just three simple steps…

1. Click on this link:  www.facebook,com/FireWhenReadyPottery.com
2. Find the “Like” button up by the name of my company.
3. Click the “Like” button… and you’ve just become a Fan.

It’s that easy… and thank you!

Four hundred blog posts, and still going strong!
If you like what you see…
be sure to share it with your friends!

Hook ’em up with www.FireWhenReadyPottery.com

Say it isn’t so… “Fire When Ready Pottery”
is finally on FACEBOOK.

I’ve been very slow to hop on the Facebook bandwagon due to my own cynical,
pessimistic and sometimes curmudgeony opinions of it. But it’s time to get over that, huh?!
It seems like the entire world is now conversing on Facebook – and I don’t want to be left out.

So I’ve started a Facebook page for “Fire When Ready Pottery.”
Do a quick search and then become a Fan… err, I guess it changed recently to “Like.”
Now you just need to click on “LIKE” and it’s the same thing as becoming a Fan.
You’ll get some of the quickest & latest updates on some of the things going on in my world.
But don’t give up on this blog… this will always be my “favorite child.”

Three hundreds posts – and still going strong!!!
Now if I could just manage to get those abs too…

167 posts… 69 comments… and my rambling blog is now one year old!!!
Lots of pots… lots of thoughts… a few summer camps… plenty of biking adventures!
Thanks for sticking with me… I’ve had a lot of fun!
And they said it would never last…

So she’s starting a new chapter… leaving Chicago… leaving Lillstreet…
and beginning the next phase of her “dream plan” up in Minneapolis!
And she will be greatly missed… as a friend, as a potter, as my studio neighbor!

Today was Emily’s official moving date – from Chicago to Minneapolis.
She’s moving up north – along with her boyfriend Ian, sister Nora and her two
little boys. They’ve purchased an old duplex, done some extensive renovations
and are now ready to move in. Unfortunately, her new studio & kiln have not been
built yet… so we’re not quite sure when she’ll be up & running.

Over the past few years, Emily has been “just around the corner” of my studio…
for clay advice, design opinions, business methods, and more. She has been a full-time
potter for several years – and always supportive of my choice to go the same route!
She also taught the soda firing classes at Lillstreet, as well as coordinating the program.
So she was quite influential in my soda-firing adventures. Our emphasis on functional pots
is much the same – but our styles have always been quite different. Emily prefers natural
soda flashings, colored slips layered to create crackling & textures and sprayed glazes.
She has a more painterly style, emphasizing brush strokes & geometric designs.

Emily was also the one who championed the whole “you need a website”
project – and forced, err, “encouraged” me to start this blog. Her own blog has become
quite popular in the pottery circles… and she knew that starting a blog would be right
up my alley. Sharing photos, sharing stories, all about me, me, me!!!

So thanks for checking out MY blog… and thanks to Emily for getting me started…
and now you can check out her blog to see where it all began!!! And see where her
new adventure takes her as she re-establishes herself in the Twin Cities!
www.potteryblog.com

The pots are being fired… the new business cards just arrived…
and the white tent is being dusted off to kick off the new season.
It’s time to start getting ready for this summer’s tour of art fairs!!!
Starting next weekend…

Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival
Saturday, May 23rd & Sunday, May 24th – Memorial Day Weekend
Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center, 201 Schaumburg Court in Schaumburg

Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival
Saturday, June 13th & Sunday, June 14th
Burlington Park on Chicago Avenue between Washington
& Garfield Streets in Hinsdale

Evanston Lakeshore Fine Arts Festival
Saturday, August 1st & Sunday, August 2nd
At the southeast end of Dawes Park on Sheridan Road at Church Street
along Lake Michigan in Evanston

Art In The Barn: Barrington
Saturday, September 26th & Sunday, September 27th
On the grounds (and in the barns) of Good Shepherd Hospital on Route 22 in Barrington

And new this summer – “online-only-web-offers” for my faithful Blog Readers!!!
Check back sometime during the week before each art fair to receive a special offer
valid only at each of the summer art fairs! A different offer for each fair!
Information & coupons to come…