Sign-up today – there’s only five spaces left!

The new Fall Session of classes begins next week at Lillstreet Art Center.
And my Tuesday night class will once again be from 7:00pm-10:00pm.
It is wheelthrowing for Beginners & Advanced Beginners. So whether you’ve
never touched clay, or have some basic skills that need to be refreshed…
this is the class for you. We’ll cover all of the basic skills over the 10-week class.
We’ll get dirty. You’ll make cool pots. And have a lot of fun along the way!

Register in person, over the phone or on the Lillstreet website.

So last night was another wheelthrowing class… with more sweet treats!
Once again, Cam, one of my former students decided to drop off some handmade
goodies for the class. Always such a treat to find goodies waiting for me at the studio!!!
Double fudge-dark balsamic-sour cream-cherry brownies!!!
Yum, yum and more yum!!!

And then since we are so close to the end of the session, and it was another kind of
“demo-on-demand” night, my students asked to see how to make a plate. So I threw
a large platter with a dramatic swirl through the center. Later I will stamp the entire flange.

And I will once again be teaching the Beginning & Advanced Beginning Wheelthrowing
class on Tuesday nights from 7:00pm-10:00pm. Whether you’ve thrown on the wheel
before, or you’ve never touched clay, this is the class for you. You’ll be surprised at
how quickly you’ll be making handmade pottery… with ten-weeks to “perfect” your skills.
Plus, this session will take you right up to the holiday season. An ideal chance to start
making your own handmade gifts for the holidays!

The new 10-week Fall Session will begin on Tuesday, September 13th.
But sign-up today to guarantee yourself a seat in my class… it usually fills up fast!!!
Stop by or call Lillstreet… or register online at www.lillstreet.com.
Plus, sign-up before August 29 and receive $20 off your class enrollment!

So last night, a former student of my wheelthrowing class stopped by again
with special homemade treats! This time, it was homemade ice creams with some
wacky flavors! Every time Cam makes treats to share, they seem to have unusual
ingredients you wouldn’t expect to taste in the same place. But somehow they always
seem to work. I guess that’s what makes him a chef… and not me?!

So one of them was made with blackberries, goat cheese and sage.
It was quite different because it was more savory than sweet.
But the collective class “favorite” was a wonderful concoction of strawberries,
sour cream, basil and balsamic vinegar! Fantastic frozen fun!!!

The weekend weather had been incredible. Sunny. Warm. Rain-free!!!
And I’m been playing more… more… more… outside all day, inside at night!
Including a night in the studio stamping the cylinders that I made Friday night.

After stamping in the studio, I also went downstairs into the classroom and did some
very long-overdue glazing of my class demo pieces. For those who have been around
Lillstreet, many of you have seen my class demo on glazing. And how I tend to bring out
a bunch of my bisque, show ’em how to wax the bottoms… and then end up talking far
too much!!! So much “new” information to share with the Beginners. So many tips.
So many warnings. So much excitement. But after all the fun, I generally only glaze like
one piece during the demo, and then everything goes back onto my teacher shelf. After
a couple sessions, my pile of “unglazed” class demos was taking over my shelf. And with
the new Summer Session starting this week, it was imperative to make room for the new
class. So I glazed… and glazed… and glazed… my least favorite part of the process…

Looking for something fun to do this Summer?
Come play in the mud with the rest of us!

The new Summer Session of clay classes begins next week at Lillstreet Art Center.
My class is on Tuesday nights and is multi-level for there’s something for everyone.
Whether you’ve never touched clay before, or did it back in high school
Beginning & Advanced Beginning Wheelthrowing
Tuesday nights from 7:00-10:00pm

My class begins one week from tonight!!!
So, register today for the 8-week session… before classes fill up!
Stop by Lillstreet Art Center, call or register online… click here!

Well, today is officially the first day of summer!
It seems like it has really been a very long time coming! But it’s actually here!

And it’s also time to start thinking about your summer plans…
so why not sign-up today for a pottery class at Lillstreet Art Center?
Come play with me every Tuesday night this summer!

You’ll get to play in the mud, make cool pieces and take advantage of Lillstreet’s
very generous open studio time. In addition to your 3-hour weekly class, you’ll
also get access to the studio to practice seven days a week from 10:00am-10:00pm.
Which is great… especially in the summer as Lillstreet is air conditioned!!!

Beginning & Advanced Beginning Wheelthrowing
Tuesday nights from 7:00pm-10:00pm
8-week session beginning on Tuesday, July 12th, 2011.

My classes have a tendency to fill up quickly, so sign up soon.
You can stop by Lillstreet, call or click here to register online.

Hard to believe that another 10-week session has come and gone.
It’s so much fun to see my brand new beginners come in and struggle so much
at the beginning of the session. Then just a few weeks later, they’ve figured out
how to center, how to throw a cylinder, trim, glaze and all of the other basic skills.
By the end of the 10-week class, they’ve moved on from the basics and are now well
on their way… making the pots they want to make! And celebrate, we always end the
session with a class potluck. And if I’ve “trained” them well… we end up with more
than enough desserts!!! Including my own contribution of a homemade cheesecake
with triple berry sauce! Even tastier when served on a handmade platter…

Okay… it seems like Summer must be SO far away as we’re still waiting for the warmth
of Spring to get here?! Go figure. But in reality, Lillstreet Summer Camps are starting
again in just a few weeks. It’s not too late to start planning your summer and enroll your
kids in Summer Camp at Lillstreet. The following list is my schedule for the summer.
I typically only teacher the older group of kids – 8-12 years old. Some classes are geared
towards a slightly older group (aged 10-14) due to the amount of focus, creativity and
enthusiasm I’ll expect the kids to bring in. I like to push the kids to make real projects…
not just a pile of scraps, glitter & glue! So sign up soon…

June 13th – 17th – Garden Camp
It’s a full week of art projects designed to decorate your family’s garden.
Flower pots, birdhouses, lawn ornaments, totem poles and so much more!
Full-day camp from 9:00am-3:30pm

June 27th – July 1st – Wild Things!
It’s all animals, all the time! The kids will get to explore their “Wild Side” in art!
With a clay project on Monday followed by the Zoo on Tuesday – more fun all week!
Morning camp from 9:00am-1:00pm with a Field Trip to Lincoln Park Zoo on Tuesday.

July 11th – July 15th – Clay & Multimedia Camps
It’s a week of fun and assorted art projects. With clay on Monday, the rest of the week is
developed to help teach the kids new mediums & encourage them to express themselves.
Morning Session from 9:00am-1:00pm… and Afternoon Session from 1:00pm-3:30pm.

July 18th – July 22nd – Chess Camp
This camp is a LOT of work, but also a LOT of fun!
With only five days, each kid will create an entire thematic Chess Set of their own in clay!
It’s a lot of planning, creating, handbuilding & painting to make their own perfect Chess Set.
Full-day camp from 9:00am-3:30pm

July 25th – July 29th – Clay & Multimedia Camps
Another week of assorted art projects. Clay on Monday… other projects throughout the week.
It’s up to the kids to help decide on what we’re making – and always a chance of tie-dye!
Morning Session from 9:00am-1:00pm… and Afternoon Session from 1:00pm-3:30pm.

August 1st – August 5th – Forge, Fire & Feast
It’s a combination week of clay & metal. The kids will design their own dinnerware sets,
and then set about to create it during the week. Monday & Tuesday are for clay plates, bowls,
cups & more. Wednesday & Thursday are focused on metal for knives, forks & spoons.
Friday it all comes together and we celebrate with a big potluck lunch using their newly
created dinnerware sets! It’s a lot of work, but a lot of fun & accomplishment… plus, we’ll
all get to play with Pam Robinson who run the Lillstreet Metals Program!
Full-day camp from 9:00am-3:30pm

August 8th – August 12th – Chess Camp
For those who couldn’t make it for the first week of Chess Camp… here’s another opportunity.
Same exciting projects… new kids, new themes. Always an exciting week of kids & creativity.
Full-day camp from 9:00am-3:30pm

August 15th – August 19th – Masters Camp
New this year, we’re expanding on of my favorite topics to a full-day camp. We’ll spend the
week focusing on famous artists. The kids will learn a little art history along the way, and
create their art “in the style of” assorted famous artists. This camp also includes a Field Trip
to the Chicago Art Institute… and hopefully a gallery show at the end of the week.
Full-day camp from 9:00am-3:30pm

Registration is already open for all Summer Camps. Sign up early before my camps fill up!
It’s going to be a fun summer for everyone.. lots of art, fun & laughter!
Stop in at Lillstreet Art Center – or register online at www.lillstreet.com

Registration is currently open for the Early Summer & Summer Sessions.
Confusing, huh? Well, let me explain it quickly for you. We’re currently in the Spring
session. Then, we have a 4-week session during June. Followed by an 8-week session
in July & August. Sign up now… in person, by phone or online at www.lillstreet.com.

And just a quick FYI… my classes will typically fill up quickly. Don’t put it off too long
and then find you can’t get in. Join the fun… sign up today!

Early Summer: Surface Decoration for Advanced Beginners
Take a four-week creative adventure to add style, design, and personalization to your
basic pots and transform them into one-of-a-kind masterpieces.  The assumption is
that you have basic throwing skills, so the focus each week is on different decorative
techniques, including stamping and springs, slip painting and sgraffito, as well as
altering, carving and making attachments and handles.
June 7th-June 28th – 4-weeks – Tuesday Nights from 7:00pm-10:00pm

Summer Session: Beginning & Advanced Beginning Wheelthrowing
Explore the mystery of the potter’s wheel as you develop the fundamental techniques
of throwing a pot. Learn to center, throw, and trim a variety of functional forms
including cups, bowls, and plates.  Returning students will continue to refine techniques
and create more complex forms. And I’m always up for a challenge!
July 12th- August 30th – 8-weeks – Tuesday Nights from 7:00pm-10:00pm