So last night in my Beginning Wheel class, some of my students tackled trimming, pulling handles & assembling their very first mugs!!! Not bad for their second class… I think we’re off to a good start!!!

Gotta love when a pottery student leaves a sweet chocolate treat in your teacher’s shelf for you… an AMAZING chocolate & peppermint holiday cookie from Levain Bakery. And since I “always” follow directions (ha)… I did zap it in the microwave first so it got all gooey, melt & yummy. Even the smell was intoxicating!

Sure, not the proverbial apple on the teacher’s desk… but this is SO much better!!! Thanks for the yummy holiday treat Christine!

Last session, my Intermediate Wheel class wanted a fun challenge & a holiday themed project. Inspired by my Mom’s ceramic snowman, I challenged them all to make their own version! And here they go…

So “word on the street” is that registration for Winter pottery classes at Lillstreet will open tomorrow morning. I will be teaching three classes & a soda-firing workshop during the Winter session. Registration for my classes fill up FAST… so be prepared to sign-up early!!! – www.lillstreet.com

Intermediate Wheel – Mondays 7-10pm

Beginning Wheelthrowing – Tuesdays 7-10pm

The Great Lillstreet Throwdown – Thursdays 7-10pm
The BEST class ever… based on the British reality show “The Great Pottery Throw Down.” The class is full of projects, challenges, races, contests & other fun & frivolity… and a great prize for the Winner at the end of the session!!!

… and a Soda-Firing Workshop towards the end of February!

As part of our final class of the Fall session, my Intermediate Wheel class did a fun “trading-exchanging-stealing game”… with a category theme of handmade flower pot with a plant in it. Some people were “racing” with the kiln and weren’t quite able to get a plant, but we were pleased their flower pots at least made it out of the kiln in time! Always a fun way to end a great session with fun students!!!

And, in case you’re wondering… I came home with the beautiful red flower pot with a red anthurium flowering in it from Darcy… perfect for the holidays!

This week, my Tuesday night Beginning Wheel class finished their Fall session… and we played a game!!! A little white elephant trading-stealing-sharing kind of game where they each brought in one of their handmade mugs to add to the game… and they went home with someone else’s masterpiece mug! I brought in this stamped & tenmoku glazed mug… and after some “stealing” went home with this red & white beauty by Karin. A great way to finish off this session with a great group of students!!

Many years ago, I bought this cute ceramic snowman for my Mom while on a bike ride. At the time I had just started taking my Beginning Wheel class. Fast forward to now… where I now own this guy after downsizing my Dad’s place…. and teaching pottery classes! My Monday night class was looking for a fun “challenge” project… something holiday… and something fun! So this guy served as the prototype for our challenge. Where they’re all making their own snowman in their own style. Tonight is the last class of our Fall session… so it’s also the big “Snowman Reveal.” I can’t wait to see what they’ve all come up with!!!

Last night in class, I surprised my class with trick-or-treat bags with goodies… complete with candy, pottery tools, Halloween toys & more… some even got little pieces of my pottery demos !!!

Trick or Treat!!! Methinks my wheelthrowing class might be enjoying another “yellow towel” moment tonight!

So last night in class there “may have been” another yellow towel situation… it’s been too long!