OMG!!!
What a wonderful surprise when you come into your studio and there is a very SWEET surprise sitting there waiting for you!! I can’t believe it… it’s a JAR FULL OF CARAMEL SAUCE!!! And the very BEST caramel ever! For those Chicago peeps that ever went to Rose Angeli’s restaurant, you might remember. It was my very favorite restaurant for many years before they decided to close down… great food, great service & even “great-ER” caramel sauce!!!

So this past Saturday morning, I taught a wheelthrowing class and the former owner & chef Larry was in the class. I tried to “play it cool” and not fan-out all over him. It wasn’t until the end of class that the topic came up… and I eventually professed how much I loved his restaurant & his food. “Somehow” the topic of caramel sauce came up…. and that the bread pudding dessert was just “the vehicle” to get that caramel sauce into my mouth! And then yesterday… I found this jar of caramel in my studio!!!

THANK YOU LARRY!!!
I will cherish it… and ration it very slowly!!!
Like liquid gold!

In my Monday night Intermediate Wheelthrowing class we discussed wall vases (as requested… thank you Darcy)… and then I took it one step further using a similar technique to make ceramic corbel wall sconces… “shelves” just didn’t sound right?! Anyway, I did my demos in class, but then needed to do a little more follow-up in my studio last night! As a work-in-progress… I think they’re coming along pretty nicely!

Simply enamored with how the carpenter here creatively used the ends of the boards to highlight the woodgrain patterns & textures. So simple… yet so elegant & amazing!!!

My Talented Friend & amazing metalsmith Sarah Chapman is back in town this weekend and showing her artistry at the ONE OF A KIND SHOW. Starting tomorrow at the Merchandise Mart, the art fair continues through the weekend. Sarah is in Booth 2118… and I’ll be helping her there on Saturday & Sunday. Be sure to swing by to say “Hi”… and to see Sarah’s amazing metal & gemstone masterpieces!

While I know they’re not “real” mugs… we’re still celebrating another MUGSHOT MONDAY with these fun paintings by Robert Sedestrom currently hanging in the Lillstreet 2nd Floor Gallery Annex. Robert’s studio is kinda across from mine… but it’s great to see what he’s been working on in there when they’re displayed properly on the white gallery walls.

As part of FALL INTO DAMEN AT NIGHT, my other pottery student Chris is the proud owner of District Chicago. A very cool & stylish home furnishings store on Damen. The store’s style is great – so well curated… loving the bronze bears with eyeglasses! And oh, but wait there’s more… Chris also refinishes all of the vintage furniture himself. A fun night seeing two of my students outside of pottery class… and to see what they do outside of taking my pottery class!

Follow Chris and his store DISTRICT CHICAGO on Instagram – @districtchicago

You know how much I love rusty metal… and this kinda fits in that same category. Vintage metalwork & craftsmanship on an old cabinet of postal mailboxes. A wonderful antique piece that my friend Eric picked up on a recent work trip to Omaha… which he’s planning on using as a cabinet for wine bottles. Kinda jealous… I love it too!!!… but I would fill mine with Oreos, Twizzlers, marshmallows & Gummy Bears! Good score Eric!!!