Okay, so we decided to “celebrate” today’s holiday with an afternoon break to play with some Magic Eye images… I mean, it is NATIONAL HAVE FUN AT WORK DAY after all. Remember the visual fun from the ‘90s where a 3D images appears if you stare at the picture long enough?! I love these!!!It was Scott’s first time trying… and honestly, he wasn’t so good at it. He only saw one! I found them all… but now my eyes feel a little crossed!!!

Last session, my friend & fellow teacher Chelsea was doing a class on different glazing techniques. And I “just happened” to have this large un-stamped & un-glazed vase on my teacher’s shelf… leftover from my Surface Decoration class almost a year ago! Good intentions for a good demo… but I never quite got around to it in class… don’t judge!

So I offered it up for Chelsea to play with as one of her class demos! Everyone knows that glazing is my least favorite step of the process… so if someone else volunteers, I’m all in! And she did an amazing job with several different glazes & techniques all playing well together! Thanks Chelsea… you can glaze more of my stuff any time!!!

Looks like my pals Allison & Terry were back at Illinois Beach State Park yesterday to continue their scavenger hunt for the “elusive” hidden fortune cookies… for their third time! Looks like they found three more “cookies” this time… which makes up for their second trip where they found none! Looks like it was a beautiful day for hunting… and much easier to find them before last night’s snowfall.

Not sure what’s going on with this angry cardboard box at loading dock Sky 15?… but it made me smile… and then run away in fear… all the while giggling?!!!

Part of yesterday’s adventure was celebrating the New Year… while spreading some “good fortune” along the way. Again this year, my second time, I took several of my own textured fortune cookie rattles and hid them all throughout the state park for random people to find in the days to come! Twenty-two to be exact… celebrating 2022!!! Get it? So the next time you happen upon Illinois Beach State Park… keep your eyes open while you enjoy your hike!

Yesterday I made a quick escape out-of-town for some festive Christmas Lights!!! I went down to Peoria to visit friends and to see the East Peoria Festival of Lights… a former winner of TV’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight.”

Apparently, these light installations have all been handmade by Peoria volunteers, and it all starts with a parade through town closer to Thanksgiving! Now they’re all set-out in a park for a beautiful drive-through light display… just to brighten your already sparkly holidays!!!

It was a dark & cloudy start to my morning ride… kinda cold & gloomy… but my mood quickly improved when I found some Christmas lights that were still on to lift my holiday spirits! Loving these new sidewalk “arches” that seem to be popping up around the neighborhood.

So funny… watching a cake decorating contest show on The Food Network… and they just used a Brent Potter’s Wheel as the turntable for a piece of their cake showpiece! Brilliant… apparently not just for clay any more!

So excited to add two new Cory McCrory ornaments to my Christmas tree this year! Such an adorable addition to my handmade ornament collection! Cory makes amazing pieces handbuilt with paper clay, great textures, fun colors… and always a dash of whimsy!!! I mean… who doesn’t need a chicken and a bunny on their tree?!

And they’re BELLS too!!! That Cory McCrory thinks of everything!!!

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!