From Karen in Maryland… “I forgot to send this on Christmas Eve. We were at Stephanie and Andre’s… and Travis got a cup of coffee. I heard Travis say ‘Is this a Gary original?”

Now I don’t know any of these people… Stephanie, Andre or even Travis… but you gotta appreciate that Travis knows what he’s talking about!!! Apparently word has been spreading… HA!!! Thanks for sharing this funny story Karen… perfect for another MUGSHOT MONDAY!!!

Homemade food always tastes better on handmade pottery!
And I’m sure Matthew’s pear tart was AMAZING!!!

Looks like the hunt has begun! Allison has found her first fortune cookie of 2024… perched high in a tree!!! There are plenty more out there… gotta keep searchin’ searchin’… cue the song by Del Shannon!

Looks like I wasn’t the only one who made homemade chocolate chip cookies for New Years Eve! My friends Mike & Patty also made a batch… and served them on one of my stamped platters! As everyone knows that homemade food tastes even better on handmade pottery! Even Casey their boxer had his eye on them!

Celebrating a beautiful night showing off a beautiful collection of ceramic Christmas Trees… in a beautiful display cabinet. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday weekend. And thanks to Keith & Julie for sharing their collections with us.

But wait… what is that?… a red & white peppermint-striped tree?…
perhaps some festive inspiration for next year???

I’ve always said how much I LOVE having talented friends! Like metalsmith Sarah Chapman who made all of these beauties… which you can come see tomorrow in person at the ONE OF A KIND SHOW at the Merchandise Mart downtown. I’ll be there helping her again tomorrow in Booth 2118 until 5:00pm. Be sure to stop by… her work is AMAZING!

And what better way to celebrate than with some yummy cookies
on a pretty green platter?! One of my green, stamped platters with my friend Kristen’s cookies!!!
A perfect combination!

For Kristen’s “First Dibs” Pottery Sale & Open House last night, she sent out electronic invitations… and reminders. But then she tempted me… err, I mean taunted me… with this photo. Yummy brownies on one of my platters!!! So… I had to go now, right?! It would have “rude” not to!!! HA!!!

So last night my longtime friend & pottery student Kristen had a little “First Dibs” party before launching her pottery website today! As a former metalsmith, it’s been fun watching her work in clay instead of metal. And seeing her skills & designs grow & evolve so quickly. You can tell she’s been listening to my lessons… especially my “More Is More” mantra! Congrats Kristen… so proud of you!!!

I came home with this little brown cup. Which was actually a class demo… that I offered for someone else to finish. Kristen was the first to claim it… and look what she did to my “plain” demo cylinder!!!

And a special THANK YOU shout-out to my friend Sharon who made a great Instagram post about her trip to my place! She’s a real estate agent showing off her photography skills. Capturing a lot of my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW… as I didn’t quite have the time to do it myself!!! Thanks Sharon!

And if you didn’t make it… see what you missed?!!! HA!!!