Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: holiday

A few more trees, a few more photos! These colorful Christmas Trees are all ready for this weekend’s HOLIDAY HOME SHOW… Saturday & Sunday from 10:00am-6:00pm. I only made a “few” to see if anybody out there even likes them?! I think they’re pretty groovy… and wouldn’t mind showing them all off on my own fireplace mantel if I had to!

Categories: holiday

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… everywhere you go!

Including my second HOLIDAY HOME SHOW this weekend with the “Big Debut” of my new “forest” of ceramic Christmas Trees! They’re fresh out of the kiln and ready to head-off to their forever homes for the holidays! There’s a limited quantity… and the holidays are coming soon!!!

Categories: holiday, music

Some might argue that the Elvis Christmas Album in the best Christmas album. And what could make it better?… some new renditions of Elvis singing duets with some big country female stars! Yes, many of the Elvis Christmas Classics are now going duet with the likes of Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Amy Grant, LeAnne Rimes, Wynonna & more! Be sure to check it out for the holidays!

And if not Elvis… What is YOUR favorite Christmas song???

Categories: glaze, holiday, wheelthrowing

A bit of a late night gettin’ my glaze on! Did more than a bit of glazing on my latest batch of wheelthrown Christmas trees. And if all goes as planned… these festive trees should be glazed, fired & ready for this weekend’s MUD & METAL Holiday Home Show!

Categories: family, holiday

And so it begins… Happy First Day of December!
Pull out your advent calendars if you’ve got ‘em?! Like this one that my Grandma Kitty made for me many years ago! Such a wonderful yearly tradition filled with great family memories.

Categories: classes, holiday, lillstreet, wheelthrowing

Last week in my Intermediate Wheel class, we decided to tackle wheelthrown Christmas trees… as they seem to be all the rage on Instagram! So we started throwing and soon enough had a forest of groovy shapes & styles!!!

And here are my class demos… more trees & more styles to come…

Categories: food, holiday, platters, stamped

A platter of fun… on a fun platter!
Thanks to Beth for sharing this glamour shot of her antipasto appetizer plate from her festive Thanksgiving celebration. So glad my stamped platter got to enhance this masterpiece of yumminess!

Categories: food, holiday, pottery

Looks like a yummy Thanksgiving meal… homemade food on handmade pottery! So glad that my pottery could part of the holiday celebration. Thanks for the photos Matthew!


If you have photos from your Thanksgiving festivities, I’d love to see them… shoot them over to ‘gary@firewhenreadypottery.com’

Categories: holiday

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving today. Last year we ZOOM’ed… but this year I hope you’re finally able to celebrate with some family & friends today… cautiously getting a bit more back to “normal.” Have fun & stay safe while enjoying your pumpkin pie!

Categories: art fair, holiday, mugs

My HOLIDAY HOME SHOW kicks-off tomorrow!

And I’m unpacking, pricing & stocking the shelves… already with OVER A HUNDRED MUGS on the shelves. With a lot more pottery still to put out. It’s my biggest show with the most inventory of the year! Pottery in every room of my condo… and the “Tired Of Shlepping Sale” on the back porch!

The perfect time to start your holiday gift shopping!