I ran across this really great animated short on the Internet this evening.
It’s got some great animation. It’s got an incredible cover versions of one of my favorite songs.
Great story… and when it all comes together, a great message from one of my favorite places!

Click here to see the video… “The Scarecrow.”

According to Gawker.com… It’s being called “the most beautiful, haunting infomercial you’ll ever see.” And with Oscar-ready animation from the acclaimed visual effects wizards at MOONBOT Studios set over a score of Fiona Apple covering “Pure Imagination” from the 1971 cult children’s film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, is it any wonder that Chipotle’s “stealth” promo for a free iOS game is already on a fast-track to become one of this year’s most successful marketing campaigns — all without barely mentioning the word “Chipotle.”

Click here for the full video…
well, informercial… err, App endorsement… oh, commercial?!

I had an afternoon meeting at Navy Pier today. Afterwards, we stopped off for a sweet treat at HÃ¥agen Dazs. I decided to splurge with a yummy chocolate shake. So I ordered “my usual.” A chocolate shake made with chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce, hot fudge, and if they think it might be too chocolatey already… add even more chocolate. And let me just say, it may have been the best chocolate shake ever!!!

Well, let me just say… the girl who made it was WONDERFUL!!!
She followed the “recipe” and put her own spin on it. Not only did she use the extra dark, extra chocolatey ice cream. But she also pumped in both chocolate sauce AND hot fudge. But the real kicker was that she actually squirted some extra hot fudge into the cup, swirled it around and actually lined the entire cup interior with fudge. And then she poured the milk shake into the fudge-lined cup! SWEET!!!… literally!

I will be going back… and I will be looking for her again!

And just for the record, when I got home after a couple hours at the studio, I went for a quick 3-mile run to help “balance” things out a bit. I’m not sure if it is the cooler weather, or the sugar high, but I had a really nice run. My fastest three miles ever!

It’s always refreshing & encouraging to find out that someone out there is actually reading my blog. And that somehow, in some small way, my endless ramblings & photos might just be inspiring someone to play with their clay. I received this very sweet e-mail yesterday from a fan in Colorado. Warm fuzzies and visual proof that she’s tried some of my bowl demos! Thank you Roberta for reaffirming the reason I keep blogging! Here’s her letter…

Hi Gary! My name is Roberta. I live in Colorado. I am not even certain how I happened upon your blog, but I did, and I am so impressed with your positive energy and joy for everything you do. (I have it bookmarked now!) Because I am trying to learn everything I can about clay, I decided to try some of your rims that you had your class doing in the pictures.

I hope you don’t mind if I play with some of your ideas, and try to learn from you. If I were in Illinois, I would be in one of your classes! And yes, it probably looks like I took these pics on the hood of the truck! It was right next to the shop where I fire and glaze!! I also have to say I am a big fan of your photography!

Thank you for your uplifting presence on the Internet and the clay world!

Roberta

Martin Luther King had a dream.
And fifty years ago today he shared it with the world. He made a difference.
Share your dreams. You can make a difference too.

Today I assembled some new mini “pitcher” creamers. The cylinders are thrown, and then I added some textured pieces here & there to finish them off. Some quick handles… and then they’re back under plastic wrap for the night. I like to keep my work under plastic overnight so that handles & handbuilt add-on’s have a chance to balance out moisture levels with the cylinders before they start to dry together!

Special thanks to my friend Cory McCrory for the “pitcher” creamer inspiration. She never ceases to amaze me with her boundless whimsy & creativity. I’ve loved the black & white pitcher of hers in my “Cory Collection.” So much so that I had to do my own variation on a theme!

My studio neighbor Karen Patinkin forwarded this photo to me today from the Crimson Laurel Gallery Facebook page. She knows how much I “enjoy” a well-packed kiln… and this one gives me something to aspire to. This kiln looks incredible!!! Challenge accepted!

After my sunrise at Port Mahon, I was riding back to the hotel and I passed the same cemetery I had seen a couple weeks ago. This time, the wheat had just been harvested… so I didn’t feel bad walking in to take a closer look at the headstones. And it turns out that I was right… some of them are VERY old!!!

Love the old, weathered stone with moss growing over the carvings.

After a late night last night, and a busy day this morning, I needed to take a short break from the studio. So I went over to the lakefront for a quick bike ride… and a little more lakefront leisure. Because I “deserve” it, right?!

Sadly, the boat is not mine. Nor is it a friend of mine. I just loved how serene it all look. And how the sky and water just kind of blend into one another.