In some instances, it seems like Thanksgiving gets overshadowed by the biggest
retail stores infringing on the holiday. Opening sooner & sooner. Offering up
big sales & huge discounts. Keeping people away from their families by making them
work on Thanksgiving! But is it worth it?! Who is really winning here?
Big Business? Yes. Businesses that have nothing to do with your community.

But this holiday season – you CAN make a difference!

Instead of supporting big retailers, we’re encouraging you to “SHOP SMALL”
this holiday season. To support the local businesses that rely on the support
of their communities. Small business owners who are working hard to keep their
life’s work going. People who are living their passion. Many of which are artists like
myself who are doing what they love. And working even harder to make a living.

So this holiday season, take a second to consider Shopping Small.
Don’t give your money to the Walmarts, Kmarts and any other “mart” out there!
Give it to someone who will really appreciate the efforts you’re making to support
your local community and the people who work there… instead of overseas somewhere!

Okay, so many of you might know that I am possibly the least political person ever!
I don’t get involved. I don’t participate. I don’t care. Sure, everyone says I should.
But it’s my choice to live in my own “ignorant bliss.”

So tonight when the final Presidential Debate was on every channel on TV,
I was determined to find something else to watch in the studio while I was working.
So my evening’s “debate” turned out to be Sharks vs. Jets. So much more fun!!!

This year, at ART DETOUR, we all decided it would be funny of we all did a challenge.
If we all made something with a theme. Something to push us to think outside the box.
So we all decided to “Put A Bird On It.” So each of decided to make a piece with a bird on it.
Pretty obvious, huh?! But why a bird?… click here to watch the video clip!

So I made three different pieces, each with a bird on it. I just wanted to make sure that
I would end up with at least one good one to take with for the challenge. And I took the
challenge quite literally. I made a piece as I normally would… then I put a bird on it!!!

This one “flew the coop” to one of Amy’s Northwoods friends…

This one came home with me… but will “migrate” to the Holiday Home Show!!!

This third one was part of the ART DETOUR Silent Auction. Each of the artists put their
challenge piece in a special tent for customers to bid on them. A portion of the proceeds
went to the Northwoods Wildlife Center. This piece “flew” all the way to Morton, Illinois
to the lucky high bidder!!!

After a very short overnight “nap,” I was back to the studio quite early
this morning to get my kiln started. It’s a ful day of firing… which sort of
makes me “trapped” here at Lillstreet all day. It’s a perfect chance to get
caught up on things – like cleaning my studio! It is such a mess from the
past couple days of glazing. It needs some serious help.

So here’s my “inspiration ” for the day…
Wouldn’t it be nice in if my studio looked a little more like this?!

Don’t you just love the endless possibilities of an empty kiln?!… soon to be filled.

Apparently there’s something new out there that I need to try?!
My cousin Kim knows of my addiction… and saw this at the Wisconsin State Fair!
Everything’s better when it’s deep-fried, right?! And on a stick too!!!