So while I was frustrated & panicked about my kiln in shut-down mode…
I noticed a student’s pot sitting on the red “Reject Shelf.” Never a good place
to find your prized possession. Typically there’s a reason it’s there.
The staff kiln loaders have pulled it out before going into the kiln.
Some for a very obvious reason, others need a closer look. But today I saw
this pot sitting on the “Reject Shelf” and I found it oddly prophetic…
especially with my current kiln firing dilemma!

Tonight at Lillstreet, we had a brief slide presentation by Canadian potter Aaron Nelson.
Aaron used to be a studio member at the old Lillstreet location, and taught classes…
a couple of which I had the opportunity to participate in. Aaron has always had a very unique
view on things, a sense of wonder and a beautiful aesthetic. His classes were always fun…
and I could just listen to his accent for hours. Especially when we were talking about teapots…
with a lot of “aboouuts” and the “spoouut” that went on “agane” and “agane.” Too funny.

Well, Aaron has been gone for many years, but was passing through Chicago and stopped by
for a visit. He has traveled around, gotten married and started a family since leaving Chicago.
He’s worked at the Archie Bray Foundation and eaten a lot of doughnuts. But I digress…
He even spent 8-weeks in his handmade kayak paddling along the west coast of Canada.
I’m so jealous!!! Now he has landed in Alberta, Canada at a wonderful clay facility called
Medalta. Apparently, Medalta was once home to some of Canada’s most important pottery,
china and clay factories. These days, the history is being preserved with the unique
Medalta Potteries National Historic Site. Not only was Aaron there to entertain and share
his passion for clay, but also to hype the wonderful clay opportunities they host there
for workshops & residencies.

He also told us some of the things he’s been working on. Including some crazy clay recipe
“mistake” that he’s now trying to refine that has a MUCH lower melting point, but is incredibly
translucent as it seems closer to glass than clay when it is finally fired. Plus, some wacky
concept of hooking up a bicycle to a generator to somehow work together to fire a kiln?!
I’m in!!! Doubt it…. but Love it anyway.

When I got home, it was late dinner time… so I had to pull out some of his dinnerware!
I’ve had it for years. A wonderful set of wheelthrown dinner & dessert plates in two-tone
stripes! I’ve served many a pizza on these plates. And an occasional cheesecake on the
dessert plates!!! Beautiful plates always make the food taste better. Don’tcha think?

Not only do I have dinnerware…
but one of Aaron’s mugs has a permanent spot in my mug collection! It was great to see
Aaron “agane”… to hear his stories, mock his accent and be inspired by his words.

As I was loading the kiln, I was carefully stacking bowls…
and began to notice how cool they started looking with the rhythmic repetition
of the curved & fluted rims, the details of the stamped details and the great shadows that
helped define the textures. I may have to consider this… and make some new nesting bowls?!

While “hanging out in the garden” today on Navy Pier, I also took time downstairs
to stroll through the Stained Glass Museum. It’s a wonderful collection of stained
glass artists through the years. Including beautiful works by Tiffany and his
contemporaries. Many people people make it straight from the parking garages
and up to Festival Hall for the special exhibits without ever seeing the beautiful
artwork that is housed at Navy Pier all year long! Here’s a glimpse…

With last night’s surface decoration demonstrations…
including some techniques from my friend & potter Amy Higgason…
I was surprised with the HUGE coincidence of her posting some pictures
of her own work that she had done in her own studio up in Northern
Wisconsin that same day. So while we were “channeling” the carving style
of Amy Higgason, she was actually doing it too! And much better!!!

Here are some photos of the incredible platter she was working on…
See… THIS is how it’s supposed to be done!!! Stunning as always!!!

Check out more of Amy’s incredible work on her website or Facebook.
Search for Amy at Pigeon Road Pottery.

Congratulations to my friend, potter & former Lillstreet student Pam Johnson-Howe
who just had two of her handmade mugs make it onto the “special shelves”
for extraordinary student work as it comes out of the kiln!

Pam used to be a tile maker and never threw on the wheel. After years of tile classes,
Pam finally decided to try a wheelthrowing class at Lillstreet and ended up in my class.
And we’ve been friends every since. It was so much fun to watch her love for clay blossom
every time she touched the clay. And now she’s addicted just like the rest of us. She’s even
moved on to her first Intermediate Class and is going ever deeper into the addiction!

It was especially evident when my friend & potter Amy Higgason stopped by last Fall
to give my beginning wheel students a very special demonstration on her incredible
surface decoration techniques. All of my students, as well as students in other classes,
were enthralled by Amy’s techniques & anecdotes. Pam was completely entranced by Amy
and has since been using a lot of Amy’s techniques on her own work. And it is definitely
paying off… as seen by these two sweet mugs!!!

So I’ve decided that MY New Year will start next Monday.
Okay, so it’s a week later than everyone else’s. But this past week has been
a little crazy and I wasn’t quite ready to buckle down and tow the line yet.
So this week I’ve been trying to get everything put away, packed, cleaned up,
de-holiday’d and get back into a normal routine of some sort. So it all starts Monday!

Until then… I’m eating my way through the kitchen to get rid of “bad” foods.
Can’t throw it away, right? So today I made a Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Pie! Yum.
Luckily, I went to Step Class this morning so I don’t feel quite so bad eating pie all day!
Tomorrow is my first Flash Mob happening “mysteriously” down in Millennium Park.
And Sunday is Step again, plus dinner, movie & fun with my good friend Nancy!!!
Chances are it might even include a trip to Rose Angeli’s?! Fingers crossed…

Next week I’m re-focused.
Next week I’m eating better.
Next week I’m back in the studio.
Next week my pottery class starts up.
Next week I’m starting the New Year’s Resolutions!!!
My “New Year” starts next Monday!!!

After a long holiday season… too many holiday parties… too much fun…
even Michaelangelo’s “David” is looking forward to getting back in shape!

So starting tomorrow, I am back “on the wagon.” Focused on getting back on track.
Too many cookies. Too many holiday dinners. Too many reasons to pig out.
So tomorrow I’m re-focused. Tomorrow I’m eating better. Starting tomorrow I’m back.
Back on the bike weather permitting. Back to Step Class. Back to the studio.
And backing away from all of those goodies that have tempted us for the past month.

And hopefully, “David” will be back on track soon too!
Nobody wants a flabby David… or a flabby Gary for that matter!

Today I had a design meeting at Lincoln Park Zoo… crisp, clean & freezing cold.
After the meeting, I played at the Zoo – which was great fun as I pretty much had the place
to myself. No school tours. Very few people. Just me and the animals!

I’m a bit tired of the layer of crusty gray snow & frozen slush currently blanketing Chicago.
I know winter has just started, and we’re in for a few months of this fun… but when given
a chance for a little Tropical Escape… I’m in!!! So this afternoon I also spent some time at
the Lincoln Park Conservatory enjoying the warmth, humidity & natural beauty.
And incredible Tropical Escape… if even just for an hour or so…

Ahhh… I feel better already.