Last week in our LILLSTREET THROWDOWN class, I challenged my students to throw their most “perfect” mug-shaped cylinder. After they had shaped, grooved & “perfected” them… they brought them all to the table thinking they were done!

Only THEN did they find out that the REAL challenge was that they had to throw as many “matching” cylinders as they could… at HALF THE SIZE!!! Yep, smaller versions thrown off-the-hump. So those who made their original cylinders more shapely or decorated, now had to make them smaller too! Some people had never thrown-off-the hump, so I did a quick demo… and then the challenge started!!! At the end, they only got points for the cylinders that were deemed “matching” at half the size by the group!

Before my students could enjoy their newly soda-fired pots… they had to do some kiln maintenance! Always a hassle after a long firing weekend, but a necessity that I made sure my LILLSTREET SODA-FIRING WORKSHOP folks got to “enjoy” as part of experiencing the “full” soda-firing process! Scraping kiln shelves, re-applying kiln wash on both sides of every shelf & cleaning the kiln room. After they put in the manual labor… we finally got to go back to caress, fondle & appreciate their new soda-fired treasures!

Just a quick reminder that tonight is the LILLSTREET HOLIDAY PARTY from 5:00-8:00pm. I’ll be in my studio sharing in the festivities, selling some handmade mugs… and these cute little soda-fired star ornaments too! Hope you can swing by to say hello & to spread some holiday cheer!

LILLSTREET ART CENTER
4401 North Ravenswood, Studio 205 West, Chicago

Just a quick reminder… we’re kicking off the holiday season tomorrow night at Lillstreet Art Center. Another great chance to do some handmade holiday shopping… whether in the Lillstreet Gallery or in one of the many Open Studio spaces. I will be in my Studio 205W on the second floor with plenty of handmade MUGS for everyone on your holiday shopping list!

Setting up my studio with plenty of mugs, mugs & more mugs for this Friday’s HOLIDAY PARTY at Lillstreet. I’ll have plenty of mugs to start your holiday shopping… but if you’re looking for more than just mugs, keep in mind that there will be a SECOND HOLIDAY HOME SHOW on December 10th & 11th.

If you’re looking for some great handmade holiday gifts this year, mark your calendar for this Friday evening from 5:00-8:00pm for the LILLSTREET HOLIDAY PARTY! I’ll be there for the festivities… with plenty of MUGS in my studio for everyone on your holiday list!

So “word on the street” is that registration for Winter pottery classes at Lillstreet will open tomorrow morning. I will be teaching three classes & a soda-firing workshop during the Winter session. Registration for my classes fill up FAST… so be prepared to sign-up early!!! – www.lillstreet.com

Intermediate Wheel – Mondays 7-10pm

Beginning Wheelthrowing – Tuesdays 7-10pm

The Great Lillstreet Throwdown – Thursdays 7-10pm
The BEST class ever… based on the British reality show “The Great Pottery Throw Down.” The class is full of projects, challenges, races, contests & other fun & frivolity… and a great prize for the Winner at the end of the session!!!

… and a Soda-Firing Workshop towards the end of February!

When the classroom reclaim buckets seem to take on a life of their own!!!

Gotta love these two little volunteer petunias popping up… finding a little cement crevice to call their own… welcoming another new week of Summer Campers to Lillstreet! Here we go again…

So yesterday afternoon, there “may” have been a strange sighting outside of Lillstreet Art Center. There was “rumor” of a giraffe standing out on the corner of Montrose & Ravenswood!!! In Chicago?… Shocking, right?! Well, not so shocking for one of my Summer Campers this week who made his life-sized baby giraffe in Sculpture Camp! Murray worked hard on his giraffe… so we just had to show him off to the world!!!