Assembled… now with handles! This latest batch of hybrid mugs finally all have handles… thus making them MUGS!!! I’m a firm believer that a “mug” by this potter’s definition must have a handle!!! So they’re all attached & ready to “relax” a little under some plastic overnight… before I come back to touch them up a bit more before drying.

Here they are… a bunch of handles pulled and almost ready to go! I like to loop them over like this so they can set-up for awhile before attaching. I want them to be soft & malleable… but not sticky & squishy. Plus, the loop sets-up most of the handle’s curve for later when it goes onto the mug!

And here we go… this is how my mug handles begin!
Little wedged clay nuggets ready to be pulled the traditional way!

It’s been a productive afternoon assembling these “hybrid” mugs… wheelthrown & handbuilt combos. There’s still a good amount of work to do on them… refining, trimming, adding handles, drying, firing, etc. But this feels like a good start. It’s always great seeing these “hybrid” mugs come together!

Good thing there are “always” more where that come from!
Plenty of mugs for another MUGSHOT MONDAY…
and a LOT happier than Matthew’s broken one!!!

Okay, so not all MUGSHOT MONDAYS are happy days… and this much loved mug has definitely seen better days. Looks like gravity got the best of it. Sadly, it was one of Matthew’s “favorite” mugs as he bought it on his first visit to my studio at Lillstreet Art Center. Guess you’ll just have to come back to Chicago sometime soon Matthew!!!

ugh.

You know it’s my least favorite thing to do… but at some point, a little glazing has got to happen.
But first… I get to apply wax to all of the bottoms to make my glaze clean-up easier later.
I do enjoy waxing bottoms… glazing not so much.

A little pop of Spring color… a trio of tulips in one of my favorite mugs by Cory McCrory! In just two months, I will be hanging out as a Guest Potter at Cory’s place in Sandwich, Illinois for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. Mark your calendars for June 7th & 8th for a roadtrip to Sandwich for a whole lotta pottery fun… then continue on to the rest of the Tour locations. A full weekend of pottery adventures!

Just adding a few accents of colored flashing slips on this latest batch of stamped mugs. The slip colors will change dramatically when fired in the soda kiln… more colorful with flashing effects from the flames!

Handles attached… another batch of mugs made! I’m planning on soda-firing these in the future, so I think they might still need some colored flashing slips before I call them done & let them start drying.