Fresh from the soda kiln in time for another MUGSHOT MONDAY!
These hybrid mugs got some great colors & flashing marks. Most of these hybrid mugs are slated for a special commission, with the rest going to “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS” this coming weekend.

If you can’t make it to the 4×4 show… I’m sure I’ll be making a few more batches of my hybrid mugs for upcoming shows & art fairs!!!

Well, the saga continues… as I was hoping this was a one-time thing. Apparently not. Thanks to more of my faithful Followers, we now know that the same studio in San Jose has used MY images before!!! Seems to be a thing for them. Stealing other potters images without permission. So obnoxious.

Create your own content.
Create your own brand.
Create your own pottery.
DON’T STEAL MINE!!!

Again, special THANKS to all of my pottery peeps that have been so supportive & encouraging over the years. Like Dawn who spotted this image in one of their Reels from awhile back. I know it’s a risk putting so many of my images out there… but I wish to view the good in the world. And not the trolls who try to ruin it for everyone else!

Celebrating another MUGSHOT MONDAY… with a nice post my friend & talented photographer who posted this on Instagram. Great photos, great eye, great guy. You should definitely check out his work on Instagram @ericcraigstudios

You can also check-out his work on his website… www.ericcraigstudioscom

Bottoms trimmed… one step closer to becoming “hybrid mugs”!
We just need to add some handles tomorrow!

Taking my textured slabs & turning them into another batch of my “hybrid mugs.” Adding a little handbuilding to the wheelthrown bases. Always fun to play with patterns & textures… made so much easier with textured hand rollers from MKM Pottery Tools.

Got a mug with a crack?… or a chunk of kiln “goo” in it?
Anything that doesn’t quite work as a functional mug nay more?!

Some creative garden friends of mine have started using their old mugs to grow succulents in them! You could plant them with pebbles in the bottom… or drill a hole through the bottom for drainage with a special drill bit for ceramics. Either way, a live plant can quote literally bring and old mug new life!!! Thanks for showing off your succulent garden Rosene & Gerry!

Another challenge accomplished… after just two hours, my LILLSTREET THROWDOWN‘ers all had fun sets of four handbuilt mugs!!! Each of them featuring fun textures & patterns from MKM Pottery Tools … and special congratulations to Emily for winning first place as a first-time handbuilder!!! I think she might be a prodigy… or a Throwdown Ringer???

Next up?… at the end of the class, they were faced with another challenge in another envelope. I gave them the chance to skip the task in the envelope, but if we opened the envelope they would all HAVE TO follow whatever was inside! They discussed the options, but in the end chose to open the envelope!!!

Turns out their next challenge is now to “color-ize” their mugs with colored slips or underglazes… to highlight the textures & patterns!!! They will bring them back to the next class all decorated… knowing that down the road they can only glaze them with clear glaze!!!

With only two hours to create their four “matching” handbuilt mugs, my LILLSTREET THROWDOWN‘ers were crazy busy working at tables all around the room. Some had more control of their process… while some were flying by the seat of heir pants while tackling their first ever handbuilding project!!! All in all, they were all quite impressive… even though they were approaching the task from several different directions! So much fun for ME to watch & “comment on” along the way!

Time to wrap them for the night so they can dry a little slower. Letting moisture-levels balance out overnight so I can add some accents of colored flashing slips tomorrow! Another batch of mugs for another MUGSHOT MONDAY… and now off to teach class !!!

Time to start attaching to make some new mugs!
Score, slip, attach, repeat… repeat… repeat… and hopefully done before teaching class tonight?!