Never fear, Cory did an amazing job pulling together a fine “Plan B” after her kiln challenges this week. We may have lost a few bugs along the way… a few we’re resurrected… and she might have added in a couple retro TVs with bugs. I put them all together with my tiles last night… and we still ended up with ten amazing collaboration pieces for this weekend’s ART IN THE GARDEN show. … whew! There’s only ten of these collabs… and they might go fast?!!!

Now don’t get too excited… this “LOST” retro television is MINE!!!
A special custom piece just for me & my addiction to the best TV show ever!
I just love having talented friends!

Looks like my pal Kristin Conneely is pulling together some last-minute mosaic collaborations for ART IN THE GARDEN this weekend! And this one is a three-way… my orange nuggets, Cory’s leaves & Kristin will be mosaic-ing all around them!!! You’ll need to stop by this weekend to see the finished collaboration pieces!!!

This weekend is the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. A great chance for a fun roadtrip to see 40 potters at six different studio locations. I will be at Stop #5 in Sandwich… along with rest of these great potters!!! Special thanks to my pal Cory McCrory for hosting all of us at her place!!!

Fresh from the ST. CROIX VALLEY POTTERY TOUR… this beautiful mishima porcelain bowl by Steven Young Lee that came home with me. Not only is it a stunning bowl with crazy-cool colors streaming out of that hand-carved criss-cross pattern… but it was also made by my own favorite pottery teacher!

Yes… Steve Lee was one of my early pottery teachers back at the old Lillstreet location. It was a more advanced wheelthrowing class… and Steve was very clear with his expectations right from the start. A great teacher… with great pots… and always good to see him again on the Minnesota Pottery Tour.

Last Sunday during the pottery tour, I also got this beautiful mug from my friend Delores Fortuna. Always fun to chat with her while admiring her work. If you need a mug too… Delores will also be part of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR… just a month away!!! Mark your calendars… I’ll be part of the Tour as well.

June 7th & 8th from 10:00am-5:00pm.
More information at www.northernilpotterytour.com

Time to mark your calendars for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. I will once again be one of the Guest Artists at the Sandwich location… home of My Talented Friend Cory McCrory. Last week was the Sandwich stop’s “Feature Week” on Instagram… and here are my feature photos! It’s going to be a great weekend with pottery at several stops along The Tour. Check the dates Saturday, June 7th & Sunday, June 8th… not that far away!!!

For more information… www.northernilpotterytour.com

So this week I added another mug to my already overflowing “Mug Collection.” This handcarved & soda-fired beauty by my friend & pottery student Kristen. She may have started as a metalsmith years ago when we first met, but now we’ve won her over to the clay world!!! Such amazing design, details & craftsmanship.

If you think you might “need” to add some of Kristen’s pottery to your collection as well… she’s doing a Pop-Up Sale tomorrow at OMC : Our Mutual Coffee Co. in Chicago at 3600 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60618 from 7:00am-3:00pm. Be sure to stop by & say “Hi”… your coffee will definitely taste better in one of Kristen’s mugs!!!

Doin’ a little ZOOM’n with a couple of My Talented Friends… Sarah Chapman & Darlys Ewoldt… as we are already planning our “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS” show for next Spring! We’ll introduce a new “fourth” maker to the show soon… but until then, you can mark your calendar now!!! February 28th-March 2nd in Evanston!

My longtime pottery pal & “co-collaborator” at ART IN THE GARDEN every year since the beginning… the amazing Cory McCrory!!! Her work is always colorful with lots of textures, plus a sense of whimsy that is undeniable! Always fun to play with Cory… and I can’t wait to see our finished collaboration pieces when they come out of her kiln… just in time for this weekend!!!

Introducing the talented metalsmith Amy Taylor… and our host for this annual art fair in her backyard!!! As well as one my “co-collaborators” this year. Amazing craftsmanship & designs… and I especially love that she uses some unconventional “stones” in her work like reflectors, pieces of bowling balls & my favorite “fordite”!!! Let’s just say… I have quite a collection of her pieces!!!