I had thrown a large platter for a class demo… and then it “lived under plastic” for a bit too long, getting too dry to stamp. So I gave it to my friend & former student to work her magic on. Kristen has been doing wonderful carving techniques on her pots, but mostly smaller mugs & bowls. I thought it might be fun to challenge her with a larger surface to decorate. And she did NOT disappoint!!! The platter looks AMAZING with her beautiful carvings all around the rim. It’s now back in my studio and I need to figure out where to go from here. To glaze or soda-fire, that is the question…

Check-out more of Kristen’s amazing work on Instagram… @kayhoceramics

My good friend & former pottery student Kristen is doing a great pop-up this weekend! And who doesn’t love handmade pottery AND chocolate?!!! Stop by the Irving Park location of KATHERINE ANNE CONFECTIONS this weekend to see some of Kristen’s pottery & grab some yummy chocolate too!!!

And if you stop by Saturday between 1:00-2:00pm, Kristen will be in the store doing live demos of her carving techniques!

Plus, if you follow, tag & share them both on Instagram, you’ll be entered in a raffle for pottery & chocolate!!! Two of my favorite things!!!

Last Friday night, My Talented Friend Cheryl Holz had an Opening Reception in Aurora… right around the corner from the Opening Reception for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR at the Aurora location. Coincidentally on the same night, but a great chance to see her wonderful work hanging on the gallery walls. I love her work… the colors, the textures, the multi-media collages, and now… oh, but wait there’s more... hand-sculpted, three-dimensional birds perched inside her paintings!

For more about Cheryl’s paintings… https://cherylholz.com/

Even more coincidental… Cheryl took a workshop with Deana Bada Maloney to learn how to sculpt & paint the birds… and Deana was showing her ceramic masterpieces at the Sandwich location of the Pottery Tour too!!! Small world, huh?!

And not only was Cory a great host for the pottery tour weekend… but I also came home with two of her plates that I bought to add to my Cory McCrory Collection!!! And, the artists all got a loaf of homemade sourdough bread as a lovely parting gift… and I “might” have come home with three… allegedly…

A fun day to celebrate one of our potter friends at the Sandwich location of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. Sure, his birthday may have been yesterday… but feel free to stop by tomorrow & sing “Happy Birthday” to him!!!

One last reminder…. this weekend is the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR… just in case you’ve somehow “missed” my previous posts??? I will be at the Sandwich location at the home-studio of my talented friend Cory McCrory! We may be the furthest away location, but we have a lot of great artists with full-on art fair tents full of pottery!!! Come on by!!!

Just days away!!! The NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR is this weekend. I’ll be at the Sandwich location out in the far west suburbs. I would start there & work your way back towards the Chicago to get the full “tour” experience. There are seven ceramic artists at our location… functional, whimsical, decorative, sculptural, traditional, textural & so much more. A little of everything!!! Mark your calendar, set the GPS, pack some snacks… and have fun roadtrippin’ around The Tour this weekend!

Big CONGRATULATIONS to my friend & pottery student Martin Sorge who announced today that he’s officially writing & publishing his first cookbook! If you recall, he was also the WINNER of “The Great American Baking Show” last year… which of course we celebrated in our pottery class with a lot of yummy baked treats! Congrats again Martin… we can’t wait to see your cookbook!!!

Oh yeah… and thanks for showing off that fancy stamped cake plate! It was the “prize” I made for Martin… before we found out he had won the real “trophy” cake plate!!!

Be sure to follow Martin on Instagram… @martinsorge

Looks like it’s Cookie Time at “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS.” Sweet treats to make us all very smiley! Thanks to our friend Nicole for bringing us some yummy goodies from Tag’s Bakery in Evanston.

And the fourth of our “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS”… a very talented metal sculptor Darlys Ewoldt. These are all hollow constructions of sheet metal all colored with beautiful patinas. They’re amazing… and yet I have absolutely no idea how she makes them?!!!