EXCITING NEWS!!! My longtime friend Kristen Holub is hosting a “Studio Opening Celebration” tomorrow… as she’s opening her own “brick & mortar” pottery studio! She started as a professional metalsmith, took time off to be a great Mom, then came back & took some pottery classes… and look at her now! As a former student of mine, she definitely subscribed to the “more is more” mantra! Her pots are beautifully crafted with wonderful details & craftsmanship. If you’re in town, be sure to stop by to visit My Talented Friend Kristen!
A huge CONGRATULATIONS… and a Flashback Friday… to My Talented Friend, master baker & potter Martin Sorge!!! I just got my copies of his first cookbook “GREAT BAKES” through pre-order… open sales begin August 4th! So exciting… so beautiful, great photography, great styling, and I’m confident the recipes will be AMAZING as well!!!
We first met Martin when he signed-up for one of my pottery classes. He mentioned that he makes handmade OREOs… done! Then he mentioned that he had filmed “The Great American Baking Show” which was going to air during our class session. Of course we watched.. and I decided we needed to “gamble” on it… each student randomly choosing a baker-player. And then when their player was voted out, they had to bring snacks to our pottery class based on their losing recipe!!! Reality TV, gambling AND snacks???… I’m in!!!
SPOILER ALERT…
So as the show played out with judges Dame Prue & Paul Hollywood under the same “Great British Bake-Off” tent in England… we kept seeing this cast of American bakers strutting their stuff challenge after challenge. And Martin kept making it through & becoming the Star Baker a couple times even while baking with corn several times. By the end of the show… Martin was in the Finale… and eventually WON THE SHOW!!! Huge congrats Martin!!!
So then we decided we had to throw a big surprise party for Martin for our last class potluck. I invited the two other Chicago bakers from the show to join us – as they had all three become close friends. So Sarah & Nirali surprised Martin, partied with us… and even threw their first pots on the wheel. So much fun!!!
But after winning the show… what do you do next???
Well… Martin has taken his culinary skills to the next level… and written a full-on cookbook!!! Full of amazing recipes & photos. It’s already getting some big buzz… including from Bon Appetit !!! Listing his book as one of “The Best New Cookbooks of Summer 2026.” Be sure to go out and get one of Martin’s cookbooks… pre-order now… or buy it after August 4th!!!
Screenshot
Congrats Martin… we’re all so proud of you & excited for your new adventure!!! Your book is a huge achievement, a ton of work & it all looks AMAZING!!! And any time you need more taste-testers… we’re in!!!
You gotta love having talented friends… and art fair booth neighbors this weekend!!! Like Rhonda from “The Buttons Stop Here” who created a very special bracelet for me made of vintage “trade uniform” buttons… all starting with the state prison button which I LOVE!!! Plus the artistry & detail of the other buttons is amazing as well… all over a hundred years old!!!
Stop by the GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR today from 11:00am-5:00pm… come see us both… we’re side-by-side!!!
So this mug “may have” come home with me too! A sweet little mug from Lindsey Heiden. Loved the raven on the side… but it was the red balloon that he’s holding that really sealed the deal.
Anyone else remember the movie “The Red Balloon”? I saw it in third grade and for some reason, it has stuck with me ever since. One of my all time favorites. I even own an old VHS tape of it!!! So of course I had to get the mug with the red balloon. Obviously.
It’s tough to be standing around at a Pottery Tour surrounded by talented potters… a NOT get some souvenirs to add to my mug collection! Like these two from my friend & “booth neighbor” Kenyon Hansen that made the trip home with me!!!
Kicking off Day Two of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR with a little PARTY!!! Be sure to wish Kenyon a “Happy Birthday” when you stop by today! We’re open from 10:00am-5:00pm at the Sandwich location… pottery tour stop #5!!!
And thanks to Natalie for baking last night after a long & sweaty Day One of the tour!!!
Joining us from the Upper Peninsula, Kenyon Hansen is back again this year for theNORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR! We missed him last year in Sandwich… so this weekend will be his triumphant return!!! Cant’s wait to see Kenyon & his pots… many of which remind me of the Northern Lights!
I met Cory McCrory MANY years ago when we were both setting up our booths at the Hinsdale Art Fair… we were intrigued by each other’s work & have become fast friends ever since!!! She is now one of the hosts for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR… and I will once again be one of her Guest Artists! Can’t wait to play out there again… and maybe add a little sumthin’-sumthin’ to my Cory collection.
For those who have been to my Holiday Home Show… you’ve already seen my Cory McCrory Shrine!!! And for those who come to ART IN THE GARDEN in September… Cory is my favorite “collaborator” for that show too! Always creative… always an inspiration!
Our second demo this week with my SURFACE DECORATION class, was done by “My Talented Friend” Kristen Holub of Kayho Ceramics. She did an AMAZING sgraffito-carving demo on one of my platters. Remember the one where I shaved-off the bad colored slip, and then added a new layer of ombre’ blended colored slip? Well here it is again!
Kristen started with my colored platter – but then turned it onto a work of art showing off her own carving style. Going step-by-step teaching my students how to go every step of the way. I brought down my collection of DiamondCore Tools for her to use… along with my students who eventually had their chance to play along. It was an amazing night… so much fun & such a great demo!!!
Kristen started out as a metalsmith when we first become friends many years ago. Then she took time off to become a Mom, and is now embracing her creative side in CLAY!!! She started as pottery student of mine, but quickly developed her skills & her personal style. She has now branched off and has her own studio space & brand-identity online. Be sure to follow her on Instagram – @kayhoceramics.
And while we’re enjoying some much needed sunshine today… I’m also enjoying another stained glass piece catching some sun today! It was my first piece from my friend Retta who makes cool stained glass pieces that include some unconventional parts & pieces. She had me at STOP… part of a vintage reflector!!!
Be sure to look her up on Facebook at “I Do Windows” by Retta Hentschel. Or plan on coming out to ART IN THE GARDEN in Glenview this September to see both of us there!!!
