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 the NORTHERN 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!!!

And we can’t forget how great the Decorating Disks are from MKM Pottery Tools for dividing your pots into perfectly spaced segments for “evenly spaced” carved designs!

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.

My how I love having talented friends!!!

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!!!

Dinner last night with some of My Talented Friends…
getting together for some “non-art fair” fun & frienship. We met at Melissa’s house where she treated us to a wonderful “hot pot” meal… my first time… served out of her own handmade “donabe” hot pots… and handmade dinnerware! Plenty of great food & great fun… especially for those struggling with chopsticks!!! Lots of yummy meats, seafood, veggies, dumplings & broths… including one she made out of corn? I’d never even heard of “corn broth” before?! Yummy!!!

Just a quick reminder that this weekend is BOWLS & BUTTONS… my Second Holiday Home Show. Perfect for all your holiday shopping with pottery in every room of my Christmas decorated condo!!! Plus food & drink in the kitchen & the back porch is my “Tired of Shlepping Sale”. Big discounts on lots of pots!!!

As an added bonus, my talented friend Rhonda Gurgone will be at my place too with beautiful jewelry she makes out of vintage buttons. So unique… and the perfect gift for that special someone… or yourself!!!

Stop on by Saturday & Sunday from 10:00am-6:00pm.
Come with your holiday gift list to crank it out… and bring a friend or five!!!

Don’t forget the happy little things! Like handmade pottery & jewelry for all of your holiday gifts! Here’s a quick preview of some beautiful jewelry made by my friend Rhonda Gurgone… who will be my Guest Artist this weekend at my condo. All made with antique buttons… and she knows the backstory of every vintage button! So come on by this weekend to do some holiday shopping… pottery & jewelry for everyone!!!