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?!!!

And look at this!!! Another Talented Friend… this time Robin Kittleson, a glass fusing artist that makes amazing pieces. All starting with her hand-pulled canes of colored glass! Snipped to small nuggets, arranged & fused into graceful forms. Be sure to stop by “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS” today or tomorrow to see her work.

You know how I love having Talented Friends… so swing by “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS” today it tomorrow to meet my talented metalsmith friend Sarah Chapman. Crazy cool designs with impeccable craftsmanship… I’ve already added more to my collection!

Well, we’re just a day away from the start of “4×4″ : FOUR MAKERS”… so today is a going to be a very busy day!!! I’ve still got a lot of projects to finish up, as well as setting up my shelving display & teaching class tonight! Our show goes Friday 2-8, Saturday 10-8:30 & Sunday 12-4.

But if you decide to stop by on Saturday, it is also the “First Saturdays” of art events in Evanston… so there will be a lot of other galleries & shows around the area to see… AFTER visiting us of course!!!

Well, we’re just a day away from the start of “4×4″ : FOUR MAKERS”… so today is a going to be a very busy day!!! I’ve still got a lot of projects to finish up, as well as setting up my shelving display & teaching class tonight! Our show goes Friday 2-8, Saturday 10-8:30 & Sunday 12-4. But if you decide to stop by on Saturday, it is also the “First Saturdays” of art events in Evanston… so there will be a lot of other galleries & shows around the area to see… AFTER visiting us of course!!!

Mark your calendars now for “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS” next weekend in Evanston, Illinois. It will be another fun showcase with me & three of “My Talented Friends.” Come see works by metalsmith Sarah Chapman, metal sculptor Darlys Ewoldt & fused glass by Robin Kittleson… plus my pottery obviously!!! We’re be doing a pop-up exhibition & sale at Space 900 Gallery on Dempster in Evanston. We’ll be open Friday night 2:00pm-8:00pm, Saturday 10:00am-8:00pm & Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm. We’d love to see you… so come by to see some beautiful art, chat with the artists & maybe even go home with something that makes you smile!

For more a sneak peek at Sarah’s work… click here.

For a sneak peek at Darlys’ work…. click here.

For a sneak peek at Robin’s work… click here.

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

Let me introduce you to Martin… spoiler alert… winner of the most recent “Great American Baking Show”… and potter in my Intermediate Wheelthrowing class! You may remember him from all of my posts about the snacky-games & finale party we played while he was in my class & his show was airing on TV.

Not only do his pottery skills continue to impress us… his baking does too! Like this yummy Lemon Lavender Cake he brought in for class snacks this past Monday! It sure was yummy… past tense… burp!… but it does also look GREAT on the stamped cake plate I made for him as his “trophy” for winning the show!!! They look great together!

You can always check-in on Martin’s baked goods… including the recipe for this cake… if you follow him on Instagram!!! – @martinsorge

And… oh, but wait there’s more… you can still csatch-up and watch “The Great American Baking Show” for FREE online. Sure, it might be on The ROKU Channel… but you don;t need ROKU to watch it on your computer!!! Just click here.