Many of you may have seen my extensive Christmas ornament collection when you came to the “My Home For The Holidays” Home Shows over the years. And then after this year’s Monthly Holiday Ornament Challenge, I now have even more! I’ve always loved handmade ornaments. I guess because I’ve always like to “make things” as a kid. So it’s only fitting that I continue to collect handmade ornaments. And it’s even more fun now that I have so many “Talented Friends” who make so many cool things!

Growing up as a kid, every Christmas we would get a new ornament for our collection from our Grandma Mills (my Mom’s mom). She was quite crafty and worked through the year making ornaments. Many of them are still cherished keepsakes.

And then my Mom took up the tradition and started making us a new handmade ornament every year. As you can see, my Mom works more in the sewing & needlepoint world with tiny little details and a lot of counted-cross-stitch. These have merged nicely into the collection, and grace my tree every season.

Meanwhile, I’ve made a lot of friends who also like to “make things.” So many “Talented Friends” who make cool things… including cool ornaments. And so I continue to expand my Christmas ornament collection. These are just a few from my ornament collection… there are SO many more… far too many to share every one!!!

Cory McCrory                                               Roberta Polfus

Terry Hogan (front?)                                   Terry Hogan (back?)

Cory McCrory                                               Emily Murphy

Roberta Polfus                                             Cory McCrory

Marian Castro-Palanyk                              Zack Medler

Anna Leong                                                  Roberta Polfus

Emily Murphy                                              Lisa Harris

Nancy Jana-Kent                                         Emily Murphy

Terry Hogan (front?)                                  Terry Hogan (back?)

Nancy Jana-Kent                                        Marian Castro-Palanyk

Emily Murphy                                              Amy Higgason

Cory McCrory                                               Rosene Snekhaus… my FIRST art fair friends!

Terry Hogan                                                 Nancy Jana-Kent

Amy Higgason                                             Danny Mansmith

Unknown… but I got it at the “One Of A Kind Show”… and I LOVE IT.
                                                             …and I love grape soda!!! Go figure.

Tonight I stopped in at the Ceramics Showcase in Evanston. So much fun hanging with a few of “My Talented Friends.” Cory McCrory, Roberta Polfus, Delores Fortuna, Amy Higgason & Mary Dye, Glad I got there when I did, as Delores was running really late and I got to “save the day” by helping her unload & get her space set-up! If you’re looking for some nice pottery this weekend, be sure to stop by Evanston and say “hi” to my friends!

Here’s a quick peek at what I came home with from the Evanston Ceramic Showcase…
wonderful goodies from my friends Cory Mccrory & Delores Fortuna.
I love having Talented Friends!!!

A wonderful tufted & textured goblet by Cory McCrory…

A whimsical, dotted mug by Cory McCrory…

A little party blackbird ornament by Cory McCrory…

And a beautiful dinner plate by Delores Fortuna.
It was actually a “thank you gift” from Delores for helping her out this evening. As she said, it was one of the worst days ever for her… lots of problems, conflicts & personal crises… capped off with a flat tire as she was driving in from Galena.

So there she was, arriving in Evanston “after” the show had already started! Luckily I was there – ready & willing to help. Trying to quickly get her shelving & pots into the room so she could get set up. It wasn’t until I was taking a couple extra plank shelves back out to her van that I ran into a little trouble.. err, well ran into a shelf… literally!!! The plank shelf that I was carrying out was apparently longer “taller” than the door frame I was trying to go through. The plank hit the door frame and stopped… unfortunately, I didn’t stop. Wham!!! I walked right into the plank. Ouch. But I was still trying to get Delores all set up, so I didn’t really think too much about it until I felt a little bit of swelling. It wasn’t until I got home and looked in the mirror that I noticed I might be getting a little shiner!!! Yep… took one for the team!!!

But I digress, back to pottery…
My new Delores plate is a great “partner” to this other Delores Fortuna plate
that I’ve loved using for years! Whoo-hoo… now I have TWO!!!

I stopped by the “One Of A Kind Show” last night to help my friend Sarah Chapman.
Her booth is packed full of beautiful pieces for the four-day art fair at the Merchandise Mart.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Four days of wonderful art.

This is just a sneak preview… be sure to stop by this weekend and see everything for yourself! You’ll be glad you did…

For several years it was so hard to find a good apron to keep the clay off my clothes while I was throwing. So my Mom and I sat down and designed a new apron that would do what I wanted it to do. First off, the lower section splits into two panels to cover each leg as you sit down at the wheel. There are patch pockets on the back of each hip to keep your phone safe & clean. The straps actually go over the shoulders, instead of around the neck, to avoid neck strain & fatigue. There are three different buttoned height adjustments, as well as three buttoned width adjustments. So the aprons are “one size fits all”… for the most part. My Mom started making them for me, and then we sold a few to my friends. Over the years, she has made quite a small little “business” for herself making these pottery aprons!

Here is my friend & potter Greg Schultz throwing a large pot on the wheel…
and keeping his clothing clean all at the same time!

So there are a few currently in the apron inventory. I have them for sale in my studio at Lillstreet, and they will be making an appearance at my Holiday Home Show next weekend.

APRON A – From the “Eclectic Collection”, a patchwork mix of earthtone patterns & textures.

APRON B – From the “Eclectic Collection”, a striped patchwork with assorted pattern accents.

APRON C – Navy blue with a small pattern of green, red & light blue across the apron.

APRON D – A blue “denim” background with some printed patterns in yellows, reds & greens.

APRON E – A cool mint green apron with whimsical butterflies flying across the apron.

APRON F – A clean, geometric stripe with red, oranges & yellows.
SOLD : to one of my former students & now Lillstreet Monitor Chuck!

APRON G – A mind-bending pattern of black & white.

APRON H – A retro-vibe with a musical flair!

APRON I – I’m seeing spots before my eyes… bright pops of color on a blue background.
SOLD : to my friend & potter Emily Murphy up in Minneapolis!

Yep… a day late…
But still she made an ornament for the August Ornament Challenge!
She’s been so busy taking care of everything… this ornament just slipped away.
But lucky for us, she got one made “kind of” in time for the August deadline.
It’s a twisted and hammered recycled copper wire ornament!

Had a great time this morning hanging out at the Bucktown Arts Festival chatting with a lot of “My Talented Friends.” If you have time, they’re open again tomorrow with hundreds of artists all through the park. Stop by and say hi to metalsmith Sarah Chapman, potter Delores Fortuna, printmaker Judy Zeddies, yarn-mistress Susan Tecktiel, chain maille jeweler Melissa Banks, potter & sgraffito artist Glynnis Lessing, potter Isabel Mikel and so many more!

Once again, the weather was beautiful. And my “backyard” view was stunning.
The Evanston Lakeshore Arts Festival is always a fun weekend on the lakefront.

Sure, my booth was filled with a LOT of pottery. And it was so much fun to see so many supportive friends & customers passing through this weekend. I just love watching people pick up my pieces, caress them, fondle them, and eventually fall in love with them!

I was also lucky to meet another fun metalsmith this weekend… as she moved into the booth next to me! Carole Axium of Chicago was great fun to play with all weekend long. And her work is beautiful to boot. A weekend art fair is always so much more fun when you have good “booth neighbors” AND you admire their work.

Here’s a quick peek at some of her beautiful designs. Everything is easily functional, you can wear them everyday, and she OBVIOUSLY has a love of incredible stones! She has quite a collection of crazy “picture” stones with so many layers, colors and more!

But the funniest part of the weekend playing with Carole was on Sunday when her daughter Megan decided to “work” for the day to make some extra money. And I use the term “work” very loosely!!! I tried to get her to negotiate a deal & a contract with her Mom before she even started working. But as the day went on, it was apparent that she was eating more from the food vendors than she ever could be earning from “working”?!

Megan was adorable. And just as quirky & goofy as you would expect any pre-teen to be!!!

For more information on her website, click here for Carole Axium Designs.

Not only did I score a great teapot… but my friend & metalsmith Amy Taylor also made a special bracelet just for me!!! So much fun to play with her in Hinsdale today… but even better when she makes cool things for me!!! Made of oxidized sterling silver. Seven links. Each with a different pattern & style. And two of Amy’s “trademark” hinges! Such a wonderful surprise… from a wonderful friend!!!

You know I’ve said it for years… I LOVE HAVING TALENTED FRIENDS!
Seeing them & playing with them at the art fairs is a lot of fun. So this weekend is playing out to be extra fun with some many of “My Talented Friends” participating in the Hinsdale Fine Art Fair along with me. So imagine my surprise & excitement when I “walked away with” one of Cory McCrory‘s incredible teapots to add to my collection?! And the real kicker is that she recently told everyone on Facebook that she might be done making teapots for quite awhile. She’s kind of burnt out on them, and ready to focus on making some new fun pieces! So color me thrilled with my new whimsical masterpiece by Cory McCrory!!! She’s a sweetie… and so is my new teapot!!!

Don’t forget that tomorrow is the Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival. I will be in Booth #101. But if I alone am not enough to drag you out to the ‘burbs, you’ll also see a bunch of “My Talented Friends.” Whimsical potter & sculptor Cory McCrory, hinged jeweler Amy Taylor, watercolorist Anne Gilna, precious painted pots by Nancy Gardner, stained glass windows by Richard Diens & crystalline glazed pottery from The Pottery Boys!!! And over a hundred more artists to boot. Plenty of art. Plenty of fun. Come on out this weekend!!!