Once again, Art In The Barn is right around the corner…
I will be in the same booth space as usual. One of the perks of being in the same booth
space is I get to be next to my metalsmith friend Molly Bitters again! She makes these
incredible pieces that combine metal work, with etched copper and hand-dyed &
pressed leather. Part of what makes them so cool, is that she not only etches the
patterns, and presses the leather to create the leather, but then combines pieces
of both “processes” into one piece!!! Love it.

In addition to these great “intaglio” pieces, she also makes a line of silver work with
animals, trees, rain clouds and more – with colorful leather backgrounds. She also
makes a line of fire-polished copper combined with leather. I’m definitely looking
forward to spending the weekend in the booth next to her –
and adding more of her beautiful work to my collection!!!

I’m sure we’ll be sharing many laughs, cookies, customers and stories over the weekend.
Check out more of her work on her website -  www.macabistudios.com

So while I was cleaning today… and while I was literally under my work table
on my hands & knees scrubbing… I hear Roberta’s voice. In my studio. I had no idea
she was coming to Lillstreet for a visit today, but it was great to see her.

I met Roberta several years ago and instantly fell in love with her ceramic work.
The gracefully organic shapes, the attention to detail and the fine glaze qualities.
Over the years, I see her frequently on the art fair circuit. It’s always nice to see a friendly face
at the art fair, to have a chance to “compare notes” and share business ideas with each other.
We also had a brief chance to work together when I was teaching summer camp at
Terra Incognito in Oak Park. Roberta’s studio space is there and she works part-time
and does their graphic design.

Drawing inspiration from natural forms and textures, her pieces are tiny treasures.
I love the organic feel, the miniature charm and fine details. Roberta makes great stuff!!!

Plus, one of my other “Talented Friends” Sarah Chapman is a Roberta Fan too…
Sarah actually saves money in a “Roberta Fund” so that she can add a piece to her collection
every summer during the Bucktown Arts Festival. And this summer was no exception…

For more, check out Roberta’s website – http://www.robertapolfusceramics.com/

So I rode another Century bike ride today way out in the far west suburbs.
When I finished the ride, I realized that I was very close to Sandwich, Illinois…
which also means I was really close to my friend Cory McCrory’s home.
So why not meet for ice cream?!…

Over some frozen dairy products, we got caught up on her recent travels,
my bike vacation, art fairs, and resolved all of the problems of the world.

What we’re doing. What we’re not doing.
What we hope to get done sometime this summer.
What we’ve already admitted we won’t get to.

Cory had recently finished teaching a weeklong workshop up in Canada.
She had a great experience and is hoping to return next year for another one.
I told her we would love to see some photos of it on her blog.

And what about writing a book about her own work in paper clay & techniques?!
She has such a different approach & style – why not share it in a book? I saw her
teach a workshop in LaGrange a few months ago and everyone there was hanging
on her every word. So why not publish a book?!

We discussed what we’ve been doing this summer. Summer camp… biking… gardening.
Her limited art fair schedule… my impending art fair this weekend in Evanston.
Making pots. Making art. Making life.

We talked about some of our common friends in this small little ceramic world.
New friends. Old friends. Shared friends.

It was a great way to finish my long day of bike riding.
And a great chance to catch up with one of “My Talented Friends.”
I just wish we had more time to chat… and some more hot fudge!!!

So she’s starting a new chapter… leaving Chicago… leaving Lillstreet…
and beginning the next phase of her “dream plan” up in Minneapolis!
And she will be greatly missed… as a friend, as a potter, as my studio neighbor!

Today was Emily’s official moving date – from Chicago to Minneapolis.
She’s moving up north – along with her boyfriend Ian, sister Nora and her two
little boys. They’ve purchased an old duplex, done some extensive renovations
and are now ready to move in. Unfortunately, her new studio & kiln have not been
built yet… so we’re not quite sure when she’ll be up & running.

Over the past few years, Emily has been “just around the corner” of my studio…
for clay advice, design opinions, business methods, and more. She has been a full-time
potter for several years – and always supportive of my choice to go the same route!
She also taught the soda firing classes at Lillstreet, as well as coordinating the program.
So she was quite influential in my soda-firing adventures. Our emphasis on functional pots
is much the same – but our styles have always been quite different. Emily prefers natural
soda flashings, colored slips layered to create crackling & textures and sprayed glazes.
She has a more painterly style, emphasizing brush strokes & geometric designs.

Emily was also the one who championed the whole “you need a website”
project – and forced, err, “encouraged” me to start this blog. Her own blog has become
quite popular in the pottery circles… and she knew that starting a blog would be right
up my alley. Sharing photos, sharing stories, all about me, me, me!!!

So thanks for checking out MY blog… and thanks to Emily for getting me started…
and now you can check out her blog to see where it all began!!! And see where her
new adventure takes her as she re-establishes herself in the Twin Cities!
www.potteryblog.com

With jewelry that is pretty, bright & shiny – and a personality to match…
Rebecca Zemans is an “up & coming” metalsmith to watch out for!
She first hit my radar last year as the Resident Artist at Lillstreet Art Center.
She then made her “debut” as one of the Emerging Artists at the annual
“One Of A Kind Show” in Chicago. She makes beautiful work…
and will always bring a smile to your face!

Rebecca and I were neighbors this weekend at the Hinsdale Fine Arts Fair.
It was her first “outdoor” art fair… and she successfully survived! Including
a not-so-wonderful Saturday due to the rain! While the weather was a little
dismal – Rebecca’s attitude still shined through! As did her work…

Rebecca works her magic with metals & stones in her studio at Lillstreet Art Center.
She also teaches classes – as well as kid’s summer camp! So check her out…
www.RebeccaZemans.com

Tonight was the opening of my friend Sarah Chapman‘s Trunk Show
at Lillstreet Art Center. It was a fun night to chat with friends and see some
of Sarah’s latest metal creations! I just love her work… the textures, the movement,
the different metals, the inclusions of beads, shells, rocks & m0re!
Can’t wait to add to my collection!

Her work will be on exhibit in the Lillstreet Gallery through the month of May.
Check out her website for details: www.ChapmanMetals.com
Or Lillstreet Art Center’s website: www.Lillstreet.com

Another talented friend to add to the list…
Amy Higgason of Pigeon Road Pottery.
Always smiling. Always laughing. Always good to see!

I just got a new plate from Amy – and I love it!!!

Amy used to be a studio member at Lillstreet Art Center back when I was
just starting to take classes. Her work has always been very detailed & precise.
Something I greatly admire – as we both come from the same graphic design
background! She also has a wonderful painterly style showing off her
wonderful illustration skills.

She’s very much into patterns & textures – two of my favorite things!
Many of her pots have this wonderful “sprigging” technique – which is kind of the
opposite of my stamping technique. Instead of pressing the pattern into the pot,
she’s making a textured “applique” piece to attach to the surface of the pot.
Below you can see how she carves out sections around the perimeter – and then
adds an eclectic grouping of shaped, textured & glazed sprigs to decorate the center.

So Amy now resides up in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. She has set up her own
“little piece of pottery heaven” up in the woods. With a cute little studio just steps
away from her cabin, she’s busy pumping out wonderful pieces of pottery.
Check out her work at www.pigeonroadpottery.blogspot.com

Another installment in “My Talented Friends” series of blog entries…
I met Martin when he started taking my wheelthrowing class at Lillstreet Art Center.
His wife Christi had been taking my class for a couple sessions when Martin
decided to give it a try. I could tell right away that he was artistic… but who knew?!

As time went on, I found out that he was an architectural model maker by trade
but looking for other artistic outlets. It wasn’t until I got to know them better
that I found out that Martin is also a very talented painter. As well as a proper
Englishman complete with accent, Shepherd’s Pie and Pims!

When the opportunity came up for he and Christi to move to Raleigh, North Carolina
for Christi’s new job, it was then that Martin decided to make a go of it and become
a full-time artist. He’s how happily in his studio with pen & ink, oil paints and any
other medium he can get his artistic hands on!

So now he is getting himself established in the Raleigh art scene,
and finding ways to get his work out there. If you would like to see more, visit his
website at www.chadwicksworld.com.

I often tell people that it is great to have talented friends!!!
And here’s another one…

I met Sarah Chapman at Lillstreet Art Center. She’s a wonderful artist & metalsmith.
Although she works mostly with sterling silver, she has a heart of gold!
Over the years we have become good friends and love to share our work, our ideas
and our business experiences. We have often discussed that we have very similar
business philosophies and experiences… both of us trying to find our way as
full-time, self-employed artists. We have frequently discussed how we seem to be on the
same path, kind of at the same business experience level, making the same decisions…
only she’s using metal instead of clay!!! I won’t hold that against her… especially now
as she is currently getting dirty in my Tuesday night wheelthrowing class!!!

Sarah’s work is a wonderful combination of materials, textures & patterns.
In fact, the necklaces above are great as seen… but they are also reversible with a different
pattern and different metal on the other side – two looks for the price of one. Brilliant.
No wonder I love her work!!! Over the years, I have gathered quite the collection
of her work… including two bracelets that are my favorites!!! I love having those
“one-of-a-kind-just-for-me” pieces that she makes!

Watch for her out there on the art fair circuit. She does several shows in and around
the Chicago area, as well as several shows out-of-state. I can frequently be found hanging
out & helping in her booth if I’m doing the same art fair! If you don’t find her early on
this summer, she’s usually just two booths south of me at the Evanston Lakeshore
Fine Arts Festival. Be sure to stop by and say hello to both of us!!!

And if you can’t wait until summer…   www.chapmanmetals.com

I met Cory McCrory a few years back at the Hinsdale Fine Art Fair.
She was a row over, and I could barely see her booth from mine… but the little
I could see definitely piqued my interest. She had clay fish swimming in her tent!
It was love at first sight… the colors, the patterns, the textures, the whimsy…
oh, and she was really nice too!!! Since our initial infatuation with each others work,
we’ve become good friends over the years. We shared ideas, fears, inspirations and meals.
We are both working our way through the world as self-employed ceramic artists…
both trying to carve out our own niché… both playing with textures!

Cory McCrory Workshop at Terra Incognito
Last weekend, Cory was the “headliner” at a ceramic workshop at Terra Incognito
in LaGrange, Illinois. As the supportive friend and Cory-enthusiast, I had to go.
It’s not every day that one of your friends is presenting a workshop!

She worked her way through the day presenting her techniques, making a couple pieces
and sharing her thoughts, inspirations & passions along the way. Cory’s work is more
sculptural in nature, filled with a wonderful sense of whimsy, yet often functional
at the same time. Tough to get all three to work in balance like that. She also works with
“paper clay” which affords her more time to “work the clay” as though it were more like fabric.
Paper clay is regular stoneware clay that has a large percentage of hydrated paper pulp
mixed into it. The result is a lighter clay body that retains moisture longer so it extends the
“workable” time before it dries out. She has also had great results with re-working pieces
even after they’ve dried to greenware. Apparently the paper pulp helps with dry attachments?!

As with a lot of my friends, I have quite a collection of Cory’s work… and always want more!
I do here graphic design for her… postcards, business cards, etc… in exchange for more.
I have a teapot, bottles, whistles and an entire school of her clay fish. And more to come.
There’s never enough whimsy in the world… and Cory just keeps adding more!