A very special THANK YOU to everyone who came out for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR this weekend. I know all of artists at the Sandwich location appreciated everyone who made the trek out to the country to see some pottery! We loved seeing all of you! Thanks to all the pottery-lovers out there that keep this event growing year after year. And if you didn’t make it this year… start planning now for next year!!!

Not a bad day at the art fair today! It’s always nice to win a prize ribbon… and sell a bunch of pots at the same time! Were there again tomorrow from 10:00am-5:00pm at the SCHAUMBURG PRAIRIE ARTS FESTIVAL. Be sure to stop by… my now “award-winning” booth to say “Hi” tomorrow! Ha!!!

Well, here we go!!! Let the summer art fair season begin!!! Yes, this weekend will be the kick-off to my schedule. And several people have asked… so “YES the Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival is still ON” even with all of the construction around the Municipal Center location. There is apparently a LOT of construction and the booth locations have been all re-arranged. I will be located on the far other side of the pond for the first time…. Booth #98. I’m sure there will be detours & signs… but I also know the artists will truly appreciate those who make the added effort to stop by & support the local artists this weekend.

Just stamping another large dinner plate… all with one handmade clay stamp!

After last week’s demo on “thick slip” with my SURFACE DECORATION class, I’ve continued working on this platter in my studio. Now that it’s leatherhard, I decided to start carving a texture all around the flange of the platter. So much nicer with my favorite DiamondCore Tools carving tool. Crisp, clean edges every time!

Another large stamped platter fresh from the kiln. Loving how this glaze pools & puddles in all the right places… totally accentuating all of the stamped textures along the way!

A cold & rainy Sunday perfect for some repetitive stamping. Decorating another platter with one handmade stamp pressed in one by one… by one… by one…

This week was our final Intermediate Wheelthrowing class… so we celebrated with a “trading-stealing-white-elephant” kinda game. Category being two dinner plates! We had a lot of fun trading plates… some came in as matching sets & others in singles. Including one matching set that came with an added BONUS… two matching mini’s!!!

Just a little “quick stamping” in my studio before heading downstairs to teach again tonight!!!

We’re nearing the end of the Winter Session at Lillstreet, and I love when it all starts to “click” with my beginners, the proverbial “light bulb” goes off… and they start making some really great pots with intention. Like last night when Nick made this great platter… his biggest piece EVER!!!