We’re just a day a way form the start of my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW!!! I’ve been working so hard getting everything ready for this weekend. I can’t wait to have a bunch of friends, customers & pottery lovers stopping by my place for some holiday fun. Whether you’re doing some holiday shopping for friends… or for yourself… or just coming to hang-out on my sofa… we’re open both days from 10:00-6:00pm. I hope you can make it… and bring a bunch of friends!!!

We’re just four days away from MY HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!! I’m still getting ready, prepping, pricing & packing the shelves with a LOT of pottery. Yes, I actually install my art fair shelving all around my condo!!! My place gets a little crowded with a LOT to see… so be forewarned… there will be a LOT of visual over-stimulation!!!

Just a week away… my biggest pottery sale of the year!!! With pottery in every room of my condo, there is plenty for everyone… and the perfect chance to start your holiday shopping!!! All decorated for Christmas, food & drink in the kitchen… and the “Tired of Shlepping Sale” on the back porch! Mark your calendars for next Saturday & Sunday!!!

On our way to Seward, kinda taking the turn near Anchorage, we stopped off at a wonderful hidden pottery studio in woods of Bird Creek. Just a few turns off the main road… if you know how to find them… is the pottery studio of Peter Brondz. We pulled in to find a few kilns under his kiln sheds. And then the “Welcome” sign that invites you inside (after you take your shoes off) to his honor-system Pottery Gallery. With a couple other potters showing along with Peter’s pots, Theresa & I started admiring & shopping. But then we heard something… a little noise on the other side of the wall. We pondered… and then out walked Peter Brondz himself.

He was in his studio working, but was more than willing to chat with us & give us a tour of his place. And his studio space is AMAZING… so warm & cozy with a beautiful view right there where he sits to make his pots. It was a wonderful surprise to find some more local art, to meet Peter himself… and to bring a couple new pots home to add to my mug collection!!! Thanks again for the tour Peter – so nice to meet you!

Thank You… Thank You… THANK YOU!!!

I couldn’t be more thankful to all of the people that made my Alaska Adventure possible up in Fairbanks earlier this summer. I had the best time experiencing Alaska… and getting there to teach a two-day workshop for the Fairbanks Potters Guild was a “great excuse” to go to Alaska. So huge, HUGE THANKS… and a couple Thank You gifts that followed…

To Theresa who scheduled, organized, facilitated, chauffeured & tour guided my whole experience. She literally took a week off work to take me all around Alaska to see the sights on her own time. Amazing. So I hope she enjoys adding a teapot to her collection!

To Tammy & Matt who hosted the workshop at her Raven City Studios, provided a LOT of clay, plenty of tools, hosted dinners & even took me hiking!

And to Ida… my favorite! I told her while I was here that I believe every studio should have their own Ida. She obviously has more ceramics knowledge than any of us. She was a steady “support” for me with her knowing glances, her nods of approval, her offering assistance & overall making me feel like I was doing a good job throughout my workshop experience. I’m guessing she’s the matriarch of the group… an probably doesn’t always get the accolades as she should. So there… YOU’RE THE BEST IDA!!!

It has also been fun after teaching my workshop in Fairbanks, Alaska… to see some of the glazed results of the local potters there. Like these beauties from Bianca of WILLOW STUDIOS in Ester, Alaska. Many of them with some nice stamping & one hybrid mug using one of my favorite textured rollers from MKM Pottery Tools. It was so much fun to share my techniques… but even more fun to see them carry on into finished pottery! Nicely done Bianca!!!

Hard to believe that it’s already November… and more importantly, that my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW is just a couple weeks away!!! Be sure to mark your calendars, start making your holiday shopping list & bring some friends to my place!!! I guarantee there’s a lot to see… I’m not kidding… A LOT!!!

And a little more eye candy… views from the front stack of this weekend’s soda kiln firing. Just in time for next weekends art fair in Glenview, Illinois. It’s time for ART IN THE GARDEN… a grassroots art fair with a bunch of artistic friends all pulling together to throw a pretty great art fair.

It’s Day Two of the GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR!!! We had a little drizzly rain pass through earlier this morning. So now we’re hoping it’s just dry & cloudy for the rest of the show. C’mon out to Glenview to say hello… I’m in Booth 31 until 5:00pm!

A beautiful morning start for Day Two of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. We started with homemade scones & quiches… and then moved on to the task at hand. Chatting & selling pottery! Swipe through for a quick tour of pottery by the seven ceramic artists at the Sandwich stop… Cory, Jessica, Laura, Natalie, Tanvvi, Andryea & me!!!

Our talented host CORY McCRORY
“Cory grew up at the foot of a sewing machine. Everyday she would watch her mother break down design ideas into pattern pieces that fit together into 3d creations. Cory embraces this method of creation to hand build her functional and playful ceramics.“

JESSICA DOUGHERTY
“Jessica Dougherty creates functional and decorative pottery inspired by the beauty of botanicals. Her forms and surfaces reflect nature’s textures and movement, blending artistry with everyday use. Each piece invites connection—to nature, to the handmade, and to the quiet moments in daily rituals.”

LAURA WILLIAMS
“Laura Williams (they/she) is a Chicago based ceramic artist and educator whose work centers material, process, narrative, and play. Laura makes their work in their home studio in Humboldt Park and teaches ceramics locally at Made Chicago, The Digs, and Lillstreet Art Center.”

NATALIE STEINMETZ
“Natalie has been working with clay for over 35 years making both functional and sculptural work. Her most recent monster series represents the journey through trauma and grief to hope and healing. Natalie’s work captures both struggle and celebration – and her unique perspective resonates with collectors nationwide who find it featured in galleries and exhibitions.”

TANVVI AGARRWAL
“Tanvvi meticulously crafts each pot with a commitment to beauty, functionality, and longevity. She believes in creating pottery that not only captivates the eye but also stands the test of time, meant to be cherished and used for years to come. With every firing, Tanvvi strives to capture the vivid colors, dynamic ash patterns, and individuality that make each piece truly one-of-a-kind.”

ANDRYEA NATKIN
“Andryea aspires to illustrate the intersection between the conscious and unconscious. She produces hand built organic forms where nothing is perfect. Each piece possesses a life and personality of its own. Surfaces are embellished with her visual vocabulary with a limited palette. An aesthetic meditation emerges; giving the viewer permission to connect to something deep within themselves.”

And me!!!
GARY JACKSON
“For Gary, working in clay is very satisfying and helps bring out his inner child – like making mud pies with a purpose. As his craftsmanship has improved and his personal style became more apparent, he was drawn to his tactile nature and his interest in natural repetition & textural patterns.”