One of my students was out today for a neighborhood “up-cycle event”… aka garage sale?… and she ran across this gem! One of my stamped & soda-fired vases from a couple years ago! Not only did Darcy get it for FREE… she also had a nice chat with the previous owner.

My favorite part… “it was a little faded on one side.” HA!!!…
or maybe just SODA-FIRED?!!!
You know… pottery doesn’t really “fade” all that much!!!

Well, the weekend is finally getting here…. as is SPRING!!! So it’s perfect timing for the PLANTS & POTTERY POP-UP SALE! Lots of homegrown plants & handmade pottery to decorate your home, garden, office… anywhere! & everywhere!! This Friday & Saturday from 9:00am-4:00pm in Bartonville, Illinois! C’mon down…

2314 Skyway Road, Bartonville, Illinois 61607

It’s finally Spring… and it’s finally time for pretty plants!!! This Friday & Saturday is our second annual PLANTS & POTTERY POP-UP SALE down in Bartonville, Illinois… near Peoria! Hundreds of homegrown plants for your garden, patios & home… and plenty of pottery for everyone! Be sure to share with your friends!

2314 Skyway Road, Bartonville, IL 61607
Friday, May 13th & Saturday, May 14th – 9:00am-4:00pm

Did I mention ROAD TRIP???…
Did I mention diversions?… and snacks?… like this yummy cherry pie I picked up along the way. A quick stop at the NORSKE NOOK in Osseo to break-up the drive, stretch the legs, buy some gas… and a PIE!!!

So I “may” have done a bit of shopping up at the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour… like this great sgraffito jar made by Matthew Metz. Just one more for my already overflowing collection of his work!!!

You can follow Matthew’s work on Instagram… @metzpottery

So many pots, so many techniques, so many talented potters! Over the course of the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour, we saw so many amazing pieces of pottery. But I will say that my favorite pieces were the exquisite pots by Becky Lloyd. I have followed her for years on Instagram, and her work was even more AMAZING in person!!! Such intricate details & sgraffito carvings. The shapes. The forms. The patterns. The CRAFTSMANSHIP!!! Be sure to follow her on Instagram – @beckylloydyogamama

During the St. Croix Pottery Tour, it was great to see some beautiful “sangam” pottery by Minsoo Yuh. We tried this technique last year in my Surface Decorations class… and great to see how it’s really done by a master! Much better detail & smoothness than when we tried it in class. Ha!!!

Basically, you stamp patterns all over your clay. Then add a layer of thick slip over everything and let it dry to leatherhard. Then you carefully “shave off” the top layer of slip to reveal the clay body surface and the “now-slip-filled” stamped impressions.

This weekend was the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour! So great to go up for the tour – finally back in-person after two years of “virtualness” due to the pandemic. So much wonderful pottery everywhere, as well as time to chat with the potters. Time to touch the pottery, bask in the creativity, and to take some inspiration & ideas back home… as well as a “few” purchases along the way! We had amazing weather with beautiful blue skies and wonderful Spring temps in the 70’s!!! Huge THANKS to all of the studio hosts, the organizers and all of the potters who participate in this wonderful event… it’s a HUGE undertaking and they make it look so smooth & seamless! Kudos to you all!!!

On another damp & dreary Saturday, I thought a little splash of color might perk up your day! Like all of these beautiful coleus plants that my friends Rosene & Gerry have been growing all Winter in their basement… she started with over 600 cuttings!!! And now we’re just two weeks away from our little PLANTS & POTTERY POP-UP down by Peoria.

Friday, May 13th & Saturday, May 14th

I will be bringing a lot of pottery to go with a wide assortment of homegrown plants for your garden & home! Mark your calendar… more details to come!!!

No spoilers here… except that I just finished THE GREAT POTTERY THROW DOWN on HBO Max!!! Binged… and done!!!

I just wish there were more episodes… or a U.S. version I could compete & play on?! So many great projects. So many challenges. So much fun!!!