I’ve been working on these pieces for awhile.
And it finally feels GREAT to call them done!

I received a request from a local Chicago customer for a special order last Summer during the shutdown. He owns & runs THE ECCENTRIC CAFE in Kalamazoo, Michigan… a part of Bell’s Brewery. Apparently, the bar has a lot of “visual intrigue”… wonderful collections & things to look at all over the place. In fact, it’s one of the only brewery pubs with NO TELEVISIONS!!!

So the request was that I would make a large “tankard” or stein for his newest collection. I LOVE making mugs… so I was definitely intrigued to tackle them on a much larger scale! He said he was “collecting them” from a few of his favorite potters around the country. So I was HONORED to be chosen to be part of his collection of favorites!!!

The request was that I can make any style, shape or form tankard “in my style”… and they had to hold more than 64-ounces! Knowing that I was going to be soda-firing them, I decided to make a couple extra just in case something goes wrong during the firing… a drip from the ceiling, a splotch of errant soda, or any other random issue that comes up while soda-firing. So here are the three finished pieces seen from both sides. Totally pleased with the finished results… and NO random soda mishaps!!!

Tankard #1 –

Tankard #2 –

Tankard #3 –

As I was making them, I was continually concerned that they wouldn’t be large enough… a minimum of 64-ounces. You know how clay shrinks when it dries… again when it gets bisque fired… and yet again when soda-fired. So I threw them fairly large with the shrinkage in mind… but after each step in the process they kept getting smaller and I kept getting more & more concerned!!! Turns out I was all good… BY FAR!!!… as each of them finished out with a volume of nearly 96-ounces each!!!

When I sent photos of them finished to Larry to choose which one he wanted… I was blown away when he said he loved them and wanted ALL THREE!!! Blown away!!! I was so excited that he loved them so much.

Last night I dropped them off … so nice to complete the commission and pass them off to the client. They will now be on their way to THE ECCENTRIC CAFE in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I can’t wait to see photos of them in “the collection” when they all come together. I know a few of the other potters involved… and it’s sure to be a pretty sweet collection! And then when “things” settle down a bit this summer, I may just need to do a roadtrip to Kalamazoo to see the pottery collection in person!

With snow on the ground this morning, it’s a good reminder that Christmas is quickly upon us… and if you’re still looking for handmade gifts, there are plenty of them in MY ONLINE POTTERY STORE that would make anyone smile when they open your present. Keep in mind, we’re running out of time… so I would order today or tomorrow to make sure they arrive in time for the holidays!!!

Click here to shop online – MY ONLINE POTTERY STORE.

And yes, if you look closely in the ovals, there are a lot of pots all over my place with corresponding numbered Post-it Notes!

Momma Molloy sharing some of her mug collection to help celebrate MUGSHOT MONDAY! I love seeing my pottery being used in people’s homes… making their morning a bit more special.

A touching epilogue from Melissa
who won the Silent Auction yesterday…

“I’m so glad you’re happy and that your auction was a success! My mom passed away three years ago and I’ve been looking for the perfect place to memorialize her for myself and for my two sisters. Your work showed up in my Instagram feed under the hashtag “cardinal” and here we are. Right place, right time.”

Amazing what a simple hashtag can do. Obviously things were meant to work out the way they did yesterday. Such a fitting tribute – a full circle moment for this entire “Cardinal Commission” project. It has been quite fulfilling & touching at so many moments along the way. Thank you to everyone who has been along on this journey with me.

Just two hours left for today’s HOLIDAY HOME SHOW!
Still plenty of time & plenty of pottery to make plenty of presents!!!

‘Tis the season for red & green… as we head into Day Two of my limited-access & socially-distant HOLIDAY HOME SHOW! Wear your mask and buy some pottery for everyone on your holiday shopping list… and maybe a thing or two for yourself as well?! You deserve it… it’s been a rough year!

A very huge & sincere THANK YOU to everyone who played along with my Silent Auction on my Fire When Ready Pottery Facebook page today. Whether you placed a bid, shared the story, reacted to the post or just loved a cardinal… I was blown away by you all. What started as a personal commission project has now expanded into an even larger story of support & encouragement. I am ever so thankful for my fans, followers & supporters especially during this holiday season… and even more this CRAZY YEAR!!!

This was my very first Silent Auction here on Facebook. I wasn’t even sure it would work… I thought someone might get this piece “real cheap”!!! But then I was shocked when bids started pouring in. People playing along. People bidding. People encouraging others. This was a overall success! Thank You all.

And a very special THANK YOU and congratulations to Melissa for her very generous Top Bid! Looks like this cardinal will be taking flight to her place very soon!

Thanks again!

A welcoming wreath on my door for all who stop by my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW today & tomorrow from 10am-6pm. We’re staying as safe as possible with limited access, face masks required, hand sanitizer, contactless checkout & more! Pottery makes the perfect holiday gift! C’mon by!

So it’s Day Twelve of my TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS POTTERY SALE… and we’re celebrating with one last surprise!!! Today we’re doing a SILENT AUCTION only on my Fire When Ready Pottery Facebook page for this large lidded jar with a cardinal on top… not quite a partridge, but close enough for me!

Many of you have followed the story of this piece, and now it’s time for me to release one into the wild!!! It is totally handmade, stamped & soda-fired, approximately 11.5″h, with a tenmoku glazed interior. The opening bid is $100 by my friend Nancy Wheeler… and we’ll do increases in $10 increments. The bid price includes packing & shipping within the contiguous USA. Simply leave your bid in the Comments Section only on my Fire When Ready Pottery Facebook page… the highest bid at midnight (Central time) tonight WINS!!!

Click HERE for my Fire When Ready Pottery Facebook page!

And as always, Thank You for following my pottery adventures. The holiday season will be “different” in so many ways this year… but I hope that these past TWELVE DAYS OF POTTERY have made it a little brighter for everyone.

Thanks again!

Just a quick reminder that I will be hosting another HOLIDAY HOME SHOW this weekend. I’ve re-stocked the shelves & re-filled the hand sanitizer bottles! Plenty of pottery for everyone… check a few people off your holiday gift list! We’re going as safe as possible with face masks required, hand sanitizers, contact-less checkout & limited access.

I would love to have you stop by, but if you’re still staying safe at home these days I TOTALLY get it! Kudos! Just remember that you can still shop from the safety of you own couch by clicking HERE for My Online Pottery Store!