Another favorite task… pulling mug handles! A lot of potters shy away from pulling handles. But the more you make… the better they get. The better they get… the more fun they are to make. The more fun they are… the more mugs you’ll make!!!

Holiday mugs need holiday handles! So here we go…
getting ready to pull a bunch of handles the traditional old-school way.

Spent the day with a bunch of great kids at Vernon Hills High School today… making a bunch of bowls, chatting about pottery & trying to inspire them to play with their clay more. After I threw two bags of clay… two dozen bowls… we talked some more and then started altering rims & decorating bowls. Great fun with a good number of “wow” moments… until the school bell rang & we ran out of time!!! Luckily, all of my bowls are staying there so that the students get to finish decorating, trimming & glazing them… and keep their new bowls!!!

10×10 : It was a busy morning trimming & making things “festive” in the studio.
More than ten done by 10:00am!!!

Just a little detailing & decorating… and they’re looking a lot more festive!!!

Putting the finishing touches on… a layer of clear glaze. Starting with the interiors & bottoms. The exteriors will be sprayed to cover with the shiny clear glaze… which when applied looks strangely like chocolate chip mint ice cream?!

Fun in the studio earlier this week trying to get these Ghouls finished.
Great colors & coverage with Amaco Velvet Underglazes.

Base coat of underglaze colors… already looking better!
Gotta add more color… say it three times!!! … Underglaze. Underglaze. Underglaze.

At one point last session, one of my “advanced beginning” students requested a demo on making a moon jar… well, there’s no lid… so it’s more like a spherical vase. We made one in class, and I was kind of enamored by it. So I made a few more!!! Thanks Allison for the request & inspiration!!!

Excited that I pre-purchased my new Amaco Underglazes in some fun colors…
so I can paint the newest Ghoul to really bring them to life… err, well maybe after-life?!!!