Pulled handles ready to go… and then looped them over onto themselves to help establish the curve right away. I let them stiffen up a bit like this before cutting & attaching them to make new mugs!

Carrot-shaped nuggets ready to start pulling handles. I know most people hate making handles… but I kinda love it. No worries here… if I could make mugs every day I would be one happy potter!

Kicking off MUGSHOT MONDAY by finishing off a new batch of mugs. The cylinders are stamped & trimmed. Now they just need handles. So here we go… cutting clay & starting with carrot-shaped nuggets.

MUG UPDATE: Trimmed, but not handled.
TEST TILES: I got a little side-tracked tonight by starting a new batch of test tiles. A friend gave me a new clay body to try out… and I’ve been wanting to make new test tiles for some of my studio glazes. Apparently tonight was the night to get the project started. Not like I’ve had a couple “free” months to work on this…

And I always love those days when I can throw the cylinders AND stamp them the same day! I did a bit of trimming & cleaning in between… but I felt very productive today. Hopefully tomorrow I can trim these mugs and add their handles too!!! Wouldn’t that be great… especially if it’s gray & rainy outside again.

Thanks to those of you who have purchased mugs online or at my two art fairs this summer, I need to make MORE MUGS!!! Oh shucks… it’s a shame that they’re my FAVORITE thing to make!!!

So it was a VERY late night in my studio last night as I was underglazing colors & dots all over the sugar skulls long after Summer Camp. And then a very early return to the studio as I needed to get all of them glazed in the spray booth with a low-fire clear glaze and load them into the kiln BEFORE Summer Camp started this morning! Accomplished with just minutes to spare.

So for now, the kiln is on and my fingers are crossed… as I hope they all turn out great and make a big splash this weekend at ART IN THE GARDEN in Glenview.

Introducing the newest addition to THE GHOULS COLLECTION. Traditionally making their appearance at Art In The Barn in September. But instead, this year they’re coming to ART IN THE GARDEN this weekend!!! They’re a limited edition of forty pieces… and when they’re gone, they’re gone!!! Colorful & festive with plenty of personality. Each one different from the next.

Celebrating Dia De Los Muertos with a colorful smirk and a smile!!!

Once the interiors were painted, it was time to tackle the faces of my newest addition to The Ghouls Collection… aka Calaveras de Azucar!!! Lots of details, lots of colors… lots of time!!! It was a very long evening after a full day of Summer Camp! If all goes as planned, these will be making their “Big Debut” at ART IN THE GARDEN this weekend!!!

It was a VERY late night last night as I started to add some “character” to the newest addition to THE GHOULS COLLECTION. Typically “revealed” at Art In The Barn in Barrington… but since that was cancelled four months ago, the new Ghoul will be coming to ART IN THE GARDEN this weekend!!! As long as I get them done?!!! Pressure’s on.

But first?… back to another day of Summer Camp!!!