Here’s my stamped demo platter again from tonight’s class.
Amazing how a little different lighting can make a world of difference.

So much more dramatic, huh?! And this is just from the compact fluorescent bulb in the task lighting on my wedging table. I like the dramatic shadows it provides, but not a huge fan of the yellow tint it gives everything?! But for a cheap IKEA task lamp, it’s not too bad!!!

And speaking of colored slips…
one of mine was too close to the same color as my clay. I “tinted” it with some food coloring so it would be a lot easier to see as I was painting it on. The food coloring will “disappear” during the firing process… leaving the colored slip exactly where I want it.

Of course my slip is NOT quite this colorful. I kinda wish it was…
But the photo shows it in mid-mixing. And I unfortunately did not remember to take
an “after” photo of the final tinted slip.                     My bad.

Tonight I finally got around to finishing up some wall pocket vases.
Trimmed, stamped and accented with some colored slip.

It’s latest Facebook “trend” going around amongst the potters of the world!!!
Artists showing off their eight favorite tools in their studio. I thought about it for awhile and it was tough to narrow it down. I couldn’t make it JUST eight… so I hope that “collections” of the same tools count as one?!!!

1. My Shimpo VL-Whisper Wheel
2. My Shimpo banding wheel… my first pottery tool “gift” from Mom & Dad
3. My Giffin Grip… one of my best gifts to myself!!!
4. My square plastic bats.
5. My wire tool…. love the rubber loop ends and extra thin wire.
6. My wooden knife… with worn down end from burnishing after trimming.
7. My Sherill Mudtools plastic ribs.
8. Last but surely not least… tool boxes full of my own handmade stamps.

Tonight when I got into the studio, I was greeted by a little brown care package.
And who doesn’t love a good care package?!!! So I opened it up carefully…

Inside I found three adorable little bowls… each a treasure! And a wonderful Thank You note from a “fan” who stopped by my studio over a year ago! Stephanie from South Carolina stopped by my studio in November 2013. I love showing off my studio, sharing ideas and giving people a tour of Lillstreet. Stephanie and her husband got the full tour… and she left with a souvenir mug. Little did I know that Stephanie would appreciate their visit SO much,, that over a year later she’s still thinking about it and felt the need to send me a gift. A wonderful surprise… albeit unnecessary!

Thank You Stephanie… I love your little bowls.
Cute little shapes with wonderful colors… especially the green… oh, and the RED!!!

As always, I’m starting off the New Year with another batch of New Stamps!
It felt great to get back in the studio and to get my hands dirty again!!!

Look who will be starting the New Year with some New Pottery Tools!!!
I couldn’t resist buying myself a couple of these beautiful wooden ribs by Troy Bungart. I first met Troy at NCECA 2014, and now they’re selling his tools in the Lillstreet Gallery.

Merry Christmas to Me!

If you need to get a few of these beauties for yourself… click here for Troy’s ETSY Page.

Another batch of bottles… and a couple new vases today!

Another pile of porcelain reclaim pulled out tonight… plopped onto my plaster bat for some drying time. Maybe tomorrow I can start wedging it up. And then I’ll need to figure out what to make out of it?!

Thanks again to my friend Emily for passing along her dry scraps… I love free clay!!!