Okay… so I “might” have brought my handmade stamps down to share with my Summer Campers this week… perhaps… and it looks like Micah really enjoyed using them! To make this sweet little set of bowls! Adorable!!!

So… another wonderful week of Summer Camp has come to an end. This week I had a talented group of 10-12 year olds. They learned how to wedge, center & throw on the wheel. They then threw a bunch of pieces on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday… trimmed & add attachments yesterday… and then painted with colored slip today. Their pieces will be glazed with clear & fired later next week. It was jam-packed for all of us, but luckily it was a “full-day” camp so we had a bit more time get everything done. Great kids. Great week.

We also had enough time for them to learn & memorize over 40 famous masterpieces & their artist… both first & last names!!! Very impressive… and they all had a great time doing it too!!!

And yes, there is a story about the ashtray piece.

Generally I don’t allow my Summer campers to make ashtrays or weapons.
But Cece wanted to make this one for her Uncle Ryan. Apparently this is an ongoing family saga… with Uncle Ryan smoking when he was young, but kicking the habit and not smoking anymore. When Cece’s Mom came in to see what Cece was working on… she knew right away that this was a piece that Uncle Ryan was going to love. Also I had to go back on. my own “rules”… and let Cece continue with the ashtray nostalgia piece!

It’s been a busy week at Summer Camp! This week I have a dozen 10-12 year olds who are having a great time! And in just three days, they’ve learned to wedge, center & throw on the wheel. And they’ve made enough pots to fill the entire table!!! Now we just gotta trim, finish & paint them all with colored slips before end of camp tomorrow. Fingers crossed!!!

After a quick five days of Summer Camp, the kids finished up their projects yesterday with some colorful slips. So much fun to see their excitement as their wheelthrown & handbuilt pieces come to life in vivid colors!!! My personal favorite was the M&Ms bottle & bowl set!

When your first summer camper arrives early…
and before she even says “Hello”… proclaims “Is there anything I can clean!”

And you know I would hate to quash her summer camp dreams!!!

Welcome to Summer Camp with Gary… and Rule #3 in action –
“Whatever mess you make, you WILL be cleaning up.”
We all do it. We all follow it. And when the kids ask “if they can clean the sink?”…
it would just rude for me to say no. Right??!!

Completely impressed by this little kiddo’s mug today in camp… with another tiny mug positioned on the handle. Charlie said it was for Grandma… and that the small cup could hold the sugar. So when she drinks it, the sugar automatically falls in to sweeten Grandma’s coffee. So creative .. gotta love this kid’s imagination!!!!

More summer camp fun with 8-9 year olds this week… and I “may” have brought some of my handmade clay stamps to camp for them to try!!! More is more… even with the kids!

Welcome to Summer Camp 2026! All set-up… just waiting for the kids!!!

My Summer Camp “tour of duty” begins Monday!!! Looking forward to their unbounded energy & enthusiasm. So funny. So entertaining. I have several weeks coming up… starting with a week of Wheelthrowing & Handbuilding with 8-10 year olds!!! Giddy-up!!!