The flower pots we made for Taylor’s birthday party finally came out of the kiln.
And they all look adorable!!! The kids did a great job on them all. I’m sure if we had
had a little more time, we could have refined them a bit, added a little more glaze,
and made them a little more “perfect.” But it’s that same “lack of perfect” that makes
them SO cute!!! And such a great souvenir from Taylor’s eight birthday party!!!

Maybe I’m just the proud Uncle.
And she has been here before, so she does have some clay experience.
But I must admit that I think that Taylor’s is the nicest of the lot. I really liked her use
of stamps for texture & pattern. And when she decided to make it as a birthday gift for
her Mom (my sister) it was very touching. Especially when she misspelled “birthday”
by accidentally forgetting the “th.” It was adorable. But then her Dad couldn’t resist
and had to step in and fix it… “Dad, step away from the clay.”

Callie went with the full Spring motif. She stamped in words, textures & patterns…
and then glazed it accordingly. She even had trees, grass, sky… everything Spring!

Jody went more for the two-tone effect. Splitting his pot in half with yellow & white.
And then adding a splash of green inside and around the water drip tray.

Charlie started with a nice design. Using  three heart stamps around the pot, and then
putting his initials in each one of them. And then he found the blue glaze…

Twin brother Theo liked the blue glaze too apparently?!

Piper was the most focused on color! She couldn’t get enough of it. I think she did the
best job of painting her piece. I tried to get them all to put on two layers of glaze…
but as you can see, Piper actually did and got the most vibrant results!

Once the kids were done with their flower pots, I kinda felt like I needed to make one too!
So I decided to make s flower pot for Taylor’s birthday… especially since she decided to make
her flower pot as a birthday gift for her Mom (even though her Mom’s birthday isn’t until
December?) I figured she needed one to keep for herself. It was a fun birthday party…
and soon she’ll have a great memento from their day at the studio!!!

And of course I can’t give it to her empty, right?! So I planted it with a beauty kalanchoe
plant with bright pink flowers. What little 8-year old girl would like bright pink flowers?!
And I’m pretty sure it might be her very first houseplant too!

She’ll see her finished flower pot, everyone else’s pieces and get her own flowery gift
tomorrow! I hope she likes it!!! We’re doing the “family” birthday party tomorrow
and she’ll see it then. Shhh… don’t tell her… don’t spill the beans!!!

Yesterday was my niece Taylor’s eighth birthday. And she decided that she wanted to
celebrate with her kid’s birthday party at the studio. She’s been here before to play in the
clay, but this was the first time she brought some of her friends! So we started with some
introductions, a few simple rules, some guidelines, some clay and lots of messy fingers!
Even my parents were there to watch, hang out and pitch in. Although I have a fairly
strict rule that adults can’t help “too much.” Which proves harder for some than others…
especially Taylor’s dad Scott who couldn’t quite keep his fingers out of things!

Our project for the day was to make terra cotta flower pots for Spring. We talked about
how we were going to make them and how they should have a plan, a theme, a concept,
a design. Some decided to keep it simple and keep it Spring. Others went for Mother’s Day
gifts, or even birthday gifts! Once they had a plan, they each started with a rectangular
slab of clay that they had cut out. With some fun stamps and texture tools, they set out
to design their terra cotta flower pots!

Once they all had their slabs decorated, it was time for them to form the slabs into cylinders
to become the sides of their flower pots. A bit of scoring. A bit of slipping! And pressing!!!

The cylinders then needed a bottom to keep things in! So we made round bottoms which
needed to be scored, slipped & attached to the bottom. Luckily, we had a few extra hands
at the ready. It was easier for the kids to score the bottom with Taylor’s grandpa helping out!

We then talked about how every good flower pot needs a water drip tray to catch the water!
So they started with another slab circle and attached a coil around to contain the water.

As always… the kids have mixed reactions to getting dirty. Some love every minute of it.
Some were tentative and try to stay clean. While some start hesitant and end up loving it!!!

After their pieces were assembled, we moved on to painting with underglazes.
Of course I always hope that they will take their time and paint with attention-to-detail.
Unfortunately, with time running out and pizza on the way… it’s a quick paint job!!!

And how fun it is to watch kids having fun… and more fun.. and even more fun…
Just to see the excitement & hear the giggles.

All too soon they were done and it was time to go. They look all cute & clean… but trust me,
they definitely have a wonderfully mischievous side in there somewhere. Especially after
a dinner of pizza, punch and chocolate cupcakes!

The birthday party was done. And I think everyone had a fun time playing in the mud.
So they all climbed back into the limo to take them back to the suburbs! Sure, they were a little
dirtier than when they came… but in the end, I think Taylor had a wonderful birthday party!!!

And special thanks to my studio neighbor Karen Patinkin for “unwittingly” letting us use
the work table in her space for the party. We tried our best to clean it all up afterwards.
To get our terra cotta out of her pristine porcelain world. Thanks again Karen!

My adorable niece Taylor has decided last summer to show us all how to hula hoop.
She makes it look so easy… especially with a big flourish at the end. Needless to say…
Uncle Gary is still hopeless with the hula hoop.

Click here to see Taylor’s video tutorial… and stick with it until the “big finish.”

I spent the day today at my parent’s new house helping them get ready for Christmas.
I was working on putting up some “glitter gig” decorations while my sister and niece
Taylor were making Christmas cookies with my Mom. So much fun for everyone.
Christmas cookies baking, Christmas music playing. Christmas cookie tasting.

One of my favorites cookies was this new recipe for S’Mores Cookies.
And you know how I like s’mores! So it’s a layer of chocolate graham crackers, butter,
sugar & other yummy things baked together. Then topped with marshmallows that are
“toasted” in the oven. WHen they come out toasted, puffy & hot, you sprinkle some M&M’s
all over the top. Green & red ones of course… we had to eat the other colors. Shucks!!!

And if a few M&M’s are good… even more M&M’s are even better!!!

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving at my sister’s place. We were all there including
my adorable niece Taylor. She had made a special Thanksgiving “surprise” for each of us.

Sweet treats made out of Oreo’s, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Whoppers, Candy Corn
and more! One for each of us sitting on place card boxes wherever she decided we should
sit at the Thanksgiving table. Luckily, mine was right next to her!!!

Tonight we celebrated my Dad’s birthday with the family.
We all went to a steakhouse out in the suburbs… nothing too special.
The best part is that they give you the makings for s’mores on the way out.
And then you toast your own marshmallows in the fire pits outside the restaurant.
We’ve been there before… but this time, my adorable niece Taylor brought a great
new tool to help toast the perfect marshmallow. It’s a telescoping fishing pole-type
of tool that actually rotates the marshmallow when you crank the knob. Brilliant!!!

So while the rest of used the tiny little bamboo skewers they provided…
and toasted our fingers more than the marshmallows, Taylor had the right idea!!!

So my niece Taylor has one week of “freedom” left before she goes back to school.
Her mom has already started teaching so she’s spending some “quality time” with her
Grandparents… my Mom & Dad. So we decided to take her on a little adventure to
Six Flags Great America. Fully knowing that it was going to be a LONG day…
especially for Grandma & Grandpa as they get dragged around the park and
“cutely cajoled” into going on many of the rides!

We started the morning with an easy one… the landmark double-decker carrousel.

From the top level of the carrousel, Taylor spotted Daffy Duck & Scooby-Doo,
so when the ride stopped, we had to run over to meet them for a little photo-op!

So we all went on the Whizzer… a gentle little roller coaster to gauge Taylor’s readiness
to tackle the bigger rides. She did wonderful… my Mom, not so much. She was done with
the roller coasters! Taylor, on the other hand, was ready to tackle the American Eagle –
the iconic wooden roller coaster with the huge vertical drop!

Here we go… up the first big hill…

And then the big plummet… squealing like a little school girl the whole way… adorable!!!

She loved the first big plummeting drop… but then she saw the big curve coming up…
and then rickety bouncing that she wasn’t so thrilled about.

So the held on for dear life… as Grandpa watched from the seat behind.

Whew… she made it. Thrilled… and more than a little exhausted…

After her whirlwind ride on the American Eagle, Taylor chose a few “slower” rides which
Grandma was okay with too. Even though there was no plummeting drop, the rides did spin,
fling & whip around in circles pretty darn fast!

Of course, a trip to Six Flags Great America wouldn’t be complete without the obligatory
stuffed animal win at the game arcade. In fact, Taylor won this one for herself…
use the hammer, hit the target, ring the bell, win a prize! Luckily, we found one that said
“play until you win.” And she did…

It was such a great surprise today when I turned the corner…
and there stood my sister Jen and my favorite niece Taylor!!!

Now Taylor is no stranger in coming to the studio, but she’s new to Summer Camp.
So there I was with my roomful of “Masters” campers trying to get everything done
and ready for lunch – when they showed up out of the blue! Apparently, they had an
appointment in the city that had been mis-scheduled. So instead of 11:00am, they
were on for 2:30pm and needed to kill some time. So they decided to surprise
Uncle Gary and show up unannounced. It was such a great surprise for me… plus,
Taylor & Jen got to hang out with me and my campers on the Lillstreet rooftop deck
for a leisurely lunch!!! They even got some homemade brownies from Judy, one of
our other summer camp teachers, who had a few extras from her camp – huge bonus!!!

Okay, so we made it down to the North Avenue Beach when the sun finally made an
appearance this morning. From the beach, you also get a good view of the city skyline.
Flat Stanley was quick to strike a pose on the spokes of my bike!

There I was… only a few more days with Flat Stanley. He still needed to see the Big City!
So we pedaled towards Navy Pier to start his big adventure! Posing in front of the iconic
Ferris Wheel that Taylor got to ride last summer.

We also pedaled along the Chicago River and made it to Michigan Avenue.
Stanley was impressed by the big buildings… especially the gleaming white Wrigley Building!

Over the river, he was greeted by Marilyn Monroe… or at least a huge sculpture of her
in the infamous dress & stance from “Seven Year Itch.” And… for the record…
I have NO IDEA why she’s even here in Chicago?!!!! Or when she’s leaving?…

Across the plaza from Marilyn Monroe is the beautiful Chicago Tribune Building.
Striking gothic architecture with incredible “inclusions” mortared into the facade…
pieces & parts for other famous & historic buildings around the world.

Also in the Tribune Towers… the WGN Radio station! You can see the broadcasters
through the window as they work. And Stanley climbing out of my bike bag!

Then, further up Michigan Avenue, Stanley found two of his favorite friends…
and Taylor’s favorites as well! Always a happy moment when you see Mickey & Minnie
greeting you at The Disney Store.

Next we were off to the historic Chicago Water Tower. A beautiful brick building reportedly
one of the few that survived the Great Chicago Fire. Actually, I think it was the building
across the street that survived the fire… but who’s counting?!

And a trip to downtown Chicago would not be complete without a stop for some chocolate!
Sadly, they weren’t open yet… shucks…  I guess Stanley’s tour was not quite complete!

By the time that our tour had finished, I was running late. And we still needed to pedal
all the way home… into the wind!!! Needless to say, I was exhausted and running late.
I actually sent a text message to the “glitter gig” to tell them I would be coming in later.
And I blamed it all on Flat Stanley and his Big Adventure!!!

With my next soda kiln less than two weeks away, it’s time to start making some of the taller
pieces that will go on the top shelves… and follow the curve of the roof quite nicely. These
large slab vases are a lot of fun to make with different textures on each side of each vase.

Now that they’re all stamped and ready to start drying, I just need to add some colored
slip details on them. Good thing Flat Stanley stopped by to help!

Yep, my first grade niece Taylor read one of the “Flat Stanley” books and is now watching
Stanley travel around. I received Flat Stanley in the mail yesterday and have about a week
to capture his travels and exploits around the city. I thought it only fitting that Flat Stanley’s
first stop would have to be the studio where Taylor loves to play in the mud!
Apparently Flat Stanley like to play in the mud too!