I’ve been working like crazy trying to get everything done in the studio for “Art In The Barn.”
Of course, I’m running a little late...

But I am trying a new form this time. I’ve made textured slab vases for a couple years. Each with a different pattern & color on each side. This time around I decided to try a round vase, with a bit more of a “constructed” feel. These are brand new. And I hope they all hold-up and work properly. And survive the firing.

Of course I should have tried just one prototype to check first.
But that’s just not how I work. So I dove right in and made a full batch.
Two sizes… and I’m hoping they survive.

Especially since they’re still wet and have been under plastic all day. I just added some colored slip accents, they’re sitting in front of a fan… and in just a few minutes will be going into a bisque kiln. Yikes! If they don’t get in, they won’t be out soon enough to glaze them and get them into my soda kiln. And if they don’t make it into my soda kiln… they don’t make it to “Art In The Barn.” And that would be bad… so, fingers crossed…

My textured slab vases always have two sides.
A different pattern. A different color.
It’s like getting two vases for the price of one!!!

And with some beautiful ginger blossoms that I pilfered out of the dumpster at the “glitter gig”… I decided to use one of them in my studio.

The striking red blooms are a great accent & splash of color.
But which side is better? Which side shows off the flowers better?
Which side is YOUR favorite? The green side?…

Or the blue side?…

At this point, for now… I think the green side is my favorite.
At least for tonight. I may need to flip it back to blue tomorrow?

A few more “batches” of tiles. All textured, color-slipped and cut to size. Still drying. You can still see the difference in the batches and how some are darker (wetter) than the others.

Collaboration close-up… getting ready to assemble…

After camp I unloaded my kiln full of tiles for my collaboration project with Cory McCrory… yes, 724 tiles to be exact!!!

I was very pleased when I opened the lid of the kiln. Subtle variations & shades of my new cone 6 green glaze. I really like how the glaze pools well, and breaks even better on the textures & patterns. So here’s a pretty BIG teaser reveal… and a LOT of green tiles!!!

It’s been a little while since my last video… so I decided it’s about time!!!
This platter was made with B-Clay, and was a little bit softer than I would normally like for stamping. But with my busy schedule this week, I knew that I had limited time in the studio. So… go for it now?… or wait and run the chance of it drying up too much?

Of course I decided to go for it!!!
You just need to be a bit more careful, use more even pressure on both sides…
and hope that the stamp doesn’t “stick” when it gets a little damp.

Click here for my latest Platter Stamping Demo on YouTube.

And here’s the set of tools that did all of the work…
one handmade stamp, two wooden tools and a thin sgraffito loop tool.

Click here for my latest Platter Stamping Demo on YouTube.

Last Fall I started making these textured wall pillows. Three sizes of textured pieces that can be hung in groups on the wall. It’s been fun watching people do the “mix & match” to make their “perfect” collection. It’s a matter of size, patterns, colors, textures and how they all fit together in a group. Like this grouping here… one large “lacey” one in the center surrounded by six medium ones.

And here’s the lucky Birthday Girl Marilyn!!! Her wonderful husband decided to surprise her with a birthday gift from her favorite potter… ME!!! What a great surprise for her… and for me. It was so thoughtful of him to contact me “secretly” as we worked on her gift without her knowledge. She’s been a dedicated customer and great friend for several years. She’s quite a supporter of the arts… and many of “My Talented Friends.” It was an honor to be part of her big birthday celebration – a surprise gift from her adoring husband.

Soon to be part of a few collaboration pieces I’m working on with my friend Cory McCrory!!!
Parts & pieces are coming together… mark your calendar for “Art In The Garden”
if you want to see the finished “Limited Edition” pieces. August 30th & 31st.

Okay, so here’s an update…
My good friend Cory McCrory and I have decided to do a creative collaboration!
She’s a wonderful artist… full of whimsical imagery, colorful surfaces and beautiful textures. We’re both participating in the same art fair during the last weekend of August. So we thought it might be fun to do a project together just for this show!!!

Art In The Garden – Saturday, August 30th & Sunday, August 31st.
At the home… err, in the garden of our mutual friend & metalsmith Amy Taylor.
More details to come…

So… since this show has a garden theme of sorts, Cory & I decided to work together to make a limited edition of collaborative “garden” pieces. We’ve worked together to develop the plan. Brainstorming ideas. Working on the whimsy. Getting it all started. Cory has her pieces in the works & under wraps, and I’ve started to work on my part of the project tonight. Here’s a hint… with more to come…

I unloaded my cone 6 glaze kiln last night… just a couple, last-minute pieces that will be headed to the Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival this weekend. Here’s the top layer with lots of colorful promise…

Layer two didn’t look too bad either… a new batch of textured tiles!