And just in case somebody didn’t want cheesecake yesterday… I also made a batch of Pumpkin Cake Bars. A childhood flashback from my Mom’s recipe! I mean… no such thing as too many desserts, right?!

Some mornings are more magical than others… and today did not disappoint. We had a little of everything… clear skies, calm water… then clouds moved in for a crazy-cool skyshow with AMAZING colors! And then we finished with some beautiful lighthouse-alignment & glowing golden reflections… as some times, timing IS everything!!!

Another wonderful night of musical theater tonight. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen RENT live on stage… and the production tonight reminded me just how much I love it!!! I’m here for it… all of the “Seasons Of Love.”

Here’s a “quick tour” of the bowl variations I did last night as part of my class demo about making “not-so-basic bowls.” I think I may have impressed & overwhelmed my Beginners all at the same time?! But they seemed excited… and hopefully inspired to make some groovy “not-so-basic bowls” of their own!

BOWL #1 – Plain
This is where they all started before the altering demo portion!!!

BOWL #2 – Two flutes twists.

BOWL #3 – Eight fluted twists.
I mean if two were good, maybe eight would be better?

BOWL #4 – Thin flared flange.
Just the top inch or so… bent down & flared out.

BOWL #5 – Wide flared flange.
I mean, if a thin flange was nice, maybe a wide one would be nicer???

BOWL #6 – Flared and Fluted.

BOWL #7 – Split-rim and pinched back together.

BOWL #8 – Split rim with two indentations… preparing to add a “basket” handle later.

BOWL #9 – Split-rim with four indentations.

BOWL #10 – Lotiu… Split rim with four inward indentations & four outward indentations.

BOWL #11 – Thick white slip with a spiral dragged through.

BOWL #12 – Thick whit slip with banded areas… setting up areas to carve later.

BOWL #13 – Thick white slip with finger squiggles through the slip.

BOWL #14 – Thick white slip with chattering for the pattern.
Rhythmic tapping with a green runner rib –
up & down, wheel spinning & moving up & out all at the same time!

BOWL #15 – Ombre’ blended slips with banded areas for future carving.

And there’s where we left it off… fifteen different bowls in just a few minutes of alterations. My students loved the demo… and I loved doing it. My favorite demo every session! I just hope it inspires some of them to “play” with their clay a bit more!!!

Sure, not a day off… just a day when we got snow. Don’t get too excited!

After the rain… I love how the gingko trees are still standing strong with their Fall colors! While other trees have mostly dropped, these wonderful pops of yellow are a welcome sight. Especially on a dreary day like today!

Back at it… putting handles on & making more mugs!!!
My favorites!!!… no, seriously… I love making handles, I love making mugs!!!

And for those who just like to celebrate a beautiful Spring day… here’s one of my “old-school” ikebana vases filled with homegrown flowers brightening the day for my friends down in Peoria. So pretty!

As we near the “end” of Winter… with our first full day of Spring tomorrow… it was fittingly a chilly start this morning. Is it too soon to say I’m ready for Summer???

A little “seasonal confusion” around here! With crazy high temps in the low seventies yesterday… I have little green sprouts & early flowers in my front yard already! Too soon??? And then overnight with the storm that came through, our temps literally dropped by FIFTY-degrees!!! CRAZY!!! I know I’m confused by the swing of temps… and I’m sure my plants must be too!!!