Not only did I provide bone dry bowls for my SURFACE DECORATION class while I was gone… but I also left them a package of Birthday OREOs for two of my students. Happy Birthdays Maryanna & Sara!!!

While I was out roadtrippin’ in Minnesota… I left my SURFACE DECORATION class in very capable hands. My friend Catherine Tweedie subbed for me with her “ever-popular” water etching demo. Before leaving town, I provided her with enough bone dry bowls for her demo & for everyone to practice on. From the photos & texts I received… her demo was very well-received. Always my favorite sub teacher… I knew she would knock it out of the park!!! Thanks again Catherine!!!

It was quite a weekend at the ST. CROIX VALLEY POTTERY TOUR. Such beautiful weather to be outside enjoying the Tour, driving from pottery studio to studio. Chatting with the potters, admiring their work & making the tough choices of which pieces might come home with you as souvenirs!!! It was great to run into a few friends & Followers along the way… including catching up with my favorite pottery teacher at Lillstreet so many years ago!!! Not to be a name-dropper… but it was Steve Lee!!!

If you’ve never gone to this pottery tour, you really must add it to your bucket list. It’s hard to fathom how huge this is… with so many tents, so many talented potters… and an endless array of fantastic pottery!!! These photos just show a tiny bit of it… but hopefully you get the idea!

For more information – www.minnesotapotters.com

While on a roadtrip, I love all of the “little stops” along the way… yes, all of those stops that make the drive longer than it needs to be!!! This time it was the “SCENIC OVERLOOK” sign that drew me in… but then… my hopes & dreams were dashed!!! Still beautiful around the sign… but no overlook to be seen!

So while I’m out of town… my SURFACE DECORATION class tonight is still going on! I secured them a great sub teacher with a great demo! And I might have done a little “pre-prep” work so they have pieces to work on tonight. Thank you Catherine Tweedie for covering my class… and for sharing all of you Water Etching secrets with them. I can’t wait to see their results when I get back!!!

I love a good roadtrip!
And I “might” occasionally try to snap a photo out the window?!
Allegedly.

Sometimes you get the photo you want…
and sometimes other things get in the way?!

And sometimes… that might even make the picture better?!

Last Sunday during the pottery tour, I also got this beautiful mug from my friend Delores Fortuna. Always fun to chat with her while admiring her work. If you need a mug too… Delores will also be part of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR… just a month away!!! Mark your calendars… I’ll be part of the Tour as well.

June 7th & 8th from 10:00am-5:00pm.
More information at www.northernilpotterytour.com

Mental note to self… during an early-morning trimming session, don’t leave a stamped pot “unattended “ on the wheel. Because you might accidentally step on the pedal while you’re sitting down. And then bad things might happen.

Oh well, it’s just clay!

Last week in my SURFACE DECORATION class, we tackled carving & sgraffito. The colored slip on my platter was just a little too wet to sgraffito carve the full demo. So I brought it back to my studio… and continued later when the slip had stiffened up more. A fun carving session… especially with a great sgraffito tool from DiamondCore Tools.

Who knew there would be “zoo” right next the gas station? Is this a Wisconsin thing??? We stopped for gas last Sunday during our pottery tour roadtrip. And you’ve got to know that I’ll stop in heartbeat on a roadtrip to see something fun or unusual. So the sign said “zoo”… and I’m all in! Really, it turned out to be mostly farm animals that looked a little rough after a long winter. But at least the peacock was beautiful!!! And we got gas…