Little textures. Lots of glazing. And a BIG plan coming together… I just hope it comes even close to how I imagine it in my head?!

Looks like my talented friend & master metalsmith Sarah Chapman is still working on her collaboration pieces for our “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS” gallery show next weekend in Evanston. I can’t wait to see Sarah’s, Darlys’s & Robin’s pieces when they all come together. Fingers crossed… I’m still working on mine too!!!

So last night we had some “imported” treats under the yellow towel… all the way from China!!! Chicago’s Chinatown that is!

Still impressed with the packaging… including the “cool” interior sleeves of cookies. The matcha flavored OREOs however?… not so much! Thanks to Korina for bringing them in… as she prefaced it with “I’m pretty sure you’re not going to like these.” She knows me too well… me & my palate of a four year old!!!!?

Celebrating another TEXTURE TUESDAY with some fun stamped & soda-fired textures! And looking forward to this weekend when I share some “soda-fun” by teaching a 3-DAY SODA-FIRING WORKSHOP at Lillstreet Art Center. It’s a fast-paced weekend for my workshop students to get a quick taste of the soda-firing process… hoping they love their results after the firing. I’m sure there will be some great photos to come!!!

A lot of stamping yesterday… followed by a LOT of colored flashing slip accents painted in all the right places today!!! You know I work best under deadline… rush, rush… it’s all coming together!!!

Pretty excited about this first batch of “hybrid” mugs… half wheelthrown, half handbuilt… using my new MKM Pottery Tools for some great patterns & textures. I’m pretty sure the soda kiln is going to LOVE making all of these textures really pop!!!

Just a little bit of stamping going on today… one last project I think I can still get done in time for next weekend’s soda kiln firing?!

After a wonderfully productive day in the studio… you never want to end the day with that dreaded thwump, thwump, thwump sound when driving home!!! Only to find a huge “spike” sticking out of your now-totally-flat-tire. Ugh… luckily I had everything I needed to change to the spare. Looks like tomorrow I go to find a NEW tire!!!

While it’s still feeling a bit like Winter here… I’m looking forward to getting some leaves back on the trees around here! But until then… I guess some clay gingko leaves in my studio might have to be good enough. Especially when they’re headed to the “4×4 : Four Makers” Show coming up in two weeks! So far so good… but they still need to be glazed & fired… so fingers crossed!

Another quick batch of textured “tiles” getting ready for the kiln… hoping that this very loose plan will come together in time for “4×4 : Four Makers” in Evanston. It’s a bit sketchy still… fingers crossed…