Looks like Kristy & Matt are enjoying a “fruity” morning al fresco in their beautiful backyard. Fresh fruits never looked so good as when they’re served in a handmade stamped & soda-fired ceramic bowl!

The hummingbirds must be thrilled… it’s trumpet vine season!
And you’ve got to love these flowers “floating” on these cool vines… albeit an invasive plant. This one is taking over the corner of the building at Lillstreet Art Center!

So yesterday afternoon, there “may” have been a strange sighting outside of Lillstreet Art Center. There was “rumor” of a giraffe standing out on the corner of Montrose & Ravenswood!!! In Chicago?… Shocking, right?! Well, not so shocking for one of my Summer Campers this week who made his life-sized baby giraffe in Sculpture Camp! Murray worked hard on his giraffe… so we just had to show him off to the world!!!

Serene sunrise reflections over Belmont Harbor this morning. Quiet moments with not a cloud in the sky… just a fair share of humidity!

Lots of clouds this morning giving the horizon an ominous look. Crashing waves popping up along the lakeshore… just trying to “catch” them as they splash ashore… without splashing on me!

Just doing a little carving tonight on this little bowl… that I kinda forgot about. It was one of the bowls from my “bowls on purpose” demo hidden under plastic. Too dry to stamp… so I decided to carve patterns into it. Good thing I have a collection of DiamondCore Tools that still carve clean lines even in almost-dry clay!

Looks like my friend Jen has cooked up a yummy dish for dinner… a little couscous & tomato salad. Homemade food always tastes better in a handmade bowl. Thanks for sharing your meal with us… virtually.

So excited to see one of my Intermediate Wheelthrowing student’s pieces show-up on the SHOW-OFF SHELVES at Lillstreet. Kelly made this several weeks back… a wheelthrown donut with colorful frosting & sprinkles! Originally designed to be a “vase” with the big bite as the place that the flowers go! Beautifully done Kelly… now I think we need a full baker’s dozen of them!!!

What a wonderful surprise last weekend at the GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR. On Sunday, at the end of the fair, I was gifted this wonderful “impressionist” painting done by Meredith Anderson. If you look closely, that’s one of MY mugs in the still life study! Turns out Meredith is the talented daughter of my uber-talented friend Deb Anderson… apparently the “impressionist” apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree! Thank you for sharing your artwork with me Meredith… I LOVE IT!!!

Look like another berry bowl found a good home during last weekend’s GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR. Looks beautiful when filled with blueberries & strawberries! I’m sure Allison loves her new berry bowl… but it looks like her cat is still a bit unsure?!