So tonight is the last class for my SURFACE DECORATION students. Sure, we could sit back, relax & potluck… but instead I told them we have one more surface decoration technique to tackle!!! MISHIMA.

I told them to bring some leatherhard cylinders to class as part of their homework. And I told them that I would NOT be providing pre-made cylinders for them to practice on this time!!!

Okay… so maybe I lied.

So Monday night we had a little “party” in our final pottery class of the session. Lots of food & fun… and these two HUGE OREOs that practically cover my blue dinner plate! Thanks to Maureen for finding these huge goodies!!! More is more… but in this case BIGGER IS BETTER too!!!

Looks like my cousin Kimberley has had a bumper crop of fresh strawberries from her garden this year! They look amazing in her homemade strawberry shortcake… and her pottery collection. Including a berry bowl collaboration I did with Cory McCrory a couple years ago for ART IN THE GARDEN. Can’t wait to see what kind of a collaboration Cory & I pull together this year!

So tonight we’re finishing out my Intermediate Wheelthrowing class with a BANG!!! Celebrating the Top Three & the Big Finale of THE GREAT AMERICAN BAKING SHOW! Slight spoiler… my student Martin is still in the Top Three!!! And we’ll be “revealing” the BIG WINNER later with a real “spoiler” if you haven’t watched yet. But first, what kind of party isn’t more fun with some GOLDen CORN?!!! More details to come…

Always fun to have great art fair booth neighbors… like Rhonda & Maria!
Not only were they hysterical all weekend… kept me laughing the whole time. But they also each brought me a bundle of flowers from their own gardens to help show off my vases! So sweet. So thoughtful… even if they were trying to one-up each other!!! HA!!!

A very special THANK YOU to everyone who came out this weekend for the Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival. We had fantastic weather for both days… albeit a bit warm on Saturday?! It was so much fun to see my “pottery peeps” in the park supporting local artists. We all appreciate your support & encouragement.

A couple handfuls of mugs & more while replenishing shelves this morning. Just getting ready for Day Two of the HINSDALE FINE ARTS FESTIVAL. We’re almost ready to open… it’s cooler than yesterday with a nice breeze!!! So c’mon over to enjoy Burlington Park and all of the great art. I’m in Booth 69 until 5:00pm!

Pastoral colors & serene reflections… a great way to start the day before heading back to Burlington Park for Day Two of the HINSDALE FINE ARTS FESTIVAL. I always enjoy Day Two… as the tent & shelves are already up, just a little replenishing and we’re ready to go! So much easier & relaxing than setting it all up on Day One! It looks like another beautiful day… so be sure to swing by to say “Hi” from 10:00am-5:00pm.

Driving home from Hinsdale… and treated to a beautiful sunset & scenic view of Buckingham Fountain. Another reminder of why I love living in Chicago so much. Simply beautiful… and a great way to “end” day one of the Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival.