Classic white orchids… and so happy about these re-blooming for the first time! I’ve had the plant for a couple years, but this is the first time they’re popping out new blossoms! Not sure why… I think they might just thrive on neglect?! I mean, they’re lucky if they get some water splashed on them now & again.

Cute little orchids popping up in time for NATIONAL ORCHID DAY…
such a fun pop of color. As you know… orange is my favorite color!!!

Celebrating NATIONAL ORCHID DAY today with a few of my own orchids that have decided to re-bloom just at the right time… almost as though they “knew” that their own special holiday was coming soon!!!

Just now getting around to sharing some photos from my soda-firing last weekend. I unloaded Monday night… but then somehow the week got away from me! Here’s a full look at the kiln after taking the front door off. You always tend to hold your breath while unbricking… hoping that everything went well… that everything looks good… and that there’s not too much dark-gray “dolphin skin” over-reduction!!! So I was very pleased when I got the brick door off and saw all of the fun colors & light clay surfaces. Even more fun as I continued to dig into the kiln unloading the whole thing!

Last week in my classes we may have had a few “yellow towels situations”… and there “may” have been some of the new Blackout Cake OREO’s being enjoyed! Allegedly…

Finishing up a dinner plate class demo with a little stamping around the rim. Sure, I could have left it plain with a nice spiral… but you know how I subscribe to the “more is more” theory of pottery!

A couple days of HOT “summer” weather here in Chicago… and we suddenly have a lot of flowers blooming everywhere! Like these beautiful azaleas… that might not be so happy come Monday when we’re forecast to get MORE SNOW!!! Welcome to Spring in Chicago!!!

A cloudy start… with some good sunrise potential that never really quite came together?! The sun tried peeking through, but instead we were kinda stuck with a monochromatic morning!

Last night in my SURFACE DECORATION class, we tackled textures & patterns created by “bulging” out the side walls of a straight-sided cylinder. To make it even more fun, we also played with colored slips, texture tools & sodium silicate for that fun crackled effect. Always fun to see my students trying the “tricks” after my demo!

Not a lot of clouds, not a lot of excitement. Just another quiet morning riding along the lakefront enjoying the morning sun… and the early Spring warmth of the morning. So nice not to have to pile on the layers any more?! Hoping we’re done with that… but it’s Chicago!!! It could always snow tomorrow?! HA!!!