So here they are… wheelthrown on the bottoms, handbuilt on the sides! They still need some refining, trimming & handles… but they’re well on their way to a new batch of “hybrid mugs.” And see how well the patterns & textures from MKM Pottery Tools hold-up even when being manipulated into mugs!!!

Working in the studio this afternoon making slabs & pressing textures with some of my MKM Pottery Tools. I love the clean patterns & impressions that these hand rollers make… great for the newest batch of “hybrid mugs” that I’m working on today! These slabs will be part of the “handbuilding” portion of my wheelthrown-handbuilt combo mugs!

You know how I LOVE textures… so these hand rollers from MKM Pottery Tools are some of my favorite tools in my studio! Sure they make great patterns when rolled onto clay… but even just as an object they’re pretty darn groovy too!!!

Balls of clay… with such potential… before & after!

After about ninety minutes, my LILLSTREET THROWDOWN‘ers had accomplished their task. The challenge was to make a trio of candlesticks… and they did! Some were more traditional in style, while others were a bit more creative. So much fun to se them ALL tackle the challenge & win!!! Can’t wait to see them all again after they’re glazed, fired & hosting some flickering candles!!!

The challenge this week for my LILLSTREET THROWDOWN‘ers… to make a trio of candlesticks! And just to challenge them a bit more… at least one of their candlesticks had to be 8-inches or taller! With just about 90 minutes to accomplish their task, it was a bit frantic!!! But so great to watch how they all had different approaches & techniques. Some went with wheelthrowing, some went with handbuilding, some combined techniques, and some went with assembled parts & pieces!

Sadly, not every attempt was successful… thus the final photo!

This week in our GREAT LILLSTREET THROWDOWN class, the “homework” challenge was to make their matching dinner plates from last week’s class more decorative with only SLIP TRAILING as their chosen surface decoration technique. They had the option of going all matchy-matchy… or a design theme that works well together for a tight cohesive set! As some of them had never really done slip trailing before, I think they totally knocked it out of the park!!!

From the looks of my windows this morning… it’s still pretty darn cold outside!!!
Can’t wait for the “warm-up” they’re forecasting in a couple days!

While it’s still freezing in Chicago, it’s never to soon to start planning a fun pottery adventure for the warmer Spring days! So excited to see the newest poster arrive in my mailbox for the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour up in Minnesota! So much fun to travel around to see pottery studios, potters & beautiful pottery everywhere! I’ll be up there touring & shopping… and you should too! Mark your calendars now…

When cleaning out a shelving unit to take down Christmas decorations, and switch to her next “theme”… Rosene found these two mugs that she had been coveting… but resisted & didn’t buy for herself.

Instead, they “may have” just been left behind one day “hidden” in the shelves for her to find. It took a couple months… but she finally found these two surprise gifts hidden amongst some Christmas decorations!!!