After painting the anchor logo onto the clay, I started to cut them out to make individual anchor ornaments. Trying my best to keep the logo crisp & clean, and the ornament thin & lightweight… without breaking or smudging! Okay, so there “may” have been a few clay casualties along the way!

FYI – I’m making a few extras…

Working on some special holiday ornaments commissioned by the Kevin Bushell Foundation. So I’ve been making ornaments based on the stylized anchor from the Foundation’s logo. I decided to use a stencil and blue underglaze to “paint” the anchor logo onto the ornaments. When these ornaments are done, the Foundation will be using them as part of their fundraising efforts for local students, schools & teachers.

Special thanks to Scott Hayner from United Graphics for creating the stencils for me to use on this very special project!

The four best letters this week! It always feels great to see this code on the kiln… relieving some of the anticipation of an electric kiln firing. Now it just needs to cool down a bit before I can peek inside. Hoping to see some beautiful new glazed Christmas trees in there… just in time for this weekend’s MUD & METAL Holiday Home Show!!!

Some might argue that the Elvis Christmas Album in the best Christmas album. And what could make it better?… some new renditions of Elvis singing duets with some big country female stars! Yes, many of the Elvis Christmas Classics are now going duet with the likes of Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Amy Grant, LeAnne Rimes, Wynonna & more! Be sure to check it out for the holidays!

And if not Elvis… What is YOUR favorite Christmas song???

So I’ve been working on a little commission project… making some very special ornaments for a very special cause… and getting a little “weighed-down” by the process!

A bit of a late night gettin’ my glaze on! Did more than a bit of glazing on my latest batch of wheelthrown Christmas trees. And if all goes as planned… these festive trees should be glazed, fired & ready for this weekend’s MUD & METAL Holiday Home Show!

Had a nice “shout-out” on Instagram yesterday from the folks at DiamondCore Tools! I used one of their diamond grinding bats to “save” a few mugs from bad glazed & wadded bottoms! So easy, so smooth… all the more reason why I LOVE DiamondCore Tools !!!

The newest addition to my “already-overflowing” Mug Collection… this time from another Chicago-area potter! A sweet little handbuilt mug with raised textures & patterns by Ben Buchenot. If you come down to the ONE OF A KIND SHOW today, be sure to check out his work in Booth #5124.

Check him out on Instagram : @throwinpots

Waiting for a delayed “L” train… getting the blues?!

Fueling my rusty metal addiction this morning.