So I’ve been trying to grow some of my own bittersweet over the past few years. First on a trellis in my back yard…. err, cement courtyard in a large pot. A few years later I moved it to my front yard garden to grow up a street lamp. I’ve always gotten pretty good leaves… but this year was the first time I’ve ever found the flowers & berries on my plant! Very exciting… as it’s completely growing up & taking over the lamp post!!!

Another colorful bike ride along the lakefront this morning.
Low-flying clouds splashed with morning colors.

Looks like Christmas came early for these two… with Kristy & Matt spreading a little pottery love & Christmas magic with their friends! While at the same time showing off their own ever-growing pottery collection on those cool floating shelves in the background of their kitchen!

You gotta love it when the sun comes streaming through your window catching a Christmas crystal and making mini-rainbows appear in all the right places!

So funny… watching a cake decorating contest show on The Food Network… and they just used a Brent Potter’s Wheel as the turntable for a piece of their cake showpiece! Brilliant… apparently not just for clay any more!

Well, last night was the big finale of SURVIVOR 41…
so much fun & congrats to the Big Winner… no spoilers here!

And now it appears as though I can try to do a “tribal merge” of my love for SURVIVOR with my never-ending quest for the perfect Ugly Christmas Sweater!!!

The latest addition to my handmade Christmas ornament collection! An adorable little polar bear lovingly crocheted by my friend & Holiday Elf Rachel.

So excited to add two new Cory McCrory ornaments to my Christmas tree this year! Such an adorable addition to my handmade ornament collection! Cory makes amazing pieces handbuilt with paper clay, great textures, fun colors… and always a dash of whimsy!!! I mean… who doesn’t need a chicken and a bunny on their tree?!

And they’re BELLS too!!! That Cory McCrory thinks of everything!!!

Always fun to see one of my students wielding her DiamondCore Tools in class! Like last night when Darcy was carving cool starburst patterns on some cylinder cups… soon to be filled with wax for some beautiful candles!

Looks like my friend Pam is making her Monday a little better with the new mug she picked up this weekend at my Holiday Home Show! Celebrating a little Mugshot Monday with fresh coffee in her new mug! Thanks for sharing your new morning ritual Pam!