For those who have “followed“ for years… you’ll know about my never-ending quest grow my favorite Black-Eyed Susan’s in my garden. Everyone claims that they are the easiest flower to grow & they take over quickly. However… I’ve tried several times in different places… new plants, seeds, divisions from friends, over & over again… but to avail. Until now… so excited that these cuties are now blooming in my garden… and they survived the winter & came back this year!!! Not to gloat… but perhaps the “curse” has been broken???

You gotta love having talented friends… and art fair booth neighbors this weekend!!! Like Rhonda from “The Buttons Stop Here” who created a very special bracelet for me made of vintage “trade uniform” buttons… all starting with the state prison button which I LOVE!!! Plus the artistry & detail of the other buttons is amazing as well… all over a hundred years old!!!

Stop by the GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR today from 11:00am-5:00pm…
come see us both… we’re side-by-side!!!

Huge thanks to everyone who came out today for Day One of the GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR. It was a sunny, hot, cloudy, steamy, breezy, sprinkley & hot asphalty kind of day… not ideal. So extra special thanks to those who “survived” it with us!

And a reminder… tomorrow is Day Two from 11:00am-5:00pm… and the weather forecast is looking better!Just hoping the wildfire smoke cloud doesn’t come back!!! Fingers crossed…

All set- up & re-stocked for Day Two of the GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR. The weather is already better than yesterday… (I’m not a sweaty mess)… and we already have some “early shoppers.” So c’mon by… we’re here until 5:00pm at the Attea School in Glenview!

Just another reminder… this weekend is the GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR. And it seems like the wildfire smoke has moved on just in time… so we’re happy to be breathing cleanly again. Just in time for this show. Remember that we’re at a different location this year. Hope you can make it… and bring a friend!!!

Lots of fun handbuilt mugs for my summer campers to paint with colored slips today …
in addition to their wheelthrown pots! Including my favorite Chicago-themed mug…
well done Emma!

ou know it’s gonna be a good day at summer camp…
when your first camper asks (even before saying hello)… “Can I clean the sponges again today?”

Of course the answer is always “YES!”
Now if I could just get some of the adult students to do the same.
Thanks for volunteering Ellie!!!

With the crazy Canadian wildfire smoke casting a weird “colored”-grayness over the City today… I figured it might help to shake it up with a “pop” of fun floral colors! A collection roses & mums in one of my stamped & soda-fired square vases!

Doesn’t hurt any to have some fun rusty metal right there too…

This week at Summer Camp I’m teaching 8-10 year olds both wheelthrowing & handbuilding. We already tackled wheelthrowing & trimming. Today was their handbuilding day… and I challenged them to make two mugs with one theme! Can’t wait to see these come together even more when we paint everything tomorrow with colored slips!

Still prepping for this weekend’s GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR. Enjoying some time in the cool basement… avoiding the heatwave & wildfire smoke!!! Pricing & packing a bunch of hybrid mugs to bring with… and trying to pull-together all of my booth needs as they are a little “scattered.” Remember, my last art fair was when we got rained on & had to pack quickly and then spread things all around to dry out. Hoping the weather is a bit better this weekend???