A glimpse into the magical world of Mary Foster. Handcarved images printed in black and then handpainted in color. Such a wonderful process to achieve the woodcut-like illustrative quality to her paintings! She’s very talented… and I would love to see the world through her eyes for a day or two!!!

You know I love a good tie-dye!!! But our friend Jill Miller of “Hooey Batiks” takes it all one step further! Bright & colorful… with hand-drawn or block-stamped imagery done with melted wax… and then dyed, & dyed again! Can’t wait to see what’s new in Jill’s selection. Rumor has it she might have some batik furniture coming to the show this weekend!!!

Bright, colorful & illuminating. Introducing Retta Hentshel and her amazing stained glass work. The color combinations are always amazing… as is her choice of glasses. Many of her stained glass masterpieces incorporate vintage glassware for a new twist. Great designs & beautiful craftsmanship!

My longtime pottery pal & “co-collaborator” at ART IN THE GARDEN every year since the beginning… the amazing Cory McCrory!!! Her work is always colorful with lots of textures, plus a sense of whimsy that is undeniable! Always fun to play with Cory… and I can’t wait to see our finished collaboration pieces when they come out of her kiln… just in time for this weekend!!!

Introducing the talented metalsmith Amy Taylor… and our host for this annual art fair in her backyard!!! As well as one my “co-collaborators” this year. Amazing craftsmanship & designs… and I especially love that she uses some unconventional “stones” in her work like reflectors, pieces of bowling balls & my favorite “fordite”!!! Let’s just say… I have quite a collection of her pieces!!!

ART IN THE GARDEN is just a few days away… and the collaboration pieces are coming together nicely… I see COLOR!!! My pal & co-collaborator Cory McCrory has been working so diligently in her studio adding her own special sense of whimsy to every piece! We can’t wait to show-off the finished flower pots this weekend in Glenview! Remember, there are a limited quantity of these colorful collaborations!

Cute critters with curious cravings carved in clay! Fresh out of the kiln… now I just have to get them all cleaned, prepped, packed & priced for this weekend in Glenview for ART IN THE GARDEN! No dibs… it’s always “first-come, first-served” at ART IN THE GARDEN.

For more details & location info… www.grassrootsartfair.com

ART IN THE GARDEN is just a few days away… and the collaboration pieces are coming together nicely… I see COLOR!!! My pal & co-collaborator Cory McCrory has been working so diligently in her studio adding her own special sense of whimsy to every piece! We can’t wait to show-off the finished flower pots this weekend in Glenview! Remember, there are a limited quantity of these colorful collaborations!

Removing the front door of the kiln is always exciting… as it reveals the fired work for the first time layer-by-layer, brick-by-brick. Fingers crossed that everything turned out well. Excited to see that there are some good colors, good clay surfaces & not too much of that “blasted dolphin-skin grayness” that happens in a lot of soda kilns! Looking good so far… and usually gets even better as you dig in further while unloading!

After a full day of cooling, it was finally time to crack open the top of the kiln to cool it completely to unload later that night… and to get a first sneak peek into the kiln!!!