With just one week until I need to have everything glazed, wadded and ready to be
loaded into my next soda kiln, I figured I better get started with firing some of my pieces.
So I loaded my kiln tonight. When this bisque kiln cools and can be unloaded, these pieces
come out and I turn right around and load it again with more! There’s going to be some
marathon glazing days next week if I have any hope of being ready in time!

Layer One : Ovals, Mugs, Small Vases and more!

Layer Two : Bowls, Soap Dispensers, and some new two-parters ala Julia Galloway!

Layer Three : Slab Vases, Ovals & Tumblers… some stacked two high to fill space!
Scott… I’m trying to get closer to tumble stacked with no shelves… soon… ha!

Layer Three and a Half : more Ovals, Soap Dispensers, Small Vases and Tiles.

Layer Four : As the back half was filled with Layer Three, I was stacking just the
front half… and my studio neighbor Corinne Peterson had some mural tile pieces
that she needed re-fired for a kids classroom project.

Layer Five :another layer of Corinne’s pieces to be re-fired.
I love the sharp color contrast to my very neutral gray greenware pieces!

Okay, so we made it down to the North Avenue Beach when the sun finally made an
appearance this morning. From the beach, you also get a good view of the city skyline.
Flat Stanley was quick to strike a pose on the spokes of my bike!

There I was… only a few more days with Flat Stanley. He still needed to see the Big City!
So we pedaled towards Navy Pier to start his big adventure! Posing in front of the iconic
Ferris Wheel that Taylor got to ride last summer.

We also pedaled along the Chicago River and made it to Michigan Avenue.
Stanley was impressed by the big buildings… especially the gleaming white Wrigley Building!

Over the river, he was greeted by Marilyn Monroe… or at least a huge sculpture of her
in the infamous dress & stance from “Seven Year Itch.” And… for the record…
I have NO IDEA why she’s even here in Chicago?!!!! Or when she’s leaving?…

Across the plaza from Marilyn Monroe is the beautiful Chicago Tribune Building.
Striking gothic architecture with incredible “inclusions” mortared into the facade…
pieces & parts for other famous & historic buildings around the world.

Also in the Tribune Towers… the WGN Radio station! You can see the broadcasters
through the window as they work. And Stanley climbing out of my bike bag!

Then, further up Michigan Avenue, Stanley found two of his favorite friends…
and Taylor’s favorites as well! Always a happy moment when you see Mickey & Minnie
greeting you at The Disney Store.

Next we were off to the historic Chicago Water Tower. A beautiful brick building reportedly
one of the few that survived the Great Chicago Fire. Actually, I think it was the building
across the street that survived the fire… but who’s counting?!

And a trip to downtown Chicago would not be complete without a stop for some chocolate!
Sadly, they weren’t open yet… shucks…  I guess Stanley’s tour was not quite complete!

By the time that our tour had finished, I was running late. And we still needed to pedal
all the way home… into the wind!!! Needless to say, I was exhausted and running late.
I actually sent a text message to the “glitter gig” to tell them I would be coming in later.
And I blamed it all on Flat Stanley and his Big Adventure!!!

This morning was a bit windy. And chilly as the wind was coming from the north & off the lake.
And there was  bit of haze on the horizon which kept us from getting a clear & colorful sunrise.
A little confusing how there seemed to be no clouds in the sky, and yet it wasn’t clear?!

Flat Stanley’s second sunrise.. and it’s not much to speak of.

Kinda gray… kinda gloomy. Not so sunny this morning for Flat Stanley’s second bike ride.
And to make it even “better”… a little bit of drizzle as I was headed home!

1. Bicycles      2. Rusty Metal      3. Roadkill
And when all three of them come together… watch out!!!

A sad sight this morning on one of the breakwater piers… glad that’s not my bike!!!
I’m intrigued by the two, yes, count them two… Kryptonite locks. Neither of which worked?!!

Very quiet. Very chilly. Very orange… and another perfect sunrise for Flat Stanley!

And a little further down the path, Stanley got his first glance of the Big City…

Ovals done & drying. Only a few days left to make things for my upcoming soda kiln.
I need to check my calendar & work backwards from my loading date
to determine what else I can still make, trim, dry, bisque & glaze in time!

After finishing the slab vases with some colored slip accents,
it was time to make another “batch” of something. I was feeling a little less than inspired,
so I decided to make one of my favorites. No, not mugs… but ovals.

This time they’re slightly smaller – not so much a casserole, but more of a bud vase or
tchotchke keeper! I was pretty pleased with today’s “production” mode. Throwing them all,
stamping them all and ovaling them all in one afternoon! Okay, so I “pushed it” a bit.
The ovals were a little wetter than I would like them to be… in fact, I had one casualty while
stamping when the clay was to wet, stuck to the stamp & wouldn’t release! It ripped instead!

They’re wrapped up overnight and tomorrow I’ll add the bottoms, as well as some
colored slip accents! Finish these off… and then it’s another batch of… something?!

With my next soda kiln less than two weeks away, it’s time to start making some of the taller
pieces that will go on the top shelves… and follow the curve of the roof quite nicely. These
large slab vases are a lot of fun to make with different textures on each side of each vase.

Now that they’re all stamped and ready to start drying, I just need to add some colored
slip details on them. Good thing Flat Stanley stopped by to help!

Yep, my first grade niece Taylor read one of the “Flat Stanley” books and is now watching
Stanley travel around. I received Flat Stanley in the mail yesterday and have about a week
to capture his travels and exploits around the city. I thought it only fitting that Flat Stanley’s
first stop would have to be the studio where Taylor loves to play in the mud!
Apparently Flat Stanley like to play in the mud too!

And nobody likes ‘eh’… enough said!