Starting out the morning with clean reclaim buckets… as Nate volunteered to press all of the dried reclaim terra cotta through the grate on top… as intended. I love when my Summer Campers just start volunteering to do projects around the studio making it a better place for everyone. As though they’re part of the community. Taking one for the team. Now if we could just get some more of the adult students to follow Nate’s lead… wouldn’t THAT be great?!

Now I’m a fan Fall as much as the next guy… what with its pumpkins, gourds & mums. But c’mon… I just stopped off at the grocery store on my way to Summer Camp and they have a full-on display already happening!!! It’s September 2nd!!! I’m still in Summer-mode!!!!

Hard to believe that we’re already into September… where does the summer go so fast?! Luckily we still have beautiful sunrise mornings to look forward to… even if they are getting later & later in the morning. Each day a few minutes later than the one before.

Okay, so maybe we’ve re-learned that important lesson that I was pushing too far to the brink?… and maybe you CAN’T throw something on the wheel in the morning, finish it in the afternoon and then put it in the kiln that some evening. Looks like an 11-hour production time frame might just be a little too quick???

Maybe?…
I mean, I did have more that survived than those that blew up. So maybe next time I need eleven and a half hours??? HA!!! Ya’ learn some, ya’ lose some!!!

Always a good sign… four simple letters… and one step closer to next weekend’s soda kiln firing! Hopefully everything survived the bisque firing and I’ll soon have a LOT of glazing & wadding to do!

And while the pumpkins are “quick-drying”… I decided I had time for a few more pieces of kiln filler. Just a quick batch of textured stars to become Christmas ornaments after soda firing this weekend! Never too soon, right?!

As I was pondering my bisque kiln load for tonight, I kinda figured I might have some extra space. So I quickly threw some new pieces before camp & turned them into pumpkins after camp! Not too shabby for a one day project, huh?! Trying to dry them quickly… at least enough so they don’t blow-up in the kiln!!!

Just a couple more of my “hybrid mugs”… combined wheelthrown & handbuilt mugs… ready to go into the bisque kiln tonight. Loving the textures… and their “oversized-ness” as requested by a customer who bought a HUGE hybrid mug at the Hinsdale art fair and now wants another one!!! Perfect for another Mugshot Monday!!!

Beautiful blue skies & puffy white clouds at Buckingham Fountain after the triathlon… and after the storm! One of the most beautiful landmarks in Chicago. It’s hard to take a bad picture of it… and even harder to choose which ones to post?!

Fun with friends along the lakefront… swimming, biking & running! We all ran our own race while dealing with the heat, humidity & freak rainstorm! It was the first time that Tracy & I got to run together as we signed up for the “Clydesdale & Athena” division for we “larger” normal-sized people!

Fun to have Chris, Nancy & Don racing with us. Seeing Nancy in our favorite “Rapid Reboots” after the race… and Chris winning second place in her age group!

Despite the challenging weather today, we all had a great time playing down along the lakefront for the 2021 CHICAGO TRIATHLON.