Celebrating another TEXTURE TUESDAY with a new stamped vase… fresh out of the soda kiln!

It’s only Day Two of Summer Camp… and Rule #3 is already well in play!!!
With a splash of water on the floor… “Whatever mess you make, you WILL be cleaning up!”
And they do…

Celebrating another MUGSHOT MONDAY with some quick peeks at some of my new “hybrid mugs” that came out of my latest soda firing. So pleased with the results… although I still need to clean & prep some of them before they head out. I need to fulfill a few orders & prepare for my next art fair in July in Glenview!!!

Just a reminder … groovy cool textures made with handrollers from the folks at MKM Pottery Tools!

Today was my first day of Summer Camp!!!
You know it’s my favorite thing!!!
I mean, what could be better than being “entertained” by kids all day
while playing with clay making cool projects on the wheel?!

This week it’s back-to-back Wheelthrowing Camps… with pre-teens in the morning & teens in the afternoon. My “Summer Camp Tour of Duty” has officially begun at Lillstreet Art Center!!! Giddy-up…

On a clear day… you can see forever!
And today was one of those says with not a cloud in the sky!!!
Sure, still a lot of heat & humidity… but no clouds!!!

When I came into the studio today, I intended to make more pots. But then saw my huge pile of reclaimed clay sitting there waiting for me. So I decided today was the day to finish processing my reclaim.

First I chunked it up into blocks.

Then I cut thin slices & layered them with slices of fresh new clay & slightly dried clays. I’m not to particular… any high-fire clay can be layered in. It’s a great way to “use up” any partial bags of clay… as well as intermingling it with drier & wetter clays. A lot of slicing & stacking.

Then I tackle each pile by slicing it in half vertically… stacking it tall & slamming it down on the table. Let gravity do some of the work. Slice it, stack it, pound it, repeat. Eventually the layers get thinner & thinner. Doing a lot of blending for you.

Close enough for now… into bags to store my new batch of clay. I’ll do some real wedging when I start using the clay. All mixed. All blended. After all… IT’S JUST CLAY!!!

In the studio today… soaking up some much needed air conditioning!!!

Surviving the heat… enjoying a little flicker of sun.
This is a new clematis in my garden… “new” as in the second year,
but the first year with flowers!!! So pretty…

Burning through the haze! We greeted the morning with warm temps & humidity… with a layer of haze hanging low on the horizon. It took awhile for the sun to work its way through the haze… as I could feel the temps rising quickly already as I was pedaling. It’s going to be another hot one today!!! Stay safe.

So it’s been a hot-minute since I unloaded my soda kiln…
and a very HOT day today!!! But I digress…

So I’m finally getting around to sharing some photos from this latest firing. You know MUGS are my favorite thing to make… and these turned out great with fun colors & flashing marks!