Last session, one of my Intermediate Wheel students came to the first class and “proclaimed” that his goal for the class was to make EIGHTY PIECES during the session!!! As a recent condo owner, Jack has plenty of room to fill. So some of the eighty were for personal use, some are gifts, but most were just for the practice & muscle-memory of making so many pots! At our final class, Jack pulled them all out for a little “show & tell”… and the Grand Total was 84!!! Congrats Jack… you succeeded & blew us all out of the water!!! A wonderful achievement!!!

Handles attached. Mugs made. I’ll keep them under plastic until I have time to add some accents of colored flashing slips. As these mugs are destined for a soda-firing in a couple weeks!!!

Starting the day in my studio pulling handles.
Most people hate handles… whereas I actually enjoy making them.
Mugs are my favorite thing to make!!!

Colorful clematis climbing & blooming in my front garden today! I would love for it to grow larger & produce more flowers… but “someone” may have planted it where it doesn’t get quite enough sun. Darn it!!!

Another beautiful morning… another beautiful bike ride. We started with almost clear skies… but then the clouds started to move in… and we were treated with a beautifully clouded skyshow!

Doing some trimming tonight… which I love!!! Especially with great trimming tools from DiamondCore Tools… and my favorite production-centering tool The Giffin Grip!!! The perfect trimming combo!!!

And thank you to everyone (including my Dad) who checked-in to find out how my CAR fared through the storms. All good… oh… and by the way, I’m okay too!!! Thanks.

But this morning during my sunrise ride, there were downed trees & branches all around… several down on the bike trail itself… mostly around the Montrose area. I lost count after thirty!!! So sad to see so many large old trees damaged by the strong winds over the past two nights. Luckily there were no houses, structures or cars for these trees to land on! And on a good note… it looks like there will soon be a surplus of “mulch” in the City parks department!

After two days of storms… a beautiful blue-sky day was a very welcome surprise. Warm sunshine, cooler temperatures & less humidity. Go outside & play!!!

After two nights of crazy storms & two mornings of wet roads & debris… it felt great to finally have clear skies & cooler temps. There were still a lot of trees down & branches strewn about, but the beautiful sunrise made it all seem better!

Always good to see a happy plant in a handmade flower pot. Like this terra cotta one that Cory’s neighbor Pam bought during the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR… and has already fulfilled its destiny by giving a plant a new home! Thanks for sharing Pam!!!