So the ice has melted, and the shirts have sat in place for awhile to let the dye seep in. Now it’s time to start opening them up to rinse out the “extra” dye. Always fun when the Big Reveal happens… after the rubber bands are snipped… as you pull open the folds & twists to see the patterns & colors!

Unfortunately, these still need to be rinsed out… and then washed.
This is where I have the most trouble with tie-dying. The colors are so clear & vibrant now. But it always seems when I rinse them out, that the colors seem to blend even more… and too frequently, the white areas all get “stained” a different color… and don’t stay white?!!!! I think I need to do a little research on this!

And I mean… who doesn’t LOVE a great spiral???

Showing off the last of my “surprise” Christmas gifts. All have been delivered, all surprises done! Apparently it was a year for making PLATES!!! These stamped plates turned put pretty sweet, and FLAT! I think I re-learned a valuable lesson. Plates don’t always stay flat in the soda kiln. Much easier to glaze them and fire them on flat kiln shelves.

Looking to find a little more zen & calm in your 2021???…
don’t forget a new session of pottery classes start next week at Lillstreet Art Center. My Beginning & Intermediate classes are already full, but there is still space in my Advanced Wheelthrowing class on Thursday mornings from 10:00am-1:00pm. Click on the link if you want to improve your skills, streamline your techniques, or just relax & get muddy with us starting next week!

Click here – Advanced Wheelthrowing classes!

But then I just found out that there might be something out there to brighten our days!!! So much craziness going on out there… who couldn’t benefit from a little sugar therapy? I mean… three layers, three flavors!. I’m in!!!

We’ve been running a little low on our OREO quotient through the holidays, especially with new “no-food-sharing” COVID restrictions at Lillstreet. So I guess if I find these tasty treats… I guess I’ll have to eat them all by myself?! Oh shucks! Let the search begin… QUICK!!!

Oh wait… and for you cookie-challenged folks out there… BROOKIE.
That’s Brownie & Chocolate Chip Cookie combined!!! Who doesn’t love that?!!!

We were all so excited to see the end of 2020…
not all that much better, huh?!

Looks like another yummy handmade meal on some handmade pottery! Warm winter meals coming together down in Peoria. A little chicken pot pie on a little chicken pot POTTERY!!!

So much fun to see that one of my Christmas ornaments has found a place of honor (and glamour) in someone’s house. Apparently it’s become part of the BLING year-round!!! Thanks for sharing Jacob!

When Matthew got to the bottom of his cup…
it was an “out of this world” experience!

He saw a resemblance to the planet Neptune
in the bottom of his cup where the glaze pooled together!

Too funny – thanks for sharing Matthew!!!

So I’ve added the powdered dye… some right on top of the shirts, others on top of the ice. Some will drip right through the white plastic grate, while others will sit in the “muck” puddle for a longer time. The longer in the muck the better the saturation… I believe?

It’s kinda like glazing pottery… you add the color and hope for the best. It’s out of my control at this point. But like I tell my students… “Just because it’s not what you expected, does NOT mean that it’s bad.”