GOOD MORNING!!! The day has begun with plenty of pottery for everyone!!! The NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR is open today & tomorrow from 10:00am-5:00pm. Do the roadtrip and hit all six locations… or just come to Sandwich to see all of these potters!!!

Starting with ME!!!
Gary Jackson – Fire When Ready Pottery. ——————————

Kenyon Hansen ——————————

Lindsey Heiden ——————————

Natalie Steinmetz – Windy City Ceramics ——————————

Ben & Laura Gallardo – Jam & Bee ——————————

Amy Song ——————————

Cory McCrory ——————————

My first official purchase from the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR… a little “insider-preview” purchase tonight! An incredibly beautiful wooden rib for shaping pieces while throwing on the wheel. Too pretty to use?… maybe?! But I did also have a great chat with Troy Bungart… potter & toolmaker who will be at the Leland location this weekend! Be sure to stop by… I left a few cool ones there for ya’!

And it’s not just the sky shows & farm fields… I also LOVE all of the weathered barn board out in “these parts!” Another cool side attraction of Anne’s place… as the Leland stop on the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR!

What a way to end the day… a wonderful potluck get-together for the Pottery Tour artists from the Sandwich & Leland locations. Our host Anne put out quite a spread of amazing food… salad, barbecued meats, potatoes & cheesecake too!!! While we got to see the work of the Leland potters… we were also treated to an AMAZING sunset past the barn & over the fields. And you know how we City-kids love this stuff!!! Thanks for a beautiful evening Anne… and now we’re all back on the Tour tomorrow. Hope you can join us… and enjoy the view from the Leland location as much as I did!!!

I mean, I haven’t posted much about it… but this weekend is the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. I will once again be at the Sandwich location at my good friend Cory McCrory’s place. There are six location on the Tour with 43 talented artists looking forward to meeting all of you! I hope you can make it out for a great roadtrip… and enjoy seeing a TON of pottery & chatting with all of the artists! It’s going to be a great weekend!!!

There’s no such thing as TOO MANY bungee cords, right?!

Well, I’m all packed up & heading out to Sandwich to set-up for this weekend’s pottery tour. Always giving “Beverly Hillbillies” vibes as I drive to an art fair with my tent frame & shelving uprights strapped to the roof of my car!!!

I mean, who doesn’t need a “bowl” to put your donuts in when celebrating NATIONAL DONUT DAY?! Everything tastes better when served in handmade pottery… even donuts!!!

Food always tastes better in handmade pottery…
like we could even make Mint OREO’s taste any better??? They’re ALWAYS yummy!

We hope to see you in Sandwich… perhaps with sandwich cookies???

For more info… www.northernilpotterytour.com

This year, we will also have Amy Song joining the Sandwich location with her wood-fired pottery. Amy is also the main organizer of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR… and word-on-the-street is that she will be hosting a new studio Tour stop at her new home in Plano next year!

New to the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR this year… we’re excited to add “Jam & Bee” to our line-up in Sandwich. I’m really looking forward to seeing these colorful & vibrant pots made by husband & wife Ben & Laura Gallardo. Already loving the colors & patterns… can’t wait to see them in person!