Okay, so you all know I watch far too much TV,
and a lot of Netflix movies & TV show binges in my studio…
but with all of the COVID stuff going around these days…
maybe these two weren’t my best choices?!

It’s always a GREAT day when a surprise “care package” shows up…
with a promise of wonderful things inside!!!

So I ripped it open!!! To find the newest assortment of trimming tools from my pals at DiamondCore Tools!!! … WHOO-HOO!!!

They even come with their own replacement blades!!!…
so easy to switch out with a simple screw & screwdriver! With all the DiamondCore Carving Tools that I’ve used, I’m only had to switch the blade once… and that was all my fault… as I “squished” the blade when I accidentally pressed it into the edge of my wedging table… awkward… don’t ask…

It wasn’t because their blade had worn-out, it was because I’m a klutz!
But it is nice to know that replacing the blade is always an option!

I couldn’t wait to give them a test drive… their inaugural trip… their virgin voyage… and yet totally LOVING how crisp, clean & pristine they were right now. Knowing that they will NEVER be quite this clean ever again! They’re pretty sexy, right?

Another great design choice… each of the trimming tools has a different shaped end. A point, a square, and wedge and the rounded Potter’s Thumb! Double-duty being able to use both ends of the tool.

And verdict is in!!!…
Their trimming tools are GREAT!!! So smooth. So sharp.
And the handles feel great too… nice weight, nice balance, beautiful wood!!! You know I LOVE trimming… now there’s even more to love!

Thank You DiamondCore Tools… I love your tools. Always so sharp, well-made and perfect for so many uses! I can’t wait for this whole quarantine thing to end… so I can share these beauties with my pottery students!!!

Now more than ever! Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay creative.
Be fearless as we all face these new challenges… in a time where we all need creative solutions. Some day soon we’ll all be back to the place we love. I miss everyone. My friends. My students. My community.

Lillstreet Art Center.

Anyone notice a stamped vase anywhere… I seem to have misplaced one???

See what happens when it rains…
I keep sharing pictures while I’m stuck at home!!!

Okay, so a lot of you have already been to my place for “My Holiday Home Show” and have seen, touched & loved my tiled wall installation. It’s a small wall between bedroom & bathroom with just under 3,000 handmade tiles on the wall…. 2,894 but who’s counting?! All stamped, textured & soda-fired. It took awhile to install, but I LOVE the final piece… especially with my hardwood accents & overhead track lighting for added drama & shadows!

Continuing my “Sheltered-At-Home Tour”…
as the sunshine is gone, it’s now grey & dreary, so no afternoon bike ride… here’s a wall hanging I made a few years back with some textured & soda-fired buttons, waxed linen & beads. I love the way it hangs, swings a bit & makes really cool shadows on the wall. The plan was to make more of these to sell at art fairs. But by the time I finished this one that took FOREVER!!!… I’m afraid this might just be a one-of-a-kind!!!

And that’s why it still lives on MY wall !!!

Okay, now that that succulent diversion is completed,
back to the task at hand. Packing up some pottery pieces to ship out today… or maybe tomorrow if I trip upon another tangent today?! No promises.

Oh look… another DIVERSION!
Seems like a LOT of these tangents keep happening to me these days?! So while I “should be” packing up some pottery to ship out, I noticed that a couple succulents seemed a little overgrown & gangly!

And after watching far too much social media, I felt somewhat emboldened to tackle the job… and to try my hand at propagating some of the stems & leaves. Online I saw someone using an egg carton and a little dirt… so I’m doing the same. I mean, if it’s online it’s got to work, right?!

I figure even if I get a couple that grow, it will be a success!!!

And this beautiful African violet has been blooming since last Fall !!! One of my favorite customers propagates & grows African violets… all from his Mother’s original plant from something like forty years ago! A beautiful tribute to his Mom… and a great gift he shared when he gave it to me at my Holiday Home Show already planted in one of my own flowerpots!!!

And it hasn’t stopped blooming since!!!
Not sure why… but I’ll take it.

While this happy wavy one has been replanted recently in a new stamped & soda-fired flowerpot… just finding more “diversions” from working on the REAL projects I “should be” tackling during this crazy time off!

One of the very few benefits of “sheltering-at-home” is getting to enjoy some of your houseplants more… especially when they’re blooming! Like this little orchid that has decided to bloom again for the third time! And not too far behind, I have two more orchid plants that have thrown up some more flower buds.

A lot of people ask what I do to get them to re-bloom. And I tell them LITERALLY nothing!!! You can see that they are still in their original plastic container just dropped into a ceramic mug. No soil added. Just as it came. Sure, they might be a little root-bound… but I figure if they’re re-blooming they’ve got to be happy, right?! And so there they stay… in a mug… in my kitchen window!

Lucky if they get watered like once or twice a month!!!