Cranked out some more textured tiles today… kiln filler one day, tiled wall the next!!!
And by “next’ I mean somewhere down the road after my next soda kiln firing when the colored slips actually become colorful.

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Sometimes reclaiming clay seems like a never-ending process. Just as soon as I empty out the “big bucket of goo” onto my large plaster bat… the big bucket gets filled up again with dried clay awaiting its turn to slake down.

Clear skies with a few low-flying clouds start out another beautiful sunrise bike ride…
pretty nice start for a late January day!

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On my way home this morning, I happened to pedal past this great bricolage mural on Thorndale near the lake. I love when “everyday” city spaces like fences & walls become works of art… hosting a wonderful message of art, creativity and diversity for the neighborhood.

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After yesterday’s spectacular “surprise” sunrise, this morning was still warm but looked a lot more like Winter. Gray & gloomy before the afternoon sun. The lake may have thawed, but there are still a few “icebergs & glaciers” lingering around the edges.

And yes, sure it was warmer than a normal January day… but methinks some of these folks have taken it a bit too far?! Yes, those are indeed people going for a swim in Lake Michigan this morning. Sure, wetsuits help a bit… but one of them was sleeveless too!!!

Still a few “icebergs” floating around at Belmont Harbor…

And another large “glacier” perched on the pier of the Foster Beach lighthouse. A little “dirty” around the edges because of all the layers of sand from the beach mixed in with the ice & snow.

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So now that they have their mugs assembled, it’s time for my Pottery Throwdown students to embellish them. So last night towards the end of class, the next challenge was revealed. They now need to take their four matching mugs and decorate them to represent, signify, resemble, interpret or otherwise show some influence by The Four Seasons. They have until class next Thursday to “finish them up” and bring them to class as they’re drying to greenware!

It’s completely up to them how they approach the project…
stylized & graphic?… sculptural?… illustrative?… carved?… stamped?… sgraffito?… painted?…
or otherwise “naturally” inspired!!!

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Last night in our Pottery Throwdown Challenge class, my students were tasked with trimming and adding matching handles to four matching cylinders in ninety minutes. Sounds like a lot of time, but it went right down to the wire! It was great fun to watch how they processed, produced, prioritized and approached the challenge. A matching set of four mugs compared, judged & points awarded as the coolest clay contest continues… and these mugs are NOT done yet!!!

Special thanks to Fred for (eating our cookies and…) being our special Guest Judge last night for the matching handles challenge!

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Another class. Another OREO.
Last night we had the new Chocolate Hazelnut flavor.

I know I “should” like them… but why “ruin” my chocolate with that darn hazelnut flavor?!
I actually preferred the red-hot cinnamon ones!!! Yes, I have the palate of a four-year old.

Thanks to Taylore & Ryan for “importing” them for class last night!!!

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Warmer than yesterday with just a few clouds on the horizon. We’re thawed and a lot drier… making it also “safer” for early morning pedaling. So great to squeeze in a sunrise ride in January!!!

With a bit of a wind, this morning was easy, breezy, beautiful…
oh wait, that’s someone else?!!!

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Surprise treats in pottery class tonight… I hadn’t even heard of this flavor yet, but somehow, somewhere Sara found a bag and brought them into class! I will say the flavor combination was a LOT better than I had first expected… and need I say we polished them off!!!