Just a bit more of a “teaser”… a bit more of the sgraffito platters that Amy Taylor & I have been working on as our collaboration project for ART IN THE GARDEN. We’ll have a limited number of platters, shallow bowls & more with her whimsical illustrations hand-carved through black underglaze to reveal the white porcelain.

Mark your calendars… September 9th & 10th in Glenview!

Just a little sneak peek at some of the “characters” who will be showing up at ART IN THE GARDEN next weekend! Metalsmith Amy Taylor has been working on a few of my porcelain platters doing some adorable sgraffito carvings as part of our collaboration project. She’s created a whole menagerie to share with us at ART IN THE GARDEN… can’t wait to show them off in-person!

More info – www.grassrootsartfair.com

So I gave some porcelain platters & bowls to Amy Taylor with a band of black underglaze around the rims. I also gave her a couple of my favorite DiamondCore Tools for her to play with. Looks like she’s been doing some amazing sgraffito work for our collaboration pieces for ART IN THE GARDEN in Glenview. We’re all trying to finish up our collaborations as we’re just a week and a half away… mark you calendars for September 9th & 10th!

Click here for more info – https://www.grassrootsartfair.com/

A quick layer of black underglaze makes stark contrast with the white porcelain clay. Just making a few more pieces for Amy Taylor to play with… she’s doing some fun sgraffito sketches on the black areas specifically for ART IN THE GARDEN. It’s my next art fair in Glenview where many of the artists work together on special one-of-a-kind collaborations! This is just one… I have a few more collaborations “under wraps” to share soon… but first, time to go teach my Beginner’s class!!!

For more information, click here – https://www.grassrootsartfair.com/

Porcelain platters & shallow bowls…
all with wide flanges & rims which will make for perfect canvases for Amy Taylor to play with!

Pretty little porcelain balls… going to try to crank out some quick porcelain pieces!!! After summer camp, but before teaching again tonight. Hopefully, setting up some good “canvases” for a little ART IN THE GARDEN collaboration project with one of “My Talented Friends”!

Huge thanks to everyone who made it out this weekend for my MUD & METAL Holiday Home Show! Amy & I had so much fun seeing everyone spreading holiday cheer & doing some holiday shopping! Handmade gifts are always appreciated. And we both appreciate your ongoing support & encouragement throughout the year. Happy Holidays to all of you!

And for you local Chicago peeps that couldn’t make it over this weekend… my condo will remain a “pottery store” until Christmas! So if you feel like you need to swing by for a little holiday shopping, just let me know.

Shoot me an e-mail and hopefully we can set-up a time that works – gary@firewhenreadypottery.com

My uber-talented metalsmith friend Amy Taylor is here again today… also replenishing & restocking … but might have a little “untangling work” to do before she’s all set-up. Ahh… the life of a traveling metalsmith!

So I’m in the final “night-before” push… pricing, re-stocking, adding more to the Shlepping sale shelves, cleaning, baking… and just plain getting ready for another fun weekend at my place! Hopefully you’ve cleared out a spot on your calendar & started making your gift list… because this weekend is my MUD & METAL HOLIDAY HOME SHOW!!! With special guest star Amy Taylor and her amazing jewelry creations! Whether naughty or nice, lots of wonderful gifts for everyone on your shopping lists!

This weekend is MUD & METAL : My Second Holiday Home Show! So if you stop by my place this weekend, you can get handmade pottery & jewelry… but also for the first time HANDMADE COOKIES!!! Yes, Amy Taylor has not only been making a lot of beautiful jewelry for this show… but she’s also started a new cookie company “TWO TOUGH COOKIES”!!! So she’ll be bringing some of her yummy treats this weekend for people to purchase… and a few samples for us all to enjoy as well.

The perfect chance to pair homemade treats with handmade pottery to make a perfect holiday combo gift for that special someone on your holiday list… even if that “special someone” is yourself!!!