So much fun to spend time with one of “My Talented Friends” today… as metalsmith Sarah Chapman was part of a sculpture show this weekend in Evanston. I had the chance to swing by today to see Sarah with some of her newest work, sculptural pieces & beautiful jewelry. To see more of Sarah’s amazing metal work, click on www.chapmanmetals.com

With the big launch of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR just two days away… I thought it might be nice to share the spotlight with a few of “My Talented Friends.” The tour will feature twenty-one talented potters each with a different approach & aesthetic. The tour is “virtual” this year with each artist selling their work online. In addition, there will be live demos & presentations on ZOOM… as well as some great giveaways! For more information… www.northernilpotterytour.com

And just in case you’ve missed it somehow, I will be launching my new ETSY SHOP this Friday morning at 8:00am… www.etsy.com/shop/FireWhenReadyPottery . There’s nothing posted there yet, but you can probably tag, follow or bookmark so you’re ready for the big kick-off Friday morning!!!

So while Chandler has always been my favorite on FRIENDS…
could he BE any funnier?… or should we say Miss Chanandler Bong???

I will say that a VERY close second place goes to Chandler’s girlfriend Janice! I was so excited that she made her way onto the FRIENDS REUNION special too! Love her… and that annoying nasal laugh!

It was so great to see so many friends today at the HINSDALE FINE ARTS FAIR. Its been far too long… my artists friends, my customer friends, my “regular” friends! So great to finally see smiling faces and not just eyes & foreheads. So it seemed only fitting that tonight I should watch THE FRIENDS REUNION while I relaxed at home & had dinner. We’ve waited a long time to see this come together… and I LOVED it. Well worth the wait. So sweet. Very touching. True friends. Funny moments. Great memories.

So here’s my question… Who was your favorite FRIEND and why??

One of the best parts of having friends stop by your weekend pop-up pottery sale… is when they bring you sweet treats from their candy shop!!! The best homemade chocolate fudge from Maurie’s Sugar Shoppe in Eureka, Illinois… right across from the Courthouse! Thanks Keith & Julie… you guys are too “sweet.”

It was a bit on the chilly side yesterday, but the sun was out and it felt great to get some longer mileage on the bike! I got together with a couple friends and pedaled west… out to the Fox River around Elgin. My day started with some elk in Elk Grove Village, and we turned around near the Grand Victoria Riverboat Casino! Beautiful blue skies, spring flowers & some brisk breezes… with good times & good laughs with friends out on the road!!!

Somewhere along our bike route yesterday, we stopped off for more water & Gatorade… and I found this!!! Who knew this was even a thing? And a YUMMY thing at that!!! Of course with a full day on the bike… pretty much everything is yummy!

Even the portraits were made out of LEGOs!!! So much work. So much creativity… so many flashback memories of FRIENDS. I kinda think I need to go back and re-watch every episode from the beginning again!!!

So who is YOUR favorite FRIEND… and why?!

Let the binge begin… “Could that BE any more fun???”

Yesterday I took my niece Taylor and her parents to THE FRIENDS EXPERIENCE downtown. She’s a new FRIENDS fan having recently binged the entire series during the pandemic… so I knew this would be the perfect birthday gift! Especially when your friend Terry is one of the creative masterminds behind the project and gets you free tickets for the exclusive preview event!

So much fun touring through the world of FRIENDS. Central Perk. Monica’s kitchen. The window to poke Ugly Naked Guy. Joey & Chandler’s apartment. Phoebe’s guitar. The wedged sofa. Joey wearing all of his clothes at once… even the fountain & sofa from the opening credits!!! Tons of memorabilia and plenty of photo-ops along the way… PIVOT!!!

Be sure to stop by THE FRIENDS EXPERIENCE on Michigan Avenue as it opens this Wednesday, March 17th. And special thanks again to Terry for hooking us up… I love having talented FRIENDS!!!

So no one told you life was gonna be this way.
Your job’s a joke, you’re broke,
Your love life’s DOA.
It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear.
When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month…
Or even your year, but…
I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU.

A wonderful pizza night with my good friends Pam & Sarah!
Yummy pizza from Lou Malnati’s & great conversation…
sure, it was virtual over ZOOM… but I’ll take pizza with friends
any way I can these days!!!