So last night my longtime friend & pottery student Kristen had a little “First Dibs” party before launching her pottery website today! As a former metalsmith, it’s been fun watching her work in clay instead of metal. And seeing her skills & designs grow & evolve so quickly. You can tell she’s been listening to my lessons… especially my “More Is More” mantra! Congrats Kristen… so proud of you!!!

I came home with this little brown cup. Which was actually a class demo… that I offered for someone else to finish. Kristen was the first to claim it… and look what she did to my “plain” demo cylinder!!!

And don’t forget the HOLIDAY HOME SHOW bargains on the back porch!!! It’s my annual “Tired of Shlepping Sale”!!! Lots of class demos, seconds & things I’m just tired of shlepping around to the art fairs! Big discounts while they last!!!

Time to start making your lists.. .and checking them twice! Hard to believe that next weekend is already my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW!!! With pottery in every room of my condo all decked-out for Christmas, food & drink in the kitchen… and the ever-popular “Tired Of Schlepping Sale” on the back porch! So mark your calendars… while I’m busy in the studio & at home getting everything ready for another BIG Holiday Home Show!!! And bring your festive friends…

Count them if you don’t believe me! Even scarier… it’s just TWO FRIDAYS until my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW!!! Yes, my annual pottery sale that is the perfect chance to kick-off your holiday gift shopping! I’ve got a lot to do in the studio before then, let alone setting it all up in my condo! Mark your calendars now… Saturday, November 18th & Sunday, November 19th from 10:00am-6:00pm. Start making your gift list, check it twice.. and bring a friend!!!

Another beautiful morning in the Lower Barn! My double booth is all set & restocked for Day Two of ART IN THE BARN… so be sure to stop for some pottery, chit-chat & art fair fun! We’re here until 5:00pm!

Well, here’s the “Big Reveal” of my soda kiln firing from this past weekend. It’s always a labor of love… not just making all of the work, but also all of the loading, bricking the door, firing, putting in the soda mixture, unbricking the door, unloading the pots, packing it all up, scraping the kiln shelves, kiln washing the shelves, mopping the floor, and so many other “not-so-glamorous” tasks that are all part of the process. Most people think we “just make pots.” Well, there’s a LOT more to it than that!!!

But I’m pleased… my firing came out GREAT.
Nice bright colors… not too much gray “dolphin-skin” build-up! I need to prep & price everything now… getting it ready for ART IN THE GARDEN this weekend… as well as ART IN THE BARN two weeks later!!! Can’t wait to send them off to their new “forever homes.”

It took awhile, but I finished loading the soda kiln last night. Lots of pots made it in… and quite a few pumpkins!!! Firing today & unloading Monday night… just in time for ART IN THE GARDEN next weekend! Fresh new soda-fired pots coming soon!!!

Overall, Martin’s SURPRISE PARTY was so much fun!!! And I was so glad that Sarah & Nirali could join us for the festivities… and to treat them with some of my handmade pottery! It was so much fun having our own “Reality TV Celebrities” in our class for the night!!! You can tell that the three of them have a very special friendship after the show. So cute… so adorable… all three of them!!!

Knowing that the winner of THE GREAT AMERICAN BAKING SHOW would win a glass cake plate “trophy”… I thought I would make a ceramic “trophy” cake plate for Martin just in case he didn’t win! BUT HE DID WIN!!! I thought tit would still be a great gift… so now he has TWO “trophies” to choose from next time he’s serving a homemade cake!!!… or bringing one to our pottery class???

Just because Lillstreet has no water & no classes tonight… didn’t mean I couldn’t get some stamping done in my studio tonight! No water needed for stamping… and it was a great “surprise” chance to put in a few hours working, instead of teaching! Sure, I missed my students… but I do LOVE stamping!!!