It is hard to believe I started to write a blog in 2006. So much has changed in my work and life. What a difference 6 years makes with growing children. When I started this they were 6 and 4. Still needing lots of care from mom. Now they are 12 and 9 and pretty self sufficient (in the house) and I have lots more studio time.

Jumping forward, this summer has continued to bring me lots of new discoveries of what I can manage as a artist. I have been applying and excepted at high end fine art shows. I have been able to keep up with orders and family. I think I can finally take some decent photos of my work. Now I am opening a new online shop and pulling all those social media threads together.

I like to report I am still happily working as a potter after six years and growing the whole time.

Happy Holidays!

Well here we are, it is the Christmas season again and most people I know are just completely surprised this event is happening next week. I guess I have spent the last few months completing projects and selling pots and the time just flew.

These pictures are from the last show of the year at the "Kids Work Children's Museum" in Frankfort Il. This show was kind of a celebration of the museums first weeks of being open. Downtown Frankfort hosts a "midnight madness" shopping spree and all of the stores stay open until Midnight.

This is some of my display. I was in a potted plant mood, something about all of the white snow outside made me want some colorful little plants to sell. Both of the pictures of this show have a little speak peak at Sweet Jessie from www.sweetjessie@com . Can you find her?

I received my latest email from my friend Cleetus over at www.CityProvisions.com announcing the next supper event at his space on January 14th. The next event is a cocktail party themed event highlighted with spirits by "Death's Door Spirits". Every event I try to create something new to highlight the food and theme of the event. For this event I decide to create little shot type glasses. All the shots I like to do end up in Venti Lattes. I think I will do some espresso cups and some creamers.

This is one of my new sets of plates. I was thinking frosty icy winter themed plates. I think it is a little to big for a cocktail party, so I will make something new that is really fun to hold.

Happy Holidays!

Fun With Clandestino

Saturday night I got to experience my first dinner with Chef Efrain of Clandestino www.chefrain.com . This supper club took over a west loop loft and served Trout (below), squash soup, pork raviolis (above), among many other things. This was my third dinner where my plates and dishes make a showing with gourmet food.

The dinner guests were communally seated at tables of ten. I got to visit with two different tables that night. The attendees were of diverse occupational back grounds but shared a common interest in food. Some guests traveled just walking distance from their homes to attend the dinner, others flew in from the east coast. The pork ravioli's were plated on my brand spankin' new 8 by 8" dishes. This is a picture of the serving line up. All pictures of the plating's meant that I was IN THE WAY. At least all of the severs cut me a bit of a break when I said "please let me shoot this".

The night ended with lots of happy people looking for the next party. My dishes next scheduled appearance will be at the Faith's Farm dinner on October 18th with City Provisions info@cityprovisions.com .

Farm dinner

I think as a potter you always hope that the work that you make leaves you and has an active useful purpose in the new owners life. I love to go to friends homes and see if the mug has become a favorite or that the big bowl is setting out on the table holding that weeks produce. The Supper Club events I have started doing in the last few months with City Provisions http://www.cityprovisions.com/ is the pottery equivalent of a child's ballet recytle. Here we go, will the weeks of preperation pay off? Will it hit all the right marks?

Here is my plate featuring Faith's Farm pork chop with mash potatoes with guere cheese. It made you want to lick that lovely plate.

This was a lovely event. The next Faith's Farm dinner will be on October 18, 2008 http://www.cityprovisions.com/ is taking reservations and the plates and dishes will be there ready for their next performance.

Summer Dinner

The studio has been operating at full tilt these days preparing for my first all pottery service dinner. I have been making plates, platters, pitchers and bowls. All of which I am planning to get fired in the next two weeks. It has been a long time since I produced at this volume, but after my wrists recovered there lost muscle, I have been rolling along just fine. It is really better than fine, it feels good. Right now I am truely thankful for my neighbors new pool which is keeping my kids busy and then tired.

small potted plants

I thought I was really tired of gardening, but I am really happy to have a little manageable garden for my counter top. As usual the best made plans were actually derailed by the inventory of the local garden store. This was to be a Christmas display, kind of a mini spruce forest in snowy white cups. The store had a run on all the little spruce trees so I had to go tropical. The nice thing is these little plants are really inexpensive.

I have been making lots of these little pots for arranging on a these trays I have been making. I am going to throw the saucers as well. These are meant to be Christmas presents, I hope I get it done.

I am challenging myself to have a one week turn around. These were bisque fired yesterday. Glaze pictures soon!

Making Trays

I have been playing with some antique wall paper rolls that I picked up at flea market. At the suggestion of my friend Jessie I started making trays and I am having a great time. These are the first out of the kiln and I am really pleased at home they turned out. My tea pots are looking great on them as well.

This is a tray with a feather print that I painted some designs over. Here is another treatment of the feather.

I took a few to the DIY Trunk show last weekend and the response was really positive. I can't wait to make another round and improve on the designed.

I think this one found a new home. I will be putting a lot of this stuff out at my Esty site. I have not add to that site in quite a while.

I am still loving my tea pots and cups, even though I didn't sell any last weekend. I think I will be throwing a tea party soon.