I spent a few hours in the clay studio today working on a few things. The deadline for the Detroit Artist Market’s Holiday Market was today so that got me thinking I should have already started on Christmasy things. So I made a nesting nativity and a snowman to get into the spirit.

Then I worked on special requests from my family. First I started a prototype of a demitasse for my husband. I got him an espresso machine for Christmas last year and he has been perfecting his method ever since. He wants a set of mugs that are smaller than my tea cups but larger than my shot glasses. I figure I’ll make one at a time until I get his approval and then make a set of four and a little tray for them. This is a new design I am using; folding the clay at the bottom of the cylinder to form a square base. I also tried a new handle design.

After finishing the cup I had some clay scraps left. I’m using up the rest of my temmstone as the new studio uses speckled buff, therefore I don’t want to have left over clay to reclaim. It was enough to start on the ankylosaurus that my son requested. I got the basic shape, but the clay needed to absorb a little water before I continued, so I wrapped it up to finish next week.

When I checked in on my Julian calendar to see today’s number, I couldn’t believe how fast this year is going by. I am going to miss this blog when my years up. I’ll have to find a way to continue blogging and sharing my daily art adventures beyond these 366 days!

Winter still seems far off but for potters, the creation process takes a while so we need to start planning ahead; what ways are you planning to share your creativity this coming holiday season?