This month’s mug design was inspired by a dear friend and a desire to create something both personal and expressive. Centered around the vibrant blue and gold macaw—her favorite bird—the piece began as a realistic sketch but evolved into something more symbolic. Rather than a literal depiction, the mug captures the feeling of flight and emotional release, with flowing lines and a stylized macaw eye representing spiritual awareness and the journey beyond grief.
 
The handle, designed to echo this movement, was shaped to feel organic and balanced, complementing the overall form without disrupting its flow. More than just a tribute, this mug marks a meaningful step in my artistic growth—an exploration of intuition, transformation, and the power of clay to hold emotion.  
 
The surface is a soft, surf-toned stoneware glaze that complemented the carving without overpowering it. Every glaze was applied by hand, and each batch was fired to cone 6, allowing me to fine-tune the results and bring out the depth of the design.
 
 
Gerri produced this June series of 15 limited edition mugs which were all pre-reserved prior to the final presentation.  A few of the extra "just in case" mugs have been released for sale.