Here's my main mug that I'm entering for the contest. Amazingly enough, I did not make this mug. It was made by another Wisconsin Potter:
![Image](http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt346/poschee/facemug2.png)
Stoneware, thrown on wheel. This mug is my fave for a few reasons. First, it is glazed in Shino and Celadon glazes -- some of my favorite japanese and korean glazes ever. They're beautiful on their own, and the potter taught me that layered over the top of each other they're even more amazing.
Otherwise this mug is a dream for more than one reason -- the handle is wonderful, with a nice chunk put on top for your thumb to rest on as you hold your mug. It's the kind of handle that makes it comfortable to hold the handle on its own or just hold the actual cup with your hand up against the top of the handle for support.
![Image](http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt346/poschee/favemug1.png)
Its best feature has to be the bottom though. The bottom of the mug is very thick with over an inch of solid foot. If you stick this mug in the freezer for a few hours, the bottom will act like ice, keeping your beer or other beverage cold for hours, without water diluting it or the taste of plastic from those plastic cubes that you can get.
![Image](http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt346/poschee/favemug3.png)
This is my favorite mug that I've made thus far. I know what you're thinking -- this mug isn't even finished yet, so how can it rightfully be my favorite? It's the fact that it's not finished that makes it so exciting to me. It's a new shape, so I can't help but seeing so many possibilities in it -- will it in fact fit in a cup holder perfectly as I designed it when it's finished, or did I over or under-estimate the clay shrinkage? How will the handle feel when I have liquid in it and I'm finally holding it, when I tilt it and bring the lip to my lips? It's exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time to think that this mug could either be the start of a new line of work for me, or it could be another piece that ends up on the back shelf because it doesn't work. Who knows?