WEBSTER—"I think it's fun for people to see how we work," Laura McCaul said of the popularity of the Northwestern Wisconsin Pottery Tour which starts Friday (July 25).

"Every artist works differently and people will see something different at every studio," she continued.

McCaul and her husband Jim, an accomplished artist himself, although his specialty is woodworking, are joining four other pottery artists who are opening their studio doors to folks Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"Some who visit want a tour of the studios, others just want to see what's available," Jim said.

Visitors stopping at the McCaul's on Co. Rd. C northeast of Webster will see Jim's state-of-the-art woodworking shop and Laura's pottery studio.

Laura's work, which has earned her numerous national awards, is finished with her own version of a Native American process called blackware.

While she is firing each piece in an outdoor wood-burning kiln, she adds sawdust. The trapped carbon is permanently absorbed into the clay producing unique earthy tones and flashings.

The tour is in its sixth year, is typically the final weekend in July and has proven to be a success.

"Last year Jim was wondering if we really needed to open for the tour on Friday," Laura recalled. "We opened and had the biggest day of the weekend."

Aside from the bright yellow signs attracting art fans and curious travelers, Laura said they have lived on Ham Lake long enough to know people in Webster and Siren who will come for the tour.

"On Fridays," Jim interjects quickly.

"They do come on Friday because they want to see what's new," Laura adds with a laugh.

"People who live around here will bring their guests," Jim added.

Jim just finished a custom desk for Dr. Ingalls in Webster.

"Dr. Ingalls is a big bass fisherman so the desk is inlaid with a set of tiles Laura made depicting a lake scene with a bass jumping out of the water," he continued.

"He (Dr. Ingalls) wanted the desk built with secret compartments, but he's told just about everyone about them," Laura added.

Custom work is one of the things the couple enjoy most and welcome visitors to challenge them.

Other artists on the tour include Marty Pearson and Judith Witt-Croswhite, both in Danbury, Sara Haugen, Foxboro and Martye Allen in Lake Nebagamon.