[Nfb-krafters-korner] Pottery Making

[River Woman]

While I was in my studio this afternoon, I thought of a couple more things you can use from your kitchen in hand building with clay.

Today, I used a coffee measure (those little ones that come in the coffee).  I put the clay into it and it made the BEST little LEGs for my Tea Box!  Yes, Nice sturdy little legs that were just the right size - nice a round and stout.

And, another BIG tip that I have for anyone who works with clay hand-building...is....TISSUE PAPER.

Yes, you can apply tissue paper onto the surface of your clay slab and then you can put the slab, tissue paper side DOWN, onto anything to get an impression.  That means, you can put your clay around the outside of a bowl that has impressions or things on the outside of it - the tissue paper releases your clay without sticking.  

Here is how I do it:

Roll your slab, big enough to cover your object you want to get impressions from.

Then, roll the issue paper lightly onto your slab.

Put the slab on the outside of your bowl.  Place a WET towel over that and lightly press the clay over the bowl. Rub your hands over it lightly and press lightly, being sure to fget the clay into the things on the outside of the bowl.  Then wait an hour or two - allow the clay to relax onto the bowl.  Take off the towel.

Then, wait another couple hours allowing the clay to begin to get a little dryer so it beins to hold a shape.

then, turn your bowl, clay and all, right side up - allowing the CLAY to be taken OFF the bowl you had moled it over.

Place the clay bowl inside another bigger bowl, in which you have put some paper or a soft towel.  This will keep your bowl in the SHAPE you wanted, while it dries more.

Then, cover it all up with some plastic and let it air dry a couple hours a day, then cover with plastic again. Keep doing this till your bowl is dryed out.  It will then be ready for firing!

You can make the most amazing bowls this way - 

Hope this helps with some ideas from your kitchen.

Lynda River Woman
Lynda Lambert
104 River Road
Ellwood City, PA 16117

724 758 4979

My Blog:  http://www.walkingbyinnervision.blogspot.com
My Website:  http://lyndalambert.com