Pottery

Hand Building Projects

After two cycles of predominantly wheel-thrown pieces, I’ve returned to hand building. Since I can do it at the kitchen table, it is perfect for these days when the garage is too cold.
 
Later this month, I’m helping throw a birthday party for a friend, and we are making spoon rests. To prepare, I’ve been practicing and looking for good textures to use … and gluing the letters back on my rubber stamps. Yesterday, I went to the flea market in search of crocheted doilies and landed this lovely one. The thread is a stiff and not too absorbent, so it is working great with the clay.
 

Dessert Plates Using Doilies and Kitchen Bowls

I created a set of 5″ dessert plates today. Here’s a free tip – use a paper towel between the plate or bowl and the clay if you drape the plates over a slick or non-absorbent form. Otherwise, the clay will stick to the surface and become stressed while drying. I managed to loosen these with some prying and a heat gun (affiliate link), but it would have been best to let them dry slowly and shrink evenly.
 

 

handbuilt ceramic dessert plates 
 
handbuilt ceramic dessert plates
 
handbuilt ceramic soap dish

 

 

 

 

 

Ceramic Spoons from Molds

While I’ve been browsing Pinterest for spoon rest ideas, I’ve come across ceramic spoons and a blog by Jeanette Zeis on how to make them. I have these three little wood spoons that came with a cutting board, so I used them to make molds.

hand made ceramic spoon mold

hand made ceramic spoon

I’ve since put together two posts on how to make spoons:
Pulling Spoons: http://www.lovesown.com/2016/01/pulling-spoons.html
Spoon molds: http://www.lovesown.com/2013/02/making-spoons-from-mold-pictorial.html

My Etsy site has been updated with a few herb spoon rests and many other fun items.

Get started! 

Do you need spoons or bowls for your pottery projects? I’ve included some affiliate links below. Purchases made through my affiliate links give me a small commission to help run this blog, but don’t cost you any extra.

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