One way to recycle your clay is to spread the wet clay over an absorbent surface. I’ve found that the best surface for reclaiming clay is a plaster slab. Making a plaster slab for drying clay is very simple. This is the process that I use, step by step. How to Make a Plaster Slab…
The term ‘majolica’ has been used to refer to two different kinds of pottery. One type is tin-glazed pottery and its production is said to date back to the 8th century. The other is colorful lead glaze pottery which emerged in Victorian England. In spite of this difference, there are ways to identify majolica…
Crazing in pottery glaze is a network of very fine cracks that cover the glaze on a piece of ceramics. Sometimes potters deliberately want to create a crazing effect, and this is known as crackle glaze. But a lot of the time crazing is considered to be an unwanted glaze defect. Crazing happens when a…
Making a clay vase is a fun project and they can become the centerpiece in a room. These three clay vase ideas are easy to make and can look lovely. Plus, they are made from printable slab templates which makes it easier to produce a well-proportioned piece. Clay Vase Ideas Using the Slab Technique Let’s…
Nerikomi pottery is a particular way of working with colored clay to create striking patterns. In this article, we will look at 3 simple ways to create beautiful Nerikomi patterns. One technique I will cover is how I make Nerikomi plates, which you can watch in my video here.. What is Nerikomi Pottery? Nerikomi pottery is…
The terms maiolica and majolica are often used to refer to the same thing. And the word faience is sometimes used as an umbrella term for majolica and maiolica! So, is there any difference between maiolica, majolica, and faience? Maiolica, majolica, and faience are all words that are used to refer to a broad category…
Majolica pottery means different things to different people. In this guide, we look at some of the different uses of the name Majolica, its history, who made it, and how it was made. What is Majolica Pottery? The name ‘majolica’ is used to refer to two different types of pottery that are made in different…
Puzzle jugs are clever drinking vessels that have been made to confuse and entertain drinkers and party guests for centuries. These charming curiosities have an interesting history and still hold a fascination today. In this article, we will look at the following: What are Puzzle Jugs? Puzzle jugs are specially designed vessels that were designed…
Crazing looks like a very fine network of cracks in the glossy glazed surface of your ceramics. If you run your finger over the fine cracks, it will most likely feel smooth. But are dishes with crazing safe to use? No, dishes with crazing are not safe to use for food and drink. The tiny…
Using lettering on my pottery is one of my favorite things. Over the years, I have tried out various different letter stamps for clay, with varying results. To save you money and frustration, I thought I would review some of the letter stamps for clay that I’ve tried, and let you know what I think…
Some air dry clay can look and feel a lot like regular pottery clay. But do they behave in the same way, and can you fire air-dry clay in a kiln? No. Most air dry clay, like DAS modeling clay or Crayola Air Dry Clay, cannot go in the kiln. However, there are different types…
Using clay that’s in good condition makes pottery making a lot easier. To keep it in good shape it’s important to know how to store pottery clay. Here are some essential tips on storing clay, so it’s in tip-top condition. You can store pottery clay either in a dry state or a moist state. If…