The potter’s wheel as we know it today has been on a long journey over 1000’s of years. It has developed from the most basic form of rotating device to the electrical pottery wheels, most potters use now. But exactly how and where did these changes take place, and what exactly is the potter’s wheel…
There is no way around it, clay is messy and sticky. That’s part of its fun. But it is less fun trying to get clay out of clothes. Perhaps you are a potter who uses clay at work or as a hobby. Or perhaps you have a kid who is making a clay project at…
An experienced potter can make throwing pottery on a wheel look effortless. But what is going on when pottery is being made on the wheel, and exactly how does a pottery wheel work? This post takes a look at how pottery is thrown, and how a pottery wheel works. A pottery wheel has a circular…
If you like hand building pottery, then learning how to make a double pinch pot is a game-changer. It’s a simple technique, but once you have mastered it, you can use it to make almost any pottery form. I use the double pinch pot to make teapots, vases, jugs, and pitchers. In this post, I…
If there is a potter in your life, and you are struggling to find a gift, you have come to the right place. Pottery is full of gadgets, doohickeys, and thingummy bobs that can make perfect gifts for potters. If you are not into making pottery yourself, it can seem like a minefield. So, I…
Wedging clay is a very good idea if you are making pottery on a potter’s wheel. But is it do you have to wedge clay when you are hand building your pottery? I love hand building pottery and I don’t love wedging! So, it was one of the questions I wondered about when I began…
If you are reading this post, most likely some of your pottery has exploded during firing. My condolences…it’s sad when it happens, isn’t it? But it’s not the end of the world, it is possible to clean your kiln after pottery explodes. Here are some tips that I have picked up about cleaning a kiln…
I recently decided to make a set of dinner plates on my pottery wheel. They turned out quite nicely, but as they dried the dreaded S crack appeared in a lot of them. It got me frantically researching what causes S cracks in pottery and what I could do to prevent them. This is what…
Painting mugs is a great way to personalize gifts. It can be a great way to express your creativity, whatever your age. And it’s a fun way to keep children entertained when they are at a loose end. There are lots of different ways to paint your own mugs. But if it’s not something you’ve…
Manufacturer’s markings were introduced in 1850. They help in identifying and evaluating bone china dinnerware. Hence, bone china with no markings is challenging to assess and determine its origin. Antique or early bone china pieces don’t have markings since bone china was created in 1748 before producers introduced marks and stamps. In addition, some fresh…
The differences between Bone China and Fine China tableware are numerous. However, if you place them side by side, you might not be able to tell them apart right at once as their design is almost similar. So, what exactly are the differences between Fine China vs Bone China? Fine China was introduced in BC…
I had boxes of beautiful old fine china from my grandmother, which were collecting dust. They were too ornate for me to use on a regular basis, but it was a shame to keep them boxed up. I started to wonder, who much does fine china sell for? So, I began to look into it,…