How to guides

how to get clay out of clothes

How to Get Clay Out of Clothes – Removing Clay Stains

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…
double pinch pot pitcher

How to Make a Double Pinch Pot – An Easy Step by Step Guide

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…
clean your kiln

Easy Tips on How to Clean Your Kiln After Pottery Explodes

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…
painting mugs

Painting Mugs – 11 Amazing Ways to Paint Your Own Mug

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…
how to make a teapot

How To Make a Teapot – An Easy Step by Step Guide

This is a step-by-step guide on how to make a teapot.  Making a clay teapot is actually quite a simple process.  But it’s extremely satisfying.  There are few things as nice to make in pottery as a nicely shaped teapot.  Plus, at the end of it, you get to enjoy a nice cup of tea…. …
pinch pot mug

Pinch Pot Mug – 2 Ways to Make a Mug Without a Wheel

Making a pinch pot mug is simple, and like anything the more you practice the easier it will become. Once you have mastered the pinching technique you can get creative and find your style.   In this article, I will show you my two favorite ways to make a pinch pot mug.  This is a…
how to make a pinch pot

How to Make a Pinch Pot – 3 Ways to Make Pinch Pots

Pinch pots are one of the easiest and fastest ways of hand building pottery.  Once you have mastered the basic pinch pot technique you can use it to make a lot of clay projects.  So, I thought I’d write a step-by-step guide on how to make a pinch pot. In this article, I start off…
sawdust kiln

Sawdust Kiln Firing – How to Build a Brick Kiln for Sawdust Firing

A sawdust kiln is one of the easiest ways to fire clay at home.  The kiln can be made using a simple brick construction.  It can be used to bisque fire pottery, or to create lovely smoked effects on already bisque fired ware.  Here is an easy to follow step by step guide on how…
DIY propane kiln

DIY Propane Kiln Ideas – 4 Simple Ways to Make a Propane Kiln

Making a DIY propane kiln is a great way to start firing your own pottery.   A lot of the time DIY propane kilns are used to glaze fire pottery using the raku technique.  But some can also be used to bisque fire pottery.  There are lots of different ways to make a DIY propane…
how to fire clay at home

How to Fire Clay at Home – 7 Simple Ways to Fire Pottery

If you’ve started making pottery, you may be wondering how to fire clay at home.  The good news is that you don’t need a fancy art studio to fire your own pottery.  There are some simple, inexpensive ways to fire clay at home.  This article covers 7 ways of firing pottery and some of the…
kiln maintenance

Kiln Maintenance – 19 Tips on How to Look After Your Kiln

When I bought my kiln, I was so excited to use it, I didn’t think too much about kiln maintenance.  But kilns are like cars, they have parts that wear out and need replacing.  And the more you use them the more quickly they will need replacing.  Also, like a car, if you look after…
how to glaze pottery at home

How to Glaze Pottery at Home – With or Without a Kiln

If you are starting your pottery journey, you may be wondering just how to glaze pottery at home.  Is it possible?  What are your options?  You will be pleased to know that it is completely possible to glaze pottery at home.  This article is all about the different ways to glaze pottery both with and…