Travel Tips

Pottery is one of the most relaxing things I have ever done in my life and I really encourage people to experience the touch of clay in his or her hands - its amazing ! I have been practicing this hobby for over 3 years and I can tell you that it has brought a change in my life. My opinion is that in life when you enjoy doing something you always look forward to it - this is the feeling I get every time my lesson is due.

For the hedgehog I used the same glaze I used for my first attempt of the human figure and for the texture I used a fork to make his spikes. For his body I used an overturned bowl and I shaped him.

First cut out a circle (depending on the size of your flower pot) Then start cutting out pieces of clay, roll them out to flatten and roll with a rolling pin decorated clothe, that is, material which has an embedded decoration so that when you roll the material on the clay it will leave the shape in the clay. You can also use moulds or any instrument to create any decoration you would like. Then attach the pieces as if you are buidling a wall on the edge of the circle. I also left some spaces and rough edges to give it that stone age affect. You can also add some spirals or any other shape. The glaze that i used was a multi glaze that I used different glazes on it so that it will look orginal but at the same time with an antique style. This was really fun to do!

This looks simple but believe me its not as the process is very long as you have to let the bottom foundation of the clay dry before you can keep on building. To do the beehive first you have to cut a circle as a base then start rolling out long snakes and start placing them on the edge of the circle and keep building and sticking with 'slip'. Slip is a mixture of clay and water. Make sure there are no air bubbles. When the sort of like tower is ready just cut out like little doors which will be the holes from where the bees go in and out. I also placed little edges so that you can place the bees to rest on. I even placed a bee on the top of the tower and some in the air with some wire. To glaze it I used yellow and black shiny glazes so that it will give it that affect of a real hive. I even used other shades of yellow and some gold too ! Inside you can place a candle and when you place it in a dark room the light comes out of the beehive holes.

To do this you will need a plate any type even if its of plastic and roll out some clay and place on the plate and cut off extra clay so that you will have a plate of clay. Then leave it to dry slowly. Get some seashell moulds and stick them with 'slip' firmly. Whne ready do the same for the seahorse and for the seaweed and stick them. Then get some glass - any colour you want, I used green glass and blue glass. The glass can be of any soft drink and break it up and place where you want the affect to come. When you fire the plate the glass will melt and it will mingle together giving it an amazing glassy affect. For the plate I used a natural glaze. And for the seahorse I used an orange and brown oxide.

This was done by rolling out some clay in the shape of a big circle then I divided it into two semi-circles. I rolled out some other clay
and I created a sort of balcony and I attached the edges with some 'slip'
firmly. Then I left it for some days to dry. When it was dry I got a knife
and I started cutting out irregular shapes in the frontal part of the
'balcony' so that then the light will be able to shine through the shapes. I also cut out in both semi-circles a very small circle so that I will be able to pass the wiring of the bulb. Then I decorated with some
spirals on the edges and at the bottom. For the glaze I used this glaze we used to call 'experimental blue' and the affect when placed in the kiln was really cool as the glaze
turned into a marble affect.

This is very easy to make ! First get a bowl and turn it upside down.
Then cut out a star or any shape you would like in the middle or at the side of the bowl. You can make any irregular shape. Place this in the middle or where you want. From
there start forming or rolling out your next shape. In my case, I did curley
wurlys and I attached them with some slip to the star. Then I shaped some balls and I flattened them and attached them to the curly wurleys. After that with very soft clay I started covering all the shapes I attached together so that everything will be covered and will serve as a firm base. Make sure there are no air bubbles and you press the clay down firmly and leave to dry. Then I made 4 legs so that the bowl can stand upright. When it was all dry
I took off the bowl and I was left with the orginal shapes showing.
The affect of all this is amazing! As for the glaze, I glazed it all with one
colour however before glazing I painted the circular flattened balls with some wax so that when the glaze touched the balls it did not get stuck on them on account of the wax thus leaving the balls with a brownish colour.

This was my first attempt to make a human figure. I was quite happy with it considering it was the first time. However, I did not realise there was an air bubble and when I fired it in the kiln - part of his shoulder blew off. I was quite disappointed but I guess you learn from mistakes. When it was ready then I glazed him with a stone coloured matt finish glaze.