Friday 21 February 2014

From the Studio - the making of a mug

Today's studio series is brought to you by Natalie of Remembrances.

 Sometimes it seams like mugs are the bread and butter of a potter's earnings, so I thought I would share the process with you.

Please excuse the lighting.  Most of the time I work in my basement as pottery making is such a messy affair.
One of the most important steps is to wedge your clay, which basically consists of whapping the lump of clay over and over again on an absorbent surface.  This removes air bubbles and aligns all the clay particles.

If you happen to have a slab roller, you can roll out your clay to a nice even thickness with it.  
I use a rolling pin.

Smooth out the surface with a metal rib (this prevents cracking later on as it also aligns the clay particles).
Cut the slab to the size you want, depending on the vessel you are making.


Score the edges, and apply water or joining slip (depending on how wet/dry your clay is).

Wrap the clay around your tube.  Make sure to wrap your tube in newspaper first or you will never get it off.
Gently press the seam down.

Wedge another small ball of clay for the base.

 Roll it out and cut out a circle just slightly larger than your tube.

Score the clay at the bottom of your tube, and around the edge of your base...

 ...apply water or joining slip, and gently attach them together.

 Use a metal rib to smooth out the seam (at the bottom and down the side)...





...and wipe it down with a damp sponge.

 Roll out a coil of clay, and wrap it up overnight to set up a little bit.

 Cover the tube with plastic and let it set up overnight.
(you can probably tell - these are going to be beer steins, not mugs, but the process is the same).

 Remove the newspaper from the center of the tube and clean up the inside.  If you want to belly out your pot (on the right) or add texture, now is the time to do it.
Make your handle from the coil - flatten it, roll it, pull it, etc. and attach it to the mug (score and slip), smoothing out all the creases and marks.
Loosely wrap it in plastic to allow it to dry slowly.

Load it into the bisque kiln for the first firing.

 After bisque firing, you can still sand it down a little bit if you have left fingerprints, scratches, etc.

Wax the bottom of the mug.
Glaze as desired.
Fire it again.

Ta-da! Obviously, these are not the same mugs.  The beer steins are awaiting glazing and will be fired at a later date, but here are some finished mugs none-the less.

Remembrances is one of the confirmed artists for the
in August.  It's a great family event worth checking out.

Tuesday 11 February 2014

One Block Wonder



 Miriam of Minimade (she can be found on Facebook and on Etsy if you can't make it into the store) has been making a line of beautiful quilted items for the home called One Block Wonders.  She is generously offering a behind the scenes look at how they are made.
She cuts 6 layers of identical fabric,

 aligns all 6 layers with pins,

 and cutsthe stacked layers into strips.

 Then she cuts each strip into equilateral triangles,

 positions each stack of 6 triangles to form a hexagon,

 sews half together and presses the seams open,

and pins the two halves together.

 Next she positions, and repositions the hexagons until she is happy with the design.

 Half hexagons are sewn together into rows,

and the rows are sewn together,

 until the piece is ready to trim the edges.

 She adds borders, 

 layers it with batting and backing,

 and machine quilts all the layers together.

 Binding is added to the outer edge, and...


Voila!  A beautiful finished piece.

 She makes table runners...
 wall hangings, and plenty of other pieces.
Go check out her work (on Facebook and on Etsy) 
and of course, at the Rural Creators' Collective in Carlisle to touch and feel them in person.

AND...
she will be at the Carlisle Country Craft and Old-Fashioned Mercantile 
show in August (23rd and 24th) in Mountsberg Ontario if you want to plan a trip.

                          Creative Friday at Natural Suburbia 
                          Fiber Arts Friday at Wisdom Begins in Wonder


 

Friday 7 February 2014

New in the Shop - Greeting Cards

A picture is worth 1000 words, they say.  Enjoy!
 This one is my personal favourite.  I have quite fallen in love with it.




Lisa of L'immaginaria has a full selection of new greeting cards in the shop.  (If you can't make it in, you can find her on her own website and on Facebook ).  Personally, I would much rather give (and receive) a beautifully handcrafted card from an independent artist than a commercially produced card for any occasion.  Wouldn't you? 

Wednesday 5 February 2014

It's All About Weddings...

This month's feature at the Rural Creators' Collective is Julie Johnson of Rustic Revivials, and Rural Revivals.
(Meet Julie)

For the month of February, Julie has set up the "Carlisle Village Wedding Visions " in the store, along with Cascata Bistro and Noni's Florals....a one-stop shop for brides to be.  PLUS, if you come in to register during the month of February, you can be entered to win a $2000.00 package towards your event (details in store).

 Julie's great salvage art is available in the shop, and also in her etsy shop.

 There are several ideas for the "extra little touch" that can make your event memorable.





And, as Juliet's Quill, she also can do the calligraphy for your event (make sure to book early).

Several of the artists in the collective also have great items that can "make" your event, or as a parting gift for your guests.  Come have a look!

Wedding planners may also want to check out the items Julie can custom make for weddings at My Rustic Event, on etsy.