Babs

@Jeff Longtin Wow, didn't think of making slabs for them.!! I have a lot of straight preserving "bottles". I find beginners, unless taught properly, hmm, have quite a lot of failure re coils not squushed, scored and slipped. Thickish slabs would give the choice of shaping,or/ and texturing. Thank you Jeff.

Another thing to do is to "ping" your biscqued pots. Often unnoticed cracks which will not get better when going through glaze firing. Try to get a hold of Hamer and Hamer, your cracks are textbook examples. "A POTTER'S dictionary of materials and techniques." Grog can cause cracking as as the clsy body drIes, the clay shrinks but, surprize, surprize, the grog doesn't. Not saying that your images reflect that. Are you supporting the belly of your large dishes as you turn? What do your unturned/ trimmed platters look like? Are you flipping the platter as soon as it can hold itself after throwing?

Thanks Mark, have we come far from this time? Let's honour these brave souls! How could one purchase such pot and claim to "own" them?

I think the idea is to get their hands on clay for therapeuticexperience . Ad to that gathering withwomen of like experience, food and wine. BUT maybe I'll make them little cups to decorate. Thinking ofgiving them a bit of clay to pinch whilst I introduce stuff, or to play with for 5mins and pass to the one on your left...just for fun... And then???? Give them.a lump to pinch a mug / receptacle, then dry and decorate. I was learnig to say no but y'know these women have been strong for their families, many home alone when the fire front engulfed their homes, men ,and women , away fighting fire on a different front when the change came.

Hand made, pinch, slab or coil. If non glaze will take to c5. I would have to do any glaze application. Clay could be red clay which is short but can tolerate c5 Or cream firing c5. They have 2-3 hrs go to whoa. So..... Could try to dry surfacw....hairdrywrs ?? So could apply coloured under glaze....

I have ben asked to run a 2 to 3 hr one of clay experience for some women who were affected by bushfires a couple of years ago. This class will be held in a shed, no idea what space each perso will have . Any dream, fun play activity folk have used?

Even more relevant!! If you had put c05 glazed stuff and fired to c5 you may have had the learning experience of having to grind everything off your new shelves!! Step by step. You will find lots of help in these forums. No question is a silly one. You may want to find out how folk go about packing tiles in a kiln to get optimum use of space.

Can you post a photo? It may not be necessary with careful firing.

Personal use ok. If can hold liquid, or food, and for sale you lose control of use so...clear glaze allover imo

As we have been drawn to working with our hands and clay i'd say our haptic sense is heightened. Certain pots will attract us, cupboard full of similar mugs, we'll find a favourite and seek it out. Potting with eyes closed when centering and pulling up clay can make our haptic sense reveal itself also. It is cruel to go to an exhibition and be forbidden to pick up and touch the pots.

You muddle nicely! Mine is to books, then you guys. The info on a lot of sites is not debated, just cited. A healthy repectful sharing of experiences and vuew points lets me choose a path to follow and yes, my other books and mags are a curl up escape. In the shed, i have hamer and hamer and the Dictionary one.

I use a twisted braid wire, have used a guitar string or two. Even made my own "wire" by attaching both ends of a fishing line to centre of wheel , holding the loop end , spin wheel till really twisted , release from wheelhead and allow to double back on self then tie each end to washers as holders. Allows air under pot, leaves a nice pattern. Spin wheel as you pull the wirre towards you or away. If throw firm clay , you can float a bit of throwing slip under as you cut. After lifting,Don't try to reshape at rim, apply pressure at the foot when pot a bit firmer.

Hi, photos of your results will help find a solution. A matt glaze, being opaque in comparison with a clear gloss will tend to deaden the colours. What products are you using?

I use a white porcelain slip on red earthenware. Comes out white. Could it be the white slip turns Cream at glaze temp? A small unglazed test pot would sort that line of thought.

Same clay? Same consistency? Seat appropriate height and distance from the wheelhead? What variations can you clock in? You prepping clay at home. in same way? Wedging surfaces the same as studio? Elbows on knees or splash pan?

OMG really, havent been back since 1971! Then there are the Scottish miles.. humans dont like simple ,eh. I remember there was an April's fool gag re making the calendar "metric" or whatever the equivalent would be. Folk freaking everywhere:-))))) Re original post. Try a low bisque , see if it works for you.

1040 to 1240, if only taken to c04 would not be vitrified so very high absorption for functional ware. Glaze for interesting. Not durable ware. The potters would know their clay and their customers. Some clay comes with a suggested bisque temp stamped on the bag. @High Bridge Pottery across the water, still work Fahrenheit, and miles etc , makes Maths more interesting and keeps some folk in the dark...

Prob after a few coats would seal it :-) Yoghurt smeared on terracotta encourages an aged patina, they say.

Yep that is what was coming to mind. Thanks you guys.

I seem to remember somewhere soaking pots with milk was the go. Anyone remember? Mid european ....

Any manganese drips in your kiln? Any contamination when sponging or drying pots. Change when you glaze and fire again?

I was remembering my tire tread sandals, u of o sixties student Huaraches and fancy these days. Old ones had a curve to sole, straight off the old truck tyre mate. @Min just went with the flow, keep on truckin etc etc. Cheaper to live also. Bikes a mode of transport, not an investment.

Time to don that skirt/cutoff levis , bandana a nd habachis and go plead!

Great idea @oldlady I find the drying aspect of drywall keeps me working faster!!!! Some days I revert to my canvas board , under the pump with drywall. S0, @Pyewackette, get a square of drywall and take it to class. Slap a slab of your wet clay onto it, turn and slap afew times , go sort yourself for a throwing session , quick wedge and you'll extend the lower jaw muscles of new lad. Consolation: he doesn't know it is only a matter of time, ...the last refuge of the aged!

What weight are you throwing? Make up your balls of clay, slap onto wheel and centre without coning up and down. Did a lot of years of pottery without coning well prepared clay. If using straight out of bag,drop the bag a few times, ( @oldlady tip), get that young person to pick it up for you, then open, slice in cubes, ball up and throw. I'm guessing you can't leave to rest overnight before throwing. Use metal ribs to shape after opening and raising the clay. Worth a try.