karenkstudio

This is a personal project for my house. I recently switched to using bar soap and bar shampoo, in an effort to reduce my plastic bottle consumption. I was using a soap dish I had made years ago, but soon discovered that it was not well-suited for an environment as wet as a shower. I made myself a new soap dish that is designed to shed excess water onto the shower floor. This concept is not original to me, I've seen photos of other handmade pottery self-draining soap dishes. But mine is the first wheel-thrown version that I've seen.

I fired my top loading wood fire raku kiln that I made earlier this spring.  Plan to experiment with more small pieces this summer.

Watched a video by Mathew Kelly so I thought I would try one as well. First time at anything with a face.

I fired my top loading wood fire raku kiln that I made earlier this spring.  Plan to experiment with more small pieces this summer.

I fired my top loading wood fire raku kiln that I made earlier this spring.  Plan to experiment with more small pieces this summer.

Working  on found object texture tiles to be raku fired and assembled for a wall hanging.

Yeah Congrats!
I have finally dedicated my life to clay as well, no turning back!
Sorce
 

Working  on found object texture tiles to be raku fired and assembled for a wall hanging.

To make the "bead popper",  
1.   screw the "plunger" completely out of the chap stick cylinder  
2.   Turn the plunger over and force it back into the tube while turning the knob at the bottom. If you line it up with the screw at the center, this  will allow you to draw the "plunger" back down into the tube.
3.   Screw the little plunger back far enough so you see the top of that center screw.   Then  take a sharp xacto knife and cut off the extra part of the tube so the plunger is even with the top part of the screw and the tube.
4.   When using, start by spraying  a little Pam inside the tube with the plunger retracted in the tube, cut the small  beads  from a slab of clay and push the bead out by screwing the plunger to the top of the tube.   
Note:  I smooth the top edge of the bead when it's pushed just beyond the top edge of the tube. The bottom edge is finished when on the straw  (pictured in my original post.)   
When making the larger beads, retract the plunger and stuff clay in the tube making sure you keep the screw centered as you fill the tub with clay.  
 Hope this helps.

To make the "bead popper",  
1.   screw the "plunger" completely out of the chap stick cylinder  
2.   Turn the plunger over and force it back into the tube while turning the knob at the bottom. If you line it up with the screw at the center, this  will allow you to draw the "plunger" back down into the tube.
3.   Screw the little plunger back far enough so you see the top of that center screw.   Then  take a sharp xacto knife and cut off the extra part of the tube so the plunger is even with the top part of the screw and the tube.
4.   When using, start by spraying  a little Pam inside the tube with the plunger retracted in the tube, cut the small  beads  from a slab of clay and push the bead out by screwing the plunger to the top of the tube.   
Note:  I smooth the top edge of the bead when it's pushed just beyond the top edge of the tube. The bottom edge is finished when on the straw  (pictured in my original post.)   
When making the larger beads, retract the plunger and stuff clay in the tube making sure you keep the screw centered as you fill the tub with clay.  
 Hope this helps.

Made a "bead popper" from an empty Chap Stick tube.  Automatically centers the hole in the bead.  

Made a "bead popper" from an empty Chap Stick tube.  Automatically centers the hole in the bead.  

Made a "bead popper" from an empty Chap Stick tube.  Automatically centers the hole in the bead.  

Made a "bead popper" from an empty Chap Stick tube.  Automatically centers the hole in the bead.  

Made a "bead popper" from an empty Chap Stick tube.  Automatically centers the hole in the bead.  

Made a "bead popper" from an empty Chap Stick tube.  Automatically centers the hole in the bead.  

Made a "bead popper" from an empty Chap Stick tube.  Automatically centers the hole in the bead.  

Made a "bead popper" from an empty Chap Stick tube.  Automatically centers the hole in the bead.  

Made a "bead popper" from an empty Chap Stick tube.  Automatically centers the hole in the bead.  

Made a "bead popper" from an empty Chap Stick tube.  Automatically centers the hole in the bead.  

Made a "bead popper" from an empty Chap Stick tube.  Automatically centers the hole in the bead.  

Made a "bead popper" from an empty Chap Stick tube.  Automatically centers the hole in the bead.  

assembled and ready for a gallery show.

Working  on found object texture tiles to be raku fired and assembled for a wall hanging.

Been firing some more tests soluble salts and consecutive followups on good leads from tests. Pots on the left were fired at various temperatures in saggars and foil saggars. pots on the right were retired at 1700F. Additional coats on salts were added.