Mysteria Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 I'm a little over 3 months pregnant and trying to make use of any studio time I have now before the baby arrives. I like the idea of making something for the baby; a keepsake, if you will. However I'm having a really hard time coming up with ideas for things that I could make. Here's what I've come up with so far: 1) Piggy bank 2) Small cup/bowl which they could use when they are slightly older.. I was wondering if any of you could help me add to this list? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiselleNo5 Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Hi! Congratulations, first of all! Is this your first baby? The ability to use pottery all depends on the child. My son has been using my ceramic dishes (he's six now) since he was three and he is very careful. My nephew who is nearly seven still drops cups on the floor. My niece who is 2 1/2 uses a little set I made her. You'll know when your child gets older if they can be trusted with it or not. These are some things I like to make for kids: > newborn hand print and footprint plaque > a small 3/4# or 1# mug that holds 6-8 ounces. It's very easy to turn these into an animal with carving or slip trailing defining the outline and the handle as the tail or trunk and kids love them. > a set with 1# tumbler, 1# bowl, 2# plate (or maybe slightly smaller weights for you. I'm a beginning thrower and I trim off a lot still.) > slab built plates with an animal design > animal piggy bank (you can throw a closed ball and then turn it into basically any kind of animal once it's leather hard) > extra tiny 4 ounce vase for when they pick you a single flower with almost no stem > (for older kids, I would say 6+) a little tea set or dish set that they can really use. When I was a kid we had a set of mini dishes and I used those up till I was 10 or 11. I could have made tea in a regular cup but I would still make 4 ounces in the tiny teapot and take tiny sips out of the little mugs. I loved it. I try to avoid making a miniature animal or something that they would want to play with. I know people use pastels for babies but actually most of the kids in my family (9 grandkids total) all seem to like more vibrant colors when they're little. My son loves red, the brighter the better, though he likes pretty much any bright color. I love this potter. She makes adorable animal lamps. https://www.facebook.com/PotsWithPersonality/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 i remember a bowl that had been in the family for awhile. i was pleased to use it when i was a kid. the alphabet ran around a flat rim. the shape was a wide, flat bottom with sides that tapered inward so a spoonful of something could be scraped upward and stay in the spoon. the wide bottom kept the bowl from tipping. alphabet noodles are very a very inexpensive way to decorate something special for a child. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mysteria Posted January 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Thanks, GiselleNo5! Those are such cute ideas! Yes, this is my first baby I came across this other potter who makes really cute stuff for kids - Jean's Clay Studio Alphabet noodles is a good idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewV Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 I am making a coffee mug that says "Am I Keeping You aWWWWAAAAAAAke?" for a soon to be new mother. And one that just says "no" for the father. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Congrats on the new baby! No idea what to make, I like the feet or hands thing. But kid's love anything hand made because they think its super special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinR Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 For my 5 grandkids I did the footprint plaques. They hang above the window in my kitchen. If you do these make sure to use very soft clay. You don't want to push the baby foot into firm clay! I also made a toothbrush holder in the shape of an apple with a worm exiting. The apple has a simple hole in the top for the toothbrush. Fun to make stuff for the little ones. I'm now working on lunch sets for the first to leave home. Lin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeFaul Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Back in the day, they use to make rattles out of porcelain, so we were working on the idea if an oversized porcelain or white stoneware rattle like the old fashioned ones. Instead of a sphere at the end of the handle make a disk shape. Throw two flat bottom bowls of equal diameter. Square off the rims. Invert one and attach to the other, after trimming. Place three small spheres inside the disk before sealing the disc so it really rattles (just for fun). You can add baby's particar's with gold lustre and a nib pen, or China paint after the birth. If you wait to fire carve it into the clay. You can throw or hand build the handle. If you know Baby's gender glaze now. If not, leave bisque and glaze after baby comes. Oh, make a notch on the backside of the disc section like a tile so you can hang it on the wall in the nursery. Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Miller Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 The tradition of a pewter baby cup was always something I liked. Why not a ceramic version? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Picture frame that will hold your child's first picture(s) from the hospital. Something you will enjoy until she/he is old enough to appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nancy S. Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 A coworker of mine became a grandmother for the first time. I made a little keepsake box for the baby girl so that her parents can keep her first lost tooth, first haircut, etc. but when she's old enough she can use it for jewelry or whatnot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdptrKrmk Posted February 1, 2016 Report Share Posted February 1, 2016 Hi ! I'd make a little box to keep his/her milk teeth once they fall out. My mother did this for us, her three kids. My son loves to look at it and think "wow, Mom was once so small that she had those tiny teeth !" and he doesn't feel so scared of losing his own milk teeth himself. I hope you don't think it's too creepy I don't know what the custom is, in the US, with regards to milk/baby teeth. Cheers ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiselleNo5 Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 Hi ! I'd make a little box to keep his/her milk teeth once they fall out. My mother did this for us, her three kids. My son loves to look at it and think "wow, Mom was once so small that she had those tiny teeth !" and he doesn't feel so scared of losing his own milk teeth himself. I hope you don't think it's too creepy I don't know what the custom is, in the US, with regards to milk/baby teeth. Cheers ! I never thought about a little box. My son has lost two so far and I saved each one in a tiny pill ziploc baggie with a little note of the date and how he lost it. (First one: string tied to the door. Second one: he pulled it out himself! Gah!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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