POTTERY 101 - SESSION 3 - ROPES

In 5th grade we rolled out clay into ropes to wind into bowls. In this class we used an extruder which oozed out the clay into long ropes. Much easier and uniform.

Once Amy gave us some ideas off we went. By this class each of us had a bit more confidence in what we could do.

Using a mold ropes were then placed over the top.

Slowly building.

An example of what can be done.

When you attach clay to another piece of clay you use what is called "scratch to attach." The following is an example.

This ruffs up the surface so that the pieces attach easier. You can also use a mud made of clay and water that acts like a mortar. 

If you start your bowl inside a mold it can be left there to dry. Drying clay shrinks. Since the bowl is inside the mold it will simply get slightly smaller and be fine. Projects done on the outside of a mold have to be removed right after completion to dry.

I decided to venture out a bit and worked on a bowl made of rolled ropes. It was fun but a bit tricky. I had to scratch to attach each of those rolls to each other.

This picture is from before I put on a bottom. I hope it stays together and dries well.

POTTERY 101 - SESSION 2 - PINCH POTS

Pinch pots. That is what we worked on today. It is really simple. Even YOU can do it.

I took about 1 lb. of clay and made it into a ball. Then I stuck my thumb in the center as far down as I could. Then with my thumb in that hole it was a simple matter of pinching the clay to form the sides of a bowl. It really is that simple. By pinching around and around a bowl is finally formed.

Now is when you decide what shape you want your bowl. The shape is controlled by how you pinch. By pinching with a lifting motion your bowl will elongate up. By pinching up and out your bowl will start to flair out.

Do you simply want a bowl like a cereal bowl found in your cupboard or more of a drinking glass? Your chose.

Instructor made

Instructor made - cute

Student made

Mine - the neck WAS 2 inches longer then I moved it. A mutant giraffe.

Maybe you want to be a bit more creative.

A mirror I created for Cindy. NOT a POT.

DRONE

Ever since seeing my first drone I have been intrigued. They fly so steady and many can take pictures. You see them more and more now a days. I remember seeing a couple of them at the 4th of July fireworks Cindy and I went to.

Well I got a small one for Christmas. I was so excited. How would I do? Would I be able to use the controls or would it be too difficult for me? I don't play video games since I find it a bit difficult to handle the controls. Lily and Ben both got the same drone and they can fly theirs and they are 8 and almost 6 so I was determined to fly mine.

Well I charged it up and turned it on (or at least I thought I did) but nothing happened. That was discouraging. I worked on it a while and but finally put it aside. The next day I tried again. Upon further inspection I discovered a tiny switch on the side of the drone I had missed. Upon switching it on lights started blinking and I got the drone to fly.

I was like a kid again. Woohoo it is fun. I thought our kitten Callie would go after it but she was more wary of it much to my relief. I'm having fun learning to hone my skills. Maybe I can get a job delivering packages for Amazon in a few years.

POTTERY 101

Today I joined a pottery class.
I've wanted to try my hand at a number of things over the years but the time was never right. You know how that goes. I would like to learn how to line dance or ballroom dance. Maybe I could learn how to paint. My mom showed me how to knit and crochet way back when. Sister Barbara does some amazing stuff with gourds, needlepoint, quilting.  Now that I am retired I have the time. So when Cindy was reading through a publication from the rec centers here in Highlands Ranch telling about various things we could sign up for I was interested. Now was my chance. I signed up for Hand Pottery For Beginners.

I was all excited about my first class. We meet 4 Mondays for 3 hours. I didn't know what to expect. Remember how in grade school we made little pots by rolling out cylinders of clay and then connected those cylinders in such a way that they became a pot? I expected we would be doing that since I am a  beginner and this was hand pottery. I was wrong.

There were 9 of us - 8 women and myself. Each of those women already had experience and many knew each other so I got a lot of individual attention from Amy, our instructor.

It was fun. We were shown how to roll out clay with a great big press that would really be nice to have when rolling out lefse. Once our clay was rolled out we were shown how to put patterns in the clay using various things. One woman used pine needles and small pine cones pressed into her clay. It was beautiful. Amy showed us how to drape clay over a small balloon to help shape it. We used various tools to work with it also. I ended up making 2 bowls.

Next week we will fire them I believe. At some point we will learn how to glaze them. I know I'm missing a step or so  but I will write about that after next week's class.

Bowl 2 shaped in bowl

Bowl 1 shaped around balloon

Giant press

Hedgehog one of the women had previously made