Monday 'Mug'

Not really a mug at all.  It holds about three ounces.

I used to make these many years ago at the end of throwing off the hump sessions.  I would keep them for glaze tests.  This is rust with yellow over brown speckle clay.

I know I made it in my first year because it's a ^6 clay body and glaze before I switched to majolica.

I also remember signing these with the signature I now use.  I used a different one when I started so I would not associate my early work with later stuff.

We are in the middle of a rainy, cloudy spell.  It's warmed up a bit from last week.  But I still have one very lonely daffodil shivering in my garden.

Toes crossed for some sun this week.

As always, thanks for stopping by...........*s*

Now and Then

Five years ago today we drove to Connecticut and brought Winter home.  She weighed all of eleven pounds.  Since then she has grown up to be a big girl of twenty-eight pounds.

I usually take a picture of her sitting in the daffodils.  This year the is still ice covering the garden with green spears sticking up.  Winter was having no part of sitting on ice for a portrait.  So we compromised and settled on her couch with blanket.  She is rather suspicious about this whole photography thing.

Although the daffodils are not anywhere near flowering, the petunias I wintered over indoors have begun to bloom in profusion.  Spring flowers are spring flowers wherever they bllom!

I made a loaf of my favorite Soda Bread in honor of the day.  This is a plain loaf which is very nice with butter and lemon marmalade, and a cup of tea.

I finally remembered to stop in a Michaels to buy some foam sheets.  I'll be making more templates this weekend.

I go to Michaels because it's convenient, but I like A.C.Moore much better.  Not so much better tha I am willing to drive an extra fifteen miles to go there.

Toes crossed that it really will warm up a bit this weekend!

As always, thanks for stopping by....*s*

Follow Up

As a follow-up to my last post here are some of the forms I use, and the mugs I make from them.

I also like to use balloons.

As always, thanks for stopping by....*s*

Handbuilt Mug

Here is a pictorial on how I make mugs using slabs with a form.

Materials: form, (Be sure it's cylinder or the bottom is smaller than the top.),slab rolled to even thickness, newspaper to cover form and make template, various tools and items for decoration.

Cover form with two layers of paper, leave enough overhang to cover the bottom Tape in place on side and bottom.  DO NOT tape paper to the form.  Using measured template cut slab for walls; allow for overlap of about 1/4 - 1/2 inch.

 
 Roll slab carefully around the form.

Overlap and attach edges.  The seam can be blended in or left as part of the decoration.  Trim edges at the seam to even out.

Cut circle slightly larger than the form for the bottom of the mug.

Fold edges of circle onto wall of mug and attach firmly.  Again this edge can be blended in or left as part of the decoration.

Roll a coil for the handle.  Drop coil gently to form flat side. Tap ends against work surface to make them fatter. Curve so the flat side is the inside of the handle.  It may take several tries to get one that works with the mug form.

Score clay on mug and handle and attach firmly.

Decorate the mug as desired.  Remove the form when the clay is set up enough to support itself.  Any extra paper at the top should be damp and tear away easily. When the clay is the consistency of firm leather and can be handled with distorting it, clean the rim and any other areas.  Remove the paper when the mug is completely dry.

Because I used wetter than usual clay for this project I did not need any slip to attach edges and bottom.  A good slip is a mix of vinegar and water.  Score and slip edges before attaching.

If there are any questions please respond below or PM me on FaceBook at Suzi Caswell.

Oh and because it is March 4........HARES AND RABBITS!

As always thanks for stopping by.............*s*