Many people do not realize that greenware can get old. When it gets old it is more difficult to clean and there is more risk that it will warp or crack during firing. I’ve been in ceramic shops where some of their greenware looks like bisque, it is so old it has become white. From all appearances it seems to be harder and therefore stronger, but it isn’t.

Of course, as it ages, the moisture leaves the ware, so one might think there will be no problems – at least it won’t explode in firing, right? Well, most likely it will not explode, but other problems can arise. I do know that the structure of the clay particles become weakened over long periods of time. Perhaps that is due to the 100% loss of all water content. Even DRY greenware has miniscule droplets of water within the clay platelets. That is why you need to vent the kiln during greenware firing – so that the moisture leaves the kiln as it evaporates.

In addition to the possible warping and cracking during firing, there is a strong chance that your resulting bisque will repel glazes and even some acrylic stains. That is because the entire piece has developed one big hardspot (the shell/crust).

To read more about this subject, click here.

When I had my fully functioning ceramic shop, I was continually looking for ways to keep the customers entertained as well as ensure a steady income, especially during the slow times.

To keep my customers coming back I set up various clubs and once they took off, my shop was a beehive of activity all year.
A ‘club’ is a group of ceramists who meet with a specific goal or purpose in mind. These can be scheduled groups or for drop in traffic.

Make sure you have some kind of display and visible advertising for your clubs. These will draw interest and potential members.

Clubs are a great way to keep the customers coming back and many can be adapted for online sales as well. It is a great way for you to be able to plan stock. You have time to pour up a quantity of the next featured item.

To read how you can incorporate Clubs in your business, click here.

Every shop owner needs to tap in to this resource for their customers. The potential is unlimited. A ceramics party is a novel way to bring in new customers as well as draw more business from your current customer base.

What IS a ceramic (themed) party?

Primarily it is when a group of individuals draw together to celebrate an event and paint pieces from a select number of items in bisque. These items are most usually pre-selected and readied with the party group in mind. The finished items are usually given to the person being honored as a gift. The guests can work in stains or underglazes or even glazes. In the case of underglazes, the shop owner can offer to dip in glaze and fire the pieces. All fired items to be picked up on or by a specific date.

Enough time should be given for most projects to be completed. Two hours is usually adequate, but you may wish to allow guest to stick around a while longer or come back at another time if needed. Staff should be on hand to advise and help where needed.

To read more about having Ceramic Parties and some theme ideas, click here.

Did you know that ceramics can cross over into other art fields?

Besides porcelain, sculpting and pottery which are traditionally included in ‘ceramics’ there are other crafts that can benefit from the ceramics industry

Those of you who like doing mosaics can utilize ceramic pieces as both foundations for and actual pieces of mosaic tiles. A ceramist can often provide you with bits and pieces of broken glazed ware or bisqueware that can be used to create beautiful mosaic designs. They can also provide you with bisque that you can create mosaic designs on. Vases, boxes, plates, frames, balls, all kinds of shapes and sizes that would be a perfect ‘canvas’

Ceramic products always ‘borrow’ from other craft fields for supplies and paint products; however often times the industry creates their own which in turn can transfer over to to other crafts. One being brushes. Some great brushes were developed with ceramists in mind which can be used on watercolors, tole painting, miniatures, etc.

Non fired special effects are also transferable between fields, like non-fired snow, puffy paints, brush on metalics, glitters, paint brands, etc.

Speaking of miniatures…the ceramics industry has molds for some great miniatures from house furniture and accessories to just tiny nicknacks.

Glass painting and glass slumping and glass fusion are all actively pursued by the ceramist. If they don’t do it and you want to, most will work with you to fire your art projects, just ask.

Whatever art form you are involved in, by all means check out ceramics to see what might cross over for YOU.

Everywhere you turn, someone is telling you you need your own website. EVERYONE is doing it. Well, its true. It is the future, whether you are a business or not. Computers have become a way of life. Getting a domain name is less expensive than ever before, no reason not to jump on the band wagon.

I firmly believe though, that if you have a business, you HAVE to have a website in order to succeed. Maybe you are doing alright without one-now; but believe me - times, they are a changing and if you want your business to grow, you seriously need to get your own website.

So you have a Domain Name. Now, what do you do with it? Yes, having a domain name is the first step, but having a domain name is not the same as having a website. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get down to business.

Face it, most ceramists are ceramists. Most are not computer savvy and most don’t know the first thing about how to navigate on the computer. Other than visiting other sites and playing around with emails, the common ceramist has minimal or no knowledge of how to conduct business on the wide wide world of the web/internet.

To help the lesser techno-literate amongst the ceramists, let me break down some of the basics to starting your online presence on your own domain.

1. Secure a domain name
2. Select a host/server to support your site
3. Determine a budget
4. Determine what you want your site to do (sell, provide information, have a shopping-cart/check out system, etc)
5. Decide if you want to do this yourself or hire help
6. Decide on a program to set-it up like front Page, Publisher, Wordpress or others if you are to do it yourself. Most host sites will provide this.
7. Locate templates and design a logo. Make your own or use those that come with your program or host site
8. Prepare photos, set policies, shipping procedures, payment methods.
9. Organize your templates as to how you want to present data
10. Input your data
11. Upload to the internet
12. Know how to maintain your website
13. Advertise

The above steps are simplified and their inclusion is to give some idea of what you are getting yourself into. It is not as intimidating as it seems.

To read more on how to set up your own website, click here.

So you think you want to make your own slip. Maybe it is because you want the control, perhaps because finding ready made slip has become a burden, or maybe it is a cost factor. Yes, it is less expensive to make your own, but you need to have a supplier close by who will sell you small amounts of chemicals and clays unless you plan on major production and can have your components shipped direct to you.

CLAY is heavy, it is not cheap to ship.

I have written about this subject in three separate articles breaking it down as a simple process. I do hope you read all three before you jump in and begin throwing ingredients together.

Part One - the Basics: This gives instruction on how to determine if you have good slip and how to test it.

Part Two - The mixer: This gives ideas on how to make your own mixer or where to buy one.

Part Three - The recipe: This gives you the ingredients and tells you how to put it together.

To read more, click on the linked titles above.

Yes, it is fall and with it comes the busiest time of year for most ceramists. Don’t have a Melt Down! It doesn’t matter if you are making things for yourself, or working as a business and doing things for customers, the last two months of the year really keep those kilns burning.

Also, if you believe in Murphy’s Law, this is when your kiln will malfunction and the risk of a meltdown increases measurably.

Meltdowns are a ceramist’s nightmare. Besides being costly, they are heartbreaking. It never failed that when I suffered a kiln breakdown, it would be loaded with customer pieces that they had purchased elsewhere. Underfires are reparable, but man-o-man, those MELT-DOWNS!

I always guaranteed my production to the point that I would replace customer losses. If it were pieces that they purchased from me, the financial loss was minimal, but if they purchased elsewhere and I did not have the molds….OY VEY the dollars could amount up, especially with a BIG kiln load.

Unfortunately, nothing can replace all the time and love that someone has put into their creation.

Face it, NONE of us want a melt-down.

That brings me to the point of this posting. I strongly urge everyone, be it hobbyist or business, have a kiln maintenance check NOW, don’t wait until it is too late.

As a regular routine, my maintenance man knows to come check out my kiln every year - around Nov 1, replace parts that look over worn, clean it and calibrate the firing temp. It has always proven to be worthwhile expense. Face it, only a few things can go wrong with a kiln, but it is much better to be safe than sorry. Have your kiln checked today!