Horse Hair Pottery

Horse Hair Pottery dates back many years and is credited to the Navajo. Some believe its origin was an accident when an Indian’s hair had been blown by the wind and attached itself to an item that had just come out of the firing pit. The Indian then, liking the effect, began applying hairs from their horse to their pieces.

This technique is very popular in Southwestern cultures and decor. Quite a few people have enshrined their favorite horses by having pottery made using their animal’s hair.

Basically, the process involves removing bisque from the firing while still hot (about 1300 degrees Fahrenheit) and carefully draping single strands of hair over and around the item. The horse hair will burn and shrivel up and will leave permanent imprints of its presence on the item.

To read more about how to make your own Horse Hair Pottery, click here.

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.

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.

At some time during every ceramist’s career, they will want to make a mold of something. Sometimes it is just the challenge of learning how, other times it is to be able to reproduce something they created multiple times. Mold making is in itself an art form that takes some skill and practice to master.

The best place to begin is to learn the basics with a one piece, or open cast/press mold. This type of mold creates a product that is detailed on one side and flat or plain on the other side. Most often these molds are cast solid, but can be cast as a ceramic shell. Open, one piece molds can also be used as press molds for use with various clays.

Like the negative of a photo, a mold reflects the opposite of the product, so everything is in reverse until you press or cast it then the resulting item will be the positive match for the original piece.

Disclaimer - The approach I am about to lay out is but one way to make a mold for ceramic and clay use. The general principles may be the same, but some of the materials and steps may vary from mold maker to mold maker.

My approach is to teach the novice the principles of ceramic mold making in its simplest form

To read more of this article, click here.

Making things from molds has dated back thousands of years, Historians have found evidence of the use of molds dating prior to 3000 BC. Among the earliest forms of mold use was evidenced by the finest pottery of the time crafted in Babylonia.

So what is a mold? Quite simply it is a form or shape with a cavity or pattern that is filled or pressed with a substance which once the substance is dried or mature, it can be removed and used.

The development and use of molds is as varied as one’s imagination. Stop and think for a moment of all the things you use daily that come from molds. Soaps, cookies, candies, butter, cheese, car parts, candles, machinery, dishes, even shoes and hats and of course ceramics. You will find molds made of rubber, plastic, wood, stone, glass, metals, cement, and plaster – all with the purpose of making repeated castings of a desired item.

To read the rest of this article, click here

It doesn’t matter how much experience you have with ceramics, you are bound to have mistakes. Whether it be casting your rmolds, bisque or finished pieces, you can often turn those disasters into something useful.

This is first of a series of articles that will give you options for your ooopsies other than the trash barrel

Sometimes pieces collapse, or split with stress cracks during the casting process. No problem if you have a reclaimer, just toss the ware back into the recycling vat. But if you want to get really creative, try this:

To read the rest of this article, click here.

Firing your kiln is really simple, but there are so many variables and factors that come into play that one should not take anything for granted.

There are many types of kilns and several types of firing processes. Here we will primarily address the basics of firing and address specific types and situations in separate articles.

Newer kilns have computerized controls which is pretty much just a matter of setting and forgetting.

Older kiln styles are either manual or come equipped with kiln sitters and/or timers. Some people with manual kilns will use Guide Cones and/or pyrometers to help control temperatures. A timer is used as a back up to help prevent over firing and meltdowns.

Pyrometers are also used in the place of kiln sitters and timers.

To read more about how to fire a kiln, click here.

Not a “new” product, but one that may be new to you.

For an easy unfired marbleized finish on ceramic bisque or most any other item, you may want to give a try using Magic Dips.

Simply float specialized paints on surface of water and lower your piece into the surface, twisting your item as you submerge it.

Anyone, any age can make beautiful, decorative pieces.

Try combining this product and technique with other fired finishes and come up with some really spectacular designs. Use your imagination.

Have some pieces that did not quite turn out like you want or cannot be fixed? Just marbleize them, it will cover most any errors.

For more information on this product:

http://www.bcdservices.com/magicdip/store/commerce.cgi?next=42&cart_id=1246559281.54984&product=Individual_Colors