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kathymaves

Check out the summer ceramics class at UWEC!

Check out the summer ceramics class at UWEC!

Enjoying fall mums.

Enjoying fall mums.

Instagram post 17906665879901686

Instagram post 17906665879901686

So there's this thing about clay work. This is ba

So there's this thing about clay work. This is basic as it gets. When you add a handle to a mug, the clay of the mug has to be dried out and hardened enough to support the weight of the new part without distorting. The clay of the handle has to be wet, wet enough to not crack as it is bent into its new form.
But here's the trick, once the two pieces are joined the difference in the drying between the more dry mug body and the wet handle can very easily make the handle crack off.
The solution? Wrap them in plastic and wait. The water of the clay parts slowly migrates and evaporates. The handle hardens. The mug body softens. The join between the two cements. After a day or two, they can be left to dry in the open air because now the mug is one piece, fully melded.
All projects and relationships are like this in some ways. Much depends on knowing when to bring things together, and when to wrap things tightly, shelve it, and wait. Many clay techniques are very simple, but not at all easy.
In clay, like in life, sometimes the toughest, most rewarding part is knowing when to wait. The only way to know when to work clay and when to wait is to make the best guess you can on the mug in front of you. I'm glad to do it again today. Here's to making mugs! Happy mug shot Monday!

It's spring out there!

It's spring out there!

Instagram post 18144058342103788

Instagram post 18144058342103788

3 cup earthenware teapot with cane handle.

3 cup earthenware teapot with cane handle.

Glazed earthenware pumpkins.

Glazed earthenware pumpkins.

Yeah! Dragonfly mugs.

Yeah! Dragonfly mugs.

Revisiting an old friend on a rainy winter night.

Revisiting an old friend on a rainy winter night. Dragonfly pots.

Enjoying the last moments with this 12 setting din

Enjoying the last moments with this 12 setting dinnerware set. I just love it when things match!

Lots of plates to trim.

Lots of plates to trim.

Two Three Plate Settings with marbled banding in D

Two Three Plate Settings with marbled banding in Delphinium and Bermuda. Happy with how these turned out!

Medium Size Casserole with Orange Marbling.

Medium Size Casserole with Orange Marbling.

Enjoying a great weekend sharing my new work on th

Enjoying a great weekend sharing my new work on the grounds of the Indianapolis Center for the Arts. Beautiful gardens, great artwork. They have built a nice wood-fired train kiln in the courtyard here.

Bisqued two-compartment and cube boxes decorated w

Bisqued two-compartment and cube boxes decorated with an adaption of a 17th century Japanese stencil textile design. Just loving my new electric slab roller!

Excited about my new work at the American Crafts C

Excited about my new work at the American Crafts Council show in St. Paul this weekend. It's amazing to see all the fantastic contemporary craft here! Message me if you want to come, I have a couple comp tickets left.

Happy to be bringing these new tall vases to Winte

Happy to be bringing these new tall vases to Winter Art Fair Off the Square this Saturday and Sunday in Madison, WI. Lots of new color combinations lately, so much fun.

Happy tankard day.

Happy tankard day.

Hanging out at Occonomwoc Festival of the Arts in

Hanging out at Occonomwoc Festival of the Arts in WI today and tomorrow 10-5.

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