Every time we open a glaze firing, we get excited to see the final product. And this past weekend was no exception. We loved each piece and wanted to share them with you.
Nesting Bowls
Remember our post on the Evolution of the Painted Bowls? We now have a new addition to our painted bowl family! We are so excited about these new bowls because they are just as beautiful and durable as all our previous bowls, but they are also extremely light and easy to use!In the past, we would use our molds to drape clay on and then to allow them dry and obtain the shape of the mold.
We also have other molds called "slip molds" that are made out of plaster and are then filled with a very wet clay called slip. The plaster of the mold begins to absorb some of the water from the slip, which causes it to attach to the sides of the mold. After a short amount of time (usually about an hour), the molds are turned upside-down to pour out the remaining slip. They are left like that overnight and then taken apart the next day.Once the clay is almost dry, the molds are taken apart and the piece is cleaned up. This is the process we have used to make our disk vases, pitchers, and jars.
Finally, we have decided to combine the two processes to make our large bowls! The result is a beautiful, large bowl that is also extremely light and easy to use!
These three sets are now available on Etsy.
New Teapots
We've been making teapots for a while now (remember the video From Jar to Teapot?), but they now have a new look. Lois has started to hand-throw them on the wheel, which gives her a lot more variety in shapes, sizes, and designs.
First she throws the body, the spout, and the lid, all separately. Once they have a chance to dry a little, she trims them, cleans them up, and then attaches the spout and handle. Next they need to dry completely. If something isn't completely dry when it is bisqued, there is the chance it could explode in the kiln, ruining not only all the hard work that goes into that one teapot, but also many of the pieces that are in there with it.The first firing goes up to a temperature of about 1800 degrees! Because we fire at such high temperatures, our pieces are very durable and not prone to chipping or breaking like so many other ceramic pieces. Stoneware is so durable because it is made with clay and then fired at very high temperatures. Like its name implies, the resulting material is like stone: hard to break and waterproof.
After they are fired, they are hand-painted in a unique design. No two of our teapots are exactly alike, which adds to their charm. We use glaze stains, or under glazes, and then cover them with a transparent glaze. Then they are fired again, to around 2000 degrees, which allows the colors deepen and the finish to shine.
To view our current stock of these new and unique teapots, visit our Etsy store. We add new pieces everyday, so bookmark it and check back often!
New Item: Coasters
We are excited to once again be a part of the Bridgeport Rescue Mission's event this October. This year, the tables have our pitchers as the centerpieces, and everyone gets to take home a coaster. This video shows the process (from beginning to end) of how the coasters are made.
Mystery Letters Plate
As we announced earlier, we are new grandparents and wanted to do something special for our granddaughter. And what is it we do best? Pottery! We decided to create a large plate for her (it's actually bigger than her at this point!) and paint a customized design on it. Do you see the name hidden in the design?
We are excited about this plate, because we feel like it would make a beautiful customizable gift! The "Mystery Letters" design wouldn't have to be only on plates. You could order it on any of our pieces!
Holiday items are up!
In the past, we have waited until the month of a certain holiday to add the pertinent pieces to our website. But we realize that was a mistake and doesn't give you long enough to purchase and then enjoy the pieces you buy before the holiday occurs! So we have corrected that this month with the addition of our Christmas items to our homepage, even though it's only November. Don't worry, we'll have new items in December as well! And as always, just because the items are no longer on the homepage, does not mean they are no longer available. Take time to browse through previous month's featured items by clicking the "Dinnerware" and "Home Decor" links at the top of the page.But for now, here's a gallery of our Christmas Featured Items for the month of November.
The "Pass-It-On" Plate
We are so excited to introduce our new series of plates called "Pass-It-On". These plates offer a unique, gift-giving experience. The idea is to give a plate, perhaps with some fruit and cheese, or some brownies, for a special occasion. Then, the receiver of the plate can pass it on to the next person to have the same type of occasion, and so forth. The series will include the following phrases:
- Get Well Soon
- Congratulations
- On Your Special Day
- You are Special
- Happy Birthday
So if you like the idea of giving a plate instead of just another card and bouquet of flowers, order yours today!
From Jar to Teapot
We here at Jean Elton Studio continue to develop many new products. One such piece is our new teapot, which is handmade from a slip mold of a jar. A slip mold is a mold made out of plaster that is filled with a very wet clay called slip. The plaster of the mold begins to absorb some of the water from the slip, which causes it to attach to the sides of the mold. After a short amount of time (usually about an hour), the molds are turned upside-down to pour out the remaining slip. They are left like that overnight and then taken apart the next day. Watch the video for the rest of the process.
Teapot Lamp
You've seen the jar mold turned into a lamp and turned into a teapot, but now we have the jar as a teapot lamp!
Interested in how it's made? Check back later this week for a video of the jar to teapot from start to finish!
Versatile Little Jar
Over ten years ago, Bill Barker sat down at his potter's wheel to throw a jar. When he was finished, he was particularly happy with his work. The lines were nearly perfectly even and the shape was very pleasing to behold. He and Lois like the piece so much, they decided to make a slip mold so they could forever replicate the jar.At Jean Elton Studio, we still use that mold today and it is not only the basis for our jars, but for many other pieces as well! We are constantly finding new uses for the shape, for anything from lamps to candleholders! See the gallery below for all the various pieces that have been born from the same jar mold.