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.

Making of Plates

Jean Elton has its own line of plates that are glazed in a wide variety of colors and designs.  But the process from just an idea of a plate to beautiful, hand-painted one is long.  It begins with an idea, then a drawing, then a complicated process that turns a drawing into a three-dimensional physical object.  That object is then used to create plaster molds, which allow us to replicate the plates over and over again (as you can see in the video below).

A Corporate Gift: Making of the Mug

In the following video, you will see Lois Barker starting the process of making a mug.  You will see a piece of clay pressed almost instantly into the mug's shape.  At the end of the video, you will see a mug that has already had the handle attached and is ready for a bisque firing.  Enjoy!If you're interested in learning more about the RAM press, keep checking back on this blog for a behind-the-scenes look at all the various machines and equipment used at Jean Elton Studio.