Playing with Mud and Fire
Ever wonder how a piece goes from clay to kiln? Check out our technique tutorials.
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See the latest out of the studio, still warm from the kiln.
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My muses, inspirations and anything interesting I come across during my daily ramblings.
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Latest Posts
Celtic Knot House Number Tiles (4/10/16)
Featuring the Celtic Knot Number Tile series. Perfect for house or apartment numbers, these unique stoneware tiles are suitable for use indoors and out. |
A Brief Studio Update from a Negligent Blogger (3/21/16)
Take a sneak peak into what has been cooking in the studio during the last few months: new high relief tiles, Celtic knot house numbers and much more! |
Piece by Piece: Setting a Mosaic Tabletop (3/9/16)
A walk-through explaining the direct method of setting and grouting a custom ceramic mosaic tabletop. |
Piece by Piece (Part 1): Creating a Mosaic Base (3/9/16)
Before setting and grouting a mosaic, a substrate is needed. Use cement board to create a a base on which to mosaic a custom tabletop. |
Back to Basics: Pressing a Tile (11/16/15)
Learn the basics of pressing a ceramic tile using a plaster press mold, a rubber mallet and some good old-fashioned elbow grease. |
The Endless Knot Poem Plaque (10/25/15)
This hand-carved Endless Celtic Knot plaque entwines two lives in an eternal dance. Perfect for a wedding or anniversary. |
Meet My Good Friend Plaster: Making a Plaster Press Mold (10/11/15)
A tutorial with instructions to create a plaster press mold from a model tile using a cottle board mold form. |
To Vent or Not to Vent: A DIY Kiln Vent (9/22/15)
Step by step instructions explaining how to easily make your own inexpensive kiln vent. |
It's Time for a change: Replacing a Kiln Element and Element Holder (8/19/15)
Learn how to replace a failed element and contaminated element holder. |
Celtic Knot Oak Tree Plaque (10/16/14)
The hand-carved Celtic Knot Oak Tree plaque entwines branches and roots in an endless dance. |
A Project for Autumn: Leaf Ornaments (10/15/14)
Create colorful ceramic leaf ornaments to celebrate the changing hues of Autumn. |
Before the First Hard Frost (10/14/14)
These days I feel as though I am always rushing about, attempting in vain to complete the long list of tasks awaiting my attention |
Autumn Leaf Ornaments (10/14/14)
I wanted to bring a bit of the Autumn to my ceramics, and so I decided to create some fall leaf ornaments. |
Carving Clay: Celtic Knot Numbers & Alphabet, Part 2 (7/13/14)
A clay carving technique to create intricate designs for tiles, featuring a Celtic Knot alphabet tile set. |
A Cozy Home for Greenware: DIY Drying Rack Project (5/7/14)
A simple way to build a drying rack for greenware using PVC pipe. |
Back to the Basics: Slab Rolling (4/2/14)
Ah, the slab: a flat sheet of clay, usually rolled to a uniform thickness, plain and boring. But this unexciting slab holds so much potential! |
Personalized Snowflake Ornament (3/23/14)
Create beautiful personalized snowflake ornaments for the winter season. |
Sgraffito Plates & Such, Part 2 (12/20/13)
Experiments with the beautiful and meticulous sgraffito carving technique. |
Sgraffito Plates & Such, Part 1 (12/17/13)
A workshop with Ned Foltz, an accomplished ceramicist who specializes in traditional Pennsylvania German Redware pottery |
Carving Plaster: Celtic Knot Numbers & Alphabet, Part 1
How to create a tile press mold by carving a design directly into the plaster of the mold. |
Autumn is Upon Us (10/4/13)
Unfortunately, I have to face the fact that it is now fall. With glorious sunny days and temperatures in the 80s this past week, I can almost pretend August lingers still and chill and frost are far distant. |
Don't Quit Your Day Job (10/14/12)
I didn’t – quit my job, that is. Sorry to ruin the suspense, but as of this posting I am still employed (albeit part-time). |