There is such a joy in handmade pottery; from designing and tailoring a piece, experimenting with how to make it (and inevitably having a few disasters along the way), to the final reveal moment when your precious piece comes out the kiln fully transformed by the glaze… it is a real joy.
I took up pottery 2 years ago and have loved it ever since! I adore being in a creative space with artsy people and marvelling at all the things people are making. I love how messy it is and relish the fact I leave splattered in clay – to me that just indicates I’ve had a fun time! And I love making beautiful pieces of art for my home and to gift to others.
Upon this creative journey, I reached the inevitable point where I was overflowing with cylinders and awkward sized bowls and I needed to get more tactical with what I was creating.
I struggled to find practical things to make for beginners. As such, I’ve compiled a list of beginner projects that build upon the basic pottery principles.
Here is a list of things I have made for myself and others on the wheel:
- Mug – simple cyclinder with added handle
- Breakfast bowl – simple bowl
- Flower Vase – curvy or angled sides
- Jug – big or small, jugs are a great next step after a mug as it incorporates all the same steps plus a spout
- Toothbrush holder – cylinder with feet and holes cut in the base for drainage
- Candle Holder – cylindrical tea light holder or chamberstick candle holder
- Yarn Bowl – bowl with spiral cut out the side for the yarn to pull through
- Mini fruit colander – small bowl with side handles and holes cut in base
- A lamp – two cylinders connected with hole cut in top for bulb and base for wires
- Lidded pot – Cylinder with additional lid piece
- Plate – roll a wide piece of clay then lifting the edges on a bat on the wheel
Every now and again I need a change from making things on the wheel and switch to making slab pieces. I am nowhere near as confident in this area but here are some things I have made by slab which I particularly enjoyed:
- Dominoes with a box
- Bird bath
- Small ornaments e.g. baubles
- Tall jug
Happy making! x
The Craft Cycle 