Judging a book
Jul. 25th, 2022 06:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
offcntrSeveral weeks back, Denise and I hosted the first session of a two-part workshop for our Emerald Book and Paper Arts group: We're teaching everyone how to make ceramic-covered books.
The first session was mine, of course. I rolled out a bunch of thin slabs of clay, got out every texture tool and stamp I could think of, and made up templates so everyone could cut and drill covers of consistent size. Over a dozen people showed up, gathered around a long sawhorse table in my carport, and went to work on making an impression, stamping, rolling, pressing in seed heads and cedar sprigs and ferns. It was tremendous great fun, so much so that nobody actually thought to take a picture.
How's that for engagement?
Once everyone was finished, I took over responsibility for firing. I got everything in the bisque, then afterward, stained all the covers with red iron oxide. It's a messy process, brushing it on and sponging off, but the result highlights textures beautifully.
But it does leave you red-handed.
We loaded up the glaze kiln today, and all those little tiles fit beautifully under the curve of the soup bowls. They'll be ready by the end of the week, and come August, Denise will teach us how to stitch in book pages.
The first session was mine, of course. I rolled out a bunch of thin slabs of clay, got out every texture tool and stamp I could think of, and made up templates so everyone could cut and drill covers of consistent size. Over a dozen people showed up, gathered around a long sawhorse table in my carport, and went to work on making an impression, stamping, rolling, pressing in seed heads and cedar sprigs and ferns. It was tremendous great fun, so much so that nobody actually thought to take a picture.
How's that for engagement?
Once everyone was finished, I took over responsibility for firing. I got everything in the bisque, then afterward, stained all the covers with red iron oxide. It's a messy process, brushing it on and sponging off, but the result highlights textures beautifully.
But it does leave you red-handed.
We loaded up the glaze kiln today, and all those little tiles fit beautifully under the curve of the soup bowls. They'll be ready by the end of the week, and come August, Denise will teach us how to stitch in book pages.