Adventures in Hand-building

Hand-built turtles and snails for Chime #1

I've still been throwing pots on the wheel, but I've also been doing a little hand-building with friends in the studio. We put together some wind chimes. The first step was hand-building turtles and snails.  I seemed to be a step behind my friends, but it gave me time to think about how to construct this.

Off to the wheel I went! I made two closed forms, one for the upper bell to hold everything and another for an actual bell. I tried a little mishima to adorn the upper bell with a dragonfly.

When constructing the chime, I decided I wanted to add a touch of macrame (which I've never done before), so I went to the internet and found an easy stitch--the half-knot. I am pleased with the result and would like to make another! (Pardon the poor quality of the photo.)

Completed chime

We then started on another chime, making hand-built sections of a fish body. Originally I wanted to use jute to string the sections together, but knowing it's a natural fiber and would rot out in the elements, I chose to use the cord with a percentage of nylon and the macrame half-knot. The jute would have fit perfectly in the holes; however, I was not using the jute. But as they say, necessity is the mother of invention. I begged some wooden beads from my daughter--problem solved!

The neat thing about these projects--and this is really a no-brainer--is that we all three had a slightly different take on the look of the components and how we constructed the chimes.

I still prefer the wheel, but I'm finding a few hand-building projects that I really like and would like to repeat. They also provide a diversion from making wheel-thrown pieces and all the measuring that goes into fitting lids and butter crock pieces. In fact, I'm looking forward to making another tall, hand-built vase!

Fish chime

To Hand-Build or Not To Hand-Build; That is My Question

Fern Platter–My initiation to hand-building

When I took my first pottery lesson, I was encouraged to try hand-building THEN throwing, but I wanted on the wheel. Until this year, I said I would get around to hand-building, but I didn't want to sacrifice time at the wheel for fear I would forget how to throw! But, it was time, so I made hand-building one of my pottery goals for the year, and I've been very slow to start.

My first project was a platter brought about by necessity. My darling husband broke our one large platter that we use each Thanksgiving for the turkey; he neglected to mention this until I noticed it was missing. So, when some friends were about to build platters earlier in the year, I decided it was a good time to work on my goal. Debbie still talks about how I complained through the project! It was the glazing that was so time-consuming. I swore I'd never do another (and I haven't done another platter).

Hand-built Button Vase

I often use a little hand-building to form decorative accents to my wheel-thrown pottery, but I just couldn't seem to commit to the art for its own sake. Other potters I know who are primarily hand-builders do beautiful work, but I didn't have the patience to join them.

Recently, I was unable to use the wheel one night, so I decided to hand-build a vase. This is definitely one hand-building project I'll repeat! Originally, I wanted to use a fig motif, but this particular vase wanted to be something else. As I was adding ruffled edges, I thought about a woman's blouse and used the stamp I had just made to add "buttons". Overall, I'm pleased with the result (Debbie says I'm never 100 percent pleased with anything; I just see where improvements could be made).

Button detail

I am thinking about making more vases using botanical themes following the seasons. I still want to do a vase with the fig motif, and my figs are not yet ripe, so now would be a good time to make one. These vases are a nice little diversion when fitting lids to honey pots and butter crocks becomes too tiresome.

I'm also working on a wind chime with hand-built turtles and snails. The turtles are adorable! I'm trying to think of more reasons to make more turtles! The snails are in the kiln; I hope they come out as cute. Sometime this week, I'll have to construct it. I'll post a picture when I figure it out!