Oxford Clay

Whilst most pottery materials are non-renewable there is one special ingredient that can be turned into pottery glazes with incredibly beautiful results - the ash from fallen leaves! Join me for this episode where I talk about how ash made from fallen leaves is a truly renewable pottery ingredient. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ---------------------------...

Potters often need to dry their work quickly leading to the use of heat-guns for paint stripping and hairdryers! But what if there was a way to dry pottery quickly using minimal energy consumption. Join me for this episode of the podcast where I talk about a very easy way to dry pottery using a desk fan - saving HUGE amounts of energy. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support t...

Yes you can recycle a pottery glaze - before its fired! Join me for this episode of the podcast where I talk about two ways to recycle pottery glaze removed from the base of bisque-ware pots. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon Free Pottery Guides: 🆓 Downloa...

Raw glazing is where a pot is glazed at the leather-hard or greenware stage before being fired straight up to glazing temperatures! Join me for this episode where I talk you through how I raw glaze pottery. You can watch a series about how to make and glaze a raw-glazed mug here . Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for...

Join me for this episode of the podcast, where I talk about what Cornish stone is, what Cornish stone is used for in pottery, and some alternatives if you can't find Cornish stone from pottery suppliers near you. *Always use an FFP3 Face Mask when making Pottery Glazes to protect your lungs from the silica dust in pottery glaze-making materials. The glaze recipes used in this episode are: Recipe 1...

It can be very frustrating when you're making a pot on the potter's wheel, and the clay is not centring! Join me for this episode of the podcast, where I talk about five common reasons clay may not be centring properly on the potter’s wheel and what to do about it. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pot...

A maker’s mark in pottery tells everyone (including yourself!) that you made that beautiful pot! There are several different ways of creating maker’s marks on your pottery. Join me for this episode where I talk you through the different options. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Books...

Ash glazing can have a negative environmental impact due to the particulates created when plants are burned. However, there are ways to reduce the environmental impact of Ash glazing in pottery. Join me for this episode, where I talk you through some things I think about when creating ash for ash glazing to reduce its environmental impact. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Suppo...

There are so many different types of clay out there. How do you know which one to use for your pottery? Join me for this episode, where I talk you through some different things to think about when picking your clay to make your beautiful pottery! Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Book...

Packing a pottery kiln may seem like a tricky task, however, it's really very simple! Join me for this episode where I talk you through how I pack my electric kiln for a bisque and a glaze stoneware firing. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon Free Pottery Gui...

There are many things that are normally thrown away that can actually be made into a pottery glaze! In this episode, I tell you about a stoneware pottery glaze I’ve made by collecting tomato stalks from vine tomatoes bought at the supermarket over a period of six months. Of course, you could use tomato stalks you’ve grown yourself, too! Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support...

Some Potters wash or rinse ash before making ash glazes in pottery; however, do you really need to do this?! Join me in this episode some key points regarding the debate in pottery as to whether to wash ash or not for pottery glazing. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available...

If you’ve ever wondered how pottery glazes are made, this episode is for you! In this episode of the podcast, I talk you through how to make a pottery glaze from start to finish, from where to find a recipe, how to get the ingredients to weighing them out, mixing them together and finally sieving and storing the glaze. The free glaze-making guide mentioned in this episode is here. The glaze recipe...

In this episode, I tell you about eight of the most important things I’ve learned from years of making pots on the pottery wheel. Take what resonates in this episode and leave what doesn’t. ✨Do it your way that feels right for your body. ✨Wedge or knead your clay really well before making anything - this will help to centre the clay. ✨Anchor your arms on the wheel basin as you need a strong sta...

Pottery classes are wonderful and can be used in different ways according to what you want to achieve! Join me for this episode of the podcast, where I talk about three ways to use pottery classes. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon Free Pottery Guides: 🆓 D...

Have you ever wondered how a pottery glaze is made from plant ashes?! Join me for this episode of the podcast where I talk to you about how pottery glazes are made from plant ashes - from start to finish! Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon Free Pottery Guide...

Ash glazes in pottery have been used for thousands of years and can create beautiful effects. Join me for this episode of the podcast, where I talk about some places to find Ash for Ash glazing in pottery. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon Free Pottery Guid...

Firing an electric pottery kiln is one of the most energy-intensive parts of making ceramics. But there are ways to make Kiln firings more efficient. Join me for this episode of the podcast, where I tell you about some things I think about when firing a pottery kiln to maximise its efficiency. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast -------------------------------...

It can be difficult to find large brushes for pottery glazing that are vegan. Synthetic makeup brushes provide a fantastic alternative! Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon Free Pottery Guides: 🆓 Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitabl...

Join me for this episode where I talk to you about some great ways of cutting clay! Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon Free Pottery Guides: 🆓 Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): 🆓 Download the Free How to progra...

Learning how to make pottery on the potters wheel can be quite a frustrating process! I’m still learning all the time, and these mindset shifts have really helped me: ⭐ There's no ‘right’ way - your way is the right way! Trust your body to make pottery the way that feels good to you. ⭐Making pottery is a creative process. You don't have to make pottery ‘perfectly’. There are opportunities to con...

In this mini-episode, we’ll be talking about a great way to hold small slip casting moulds together…with a jersey hairband! Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon Free Pottery Guides: 🆓 Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginn...

Join me for the final episode in the making a raw-glazed mug on the potter’s wheel series! In this episode we’ll be talking about how to fire an electric pottery kiln. We’ll discuss the stoneware glaze kiln firing schedule, including ramp speed and soak time at the maximum temperature of 1260 °C. I talk about the duration of a stoneware glaze firing and describe the various stages of the kiln firi...

We’ve glazed our mug and now it's ready to fire! In this episode, I show you how to load or ‘pack’ an electric pottery kiln, including our mug, of course.  I’ll talk you through the kinds of things I think about when loading a kiln for a glaze firing. Such as checking the base of each pot for glaze residue, where to place each item and how to use kiln props and kiln shelves. All these episode...

Following on from last week's episode of the podcast, where we made a stoneware glaze suitable for raw glazing, join me for this episode, where I apply the glaze to the mug! Raw glazing is similar to glazing bisqueware pottery, but greater care needs to be taken not to over-wet the greenware, or it will disintegrate your beautiful pot! I talk you through how I glaze my bone-dry mug - (mostly caref...