"We didn't realise we were making memories. We just knew we were having fun." - Winnie the Poo
Why "Memories"? Well, the texture on this bowl was made by using stones and bark collected by one of the most amazing couples I know on their honeymoon! So, spreading some love and happiness (and a little bit of South Africa), with their help. ❤️
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This large bowl is built by hand using a combination of techniques - from the initial slab of clay, rolled out to an even thickness for starting the bowl's form, to eventually rolling out coils of clay which I then added one layer at a time (3D printing for people missing their toddler years come to mind! 😁) to reach the preferred height.
The texture is made by hand using items collected in nature. This is pressed into the clay once the bowl has reached "leather hard" stage, which is when it is firm enough to hold it's shape, but still soft enough to manipulate in this way without creating cracks.
After a final clean and all round check, the bowl is ready to go to the drying rack, where it will be slowly drying for a couple of weeks. Once it reaches bone dry stage, which is where as much of the moisture in the clay as possible has evaporated, it can be fired to bisque temperature of 1000°C.
The "basic" steps that I take when glazing this kind of work is that I pick 3 to 4 different coloured reactive glazes which I then paint on, 3 layers of each shade in various thicknesses. After approx 9 layers in different thicknesses etc, I have a piece where the glazes reacts when firing, giving that feeling of movement, and the resulting unique patterns. The design in the middle of this bowl represents new beginnings, breaking through, towards a lifetime of adventures ahead.
An iron oxide wash highlights the texture and completes the piece.
Approx size*: 24 cm diameter / 6 cm height
Dishwasher and microwave safe
* Due to the handmade nature of all work, size can differ up to 1 cm
