Oxford Clay

Some potters create coloured pottery by mixing oxides and stains into the clay itself before firing. A technique that uses this is called agate, where different coloured clays are combined in layers and mixed, to create a design. Recently, I've been wondering whether this would work with the home-made pigment verdigris created from recycled copper. In this episode, I talk about some experiments I've done adding verdigris to clay at a ratio of 3% and 5% dry powdered verdigris to wet clay. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.✨Support the Podcast: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/support-------------------------------Resources for Potters:⭐ Pottery eBooks⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonFree Pottery Guides:

In this mini episode of the podcast I tell you about a beautiful greeny-brown coloured stoneware pottery glaze I've made with ash recycled from incense sticks. Rather than throwing the incense ash away after burning, it can be collected and recycled into a pottery glaze coloured only by the natural trace metals in the ash! The stoneware pottery glaze recipe used in this episode is: 40 parts - Sieved Incense Ash (sieved with a 100 mesh size sieve) 40 parts - Cornish Stone 20 parts - Quartz You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.✨Support the Podcast: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/support-------------------------------Resources for Potters:⭐ Pottery eBooks⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonFree Pottery Guides:

In a pottery class you might have a defined project to work on, but you can still experiment lots! In this episode, I talk about three ways to simply and easily experiment with surface decoration in a pottery class by;✨ - Pressing an object into the surface of the clay✨ - Making a bespoke tool to create a specific mark in your pottery, for example, fish scales! ✨ - Leaving areas of your pottery un-glazed to create interesting colours and surfaces. The workshop that inspired this episode was run by Ruth Harris at Catkin Tree Studio. You can view workshops here: https://www.catkintreestudio.co.uk/events/workshops/ You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.✨Support the Podcast: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/support-------------------------------Resources for Potters:⭐ Pottery eBooks⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonFree Pottery Guides:

It's Spring in the UK, and this is an ideal time to identify deciduous trees that will drop their leaves in the Autumn. Or perhaps you live in the southern hemisphere, where deciduous trees are doing this right now!Did you know that any plant material can be burned into ash and made into a pottery glaze! Leaves are no exception to this, and many beautiful pottery glazes can be made with leaves that fall naturally as part of a plant's growing cycle. As Potters, we can collect these leaves, create ash from them and make them into a pottery glaze. The book on Leaf Ash Glazing is available here: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/p/leaf-ash-glazing-a-guide-to-sustainable-pottery-glazing-with-fallen-leaves The episodes referred to in this episode about how to make a pottery glaze from leaf ash are here:

Doing pottery brings so much joy! Join me for this episode of the podcast where I talk about some mental re-frames that can support your joy as a Potter even more!

Flat rolled out clay has a very annoying tendency to curl up as it dries! In this episode I talk about the three things I do in my pottery to make ‘perfectly' flat (although nothing in pottery is ever perfect!) drinks coasters. ✔️ Wedging (or kneading) the clay very well before making anything.✔️ Rolling the clay out at an even thickness using rolling guides. ✔️ The importance of gently compressing the wet clay as it dries.You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.✨Support the Podcast-------------------------------Resources for Potters:⭐ Pottery eBooks⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonFree Pottery Guides:

Yes you can! In fact they are an amazing way to add beautiful decorative details to pottery.Silicone sugar craft moulds from cake making can be used by Potters who want to create intricate surface decorations for their pots. Clay is simply pressed into the mould, left to dry a little, removed from the mould and then attached to pottery as a sprig decoration.I use silicone moulds in my pottery to make dragonfly, butterfly and bird decorations that I then attach onto my pottery with slip. In this episode, I share with you 5 tips I've learned when using silicone sugarcraft moulds in pottery: ✨Dust a little cornflour into the mould before using it to help the clay sprig decoration release from the mould. ✨Add a little paper pulp to the clay you're using to press into your mould. Paper makes clay super strong and prevents the clay sprig decoration from breaking when being removed from the mould. ✨Use vinegar (applied to the main body of the pot), and slip to attach the decoration to the pot. ✨Dry your pottery slowly in a plastic storage box to prevent the sprig decoration from cracking off the pot. ✨Press out your designs from the mould onto a folded cloth or tea towel so the clay decorations are not damaged as they are removed from the mould.You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:⭐ Pottery eBooks⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonFree Pottery Guides:

For the last 200 years, industrial society has used a linear economic model that takes raw materials, makes them into products, sells them to consumers who then eventually throw them away. Natural resources are ‘lost' in this process and this model is widely regarded as unsustainable. Contrastingly in the circular economic model, resources are continuously reused, recycled and retained in the supply chain.In this episode, I talk about some opportunities for Potters to use the circular economy model and reuse materials in their work, such as; ♻️ - Copper from electrical waste ♻️ - Rusting iron ♻️ - Post-consumer glass (you could also use sea glass found on the beach!) ♻️ - Ash from wood-burning stoves and heaters ♻️ - Leaves naturally fallen from trees and shrubsThe book that inspired this episode is called ‘Doughnut Economics: Seven ways to think like a 21st-century Economist. By Kate Raworth published in 2017 by Random House. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:⭐ Pottery eBooks⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonFree Pottery Guides:

In this episode, I talk to you about the 6 different ways in which I use my favourite pottery tool - a cotton tea towel!

Some thoughts created by our brains, support us when making pottery, and some definitely less so! Join me for this episode where I talk about some thoughts I've had in pottery that haven't supported my pottery such as ‘I'll never be good at pottery', ‘I'll never be as good as them' (in an evening class setting) and ‘I don't like my finished pot'! I talk about some alternative thoughts you can replace these with to truly support yourself in your pottery-making and make your mind a safer and kinder space to learn. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:⭐ Pottery eBooks⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonFree Pottery Guides:

I created this episode for anyone who thinks they might like to write a book but hasn't yet - you can do it! The world needs to hear your ideas and unique voice! In this episode, I talk about how I follow my curiosity to write books on pottery. I speak about how my ideas form, and how I experiment, research, write and format my books before publishing. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:⭐ Pottery eBooks⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonFree Pottery Guides:

Designing for the environment is a way of creating products where the minimum possible negative environmental impact on the environment is intrinsic to their design. In design for the environment, a product is thought of holistically, from the raw materials used to make it to its manufacturing process. Potters have a huge opportunity to design for the environment because we have direct control over how our pottery is made and the ingredients we make it with. In this episode, I explain the three different aspects I used to create a design for the environment framework at Oxford Clay in which to make my pottery. The three aspects of designing for the environment framework in pottery are: ⭐ Raw materials⭐ Pot design ⭐ Pottery-making processes The books mentioned in this episode are: Eco-conscious Pottery Glazing: Make your own pottery glazes with minimal harm to humans, animals and the environment.Eco-Friendly Pottery: 30 Simple Ways: to make your pottery practice more ethical and sustainable.You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:⭐ Pottery eBooks⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonFree Pottery Guides:

Clay can be infinitely recycled before it's fired! This process is called ‘reclaiming' and it involves turning clay that is either too dry or too wet, back into a usable state. In this episode, we talk about how to reclaim your own clay without any specialist equipment, in four very simple steps. *Scooping sloppy wet clay out of the reclaiming bucket onto a tea towel, inside away from wind and sun.*Waiting a few days for the clay to dry out. * Wedging the clay on another tea towel or cotton cloth to keep the wedging / kneading area free of clay. *Storing the clay in an airtight container.You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.-------------------------------*New book: Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'.

I read a really interesting book recently on regenerative fashion and it really got me thinking about whether any of the concepts could be applied to the handmade pottery industry. In this episode, I explore author Safia Minney's ideas in the book Regenerative Fashion: A Nature-based Approach to Fibres, Livelihoods and Leadership and think about ways we could use them as Potters. The ideas from Regenerative Fashion I think about are; *Thinking about pottery holistically, from where the materials have come from, who has mined them and where, how they have been processed and transported. *Whether we can use renewable materials in pottery *Eliminating fossil fuels in pottery *Using local materials to reduce global transportation. *Sustainable design in pottery - designing for the environment rather than for purely aestheticsIf you would like more information on pottery materials, knowing where they come from and their environmental impact, these books from Oxford Clay are particularly focused on this issue: Eco-Friendly Pottery: 30 Simple Ways: to make your pottery practice more ethical and sustainableEco-conscious Pottery Glazing: Make your own pottery glazes with minimal harm to humans, animals and the environment The blog post on Designing Pottery for the Environment mentioned in this episode can be found here. The book featured in this episode is Regenerative Fashion: A Nature-based Approach to Fibres, Livelihoods and Leadership Paperback – 28 Nov. 2022 by Safia Minney (Author). You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.-------------------------------*New book: Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year! ⭐In this episode, I tell you about my four New Year's resolutions in pottery. *Talking to myself kindly about my pottery, especially when things go wrong - an inevitable part of the pottery-making process! Creating a kind, safe space in my own thoughts to make mistakes.*Prioritise experimentation and playing in pottery.*Creating a joy list of things I really enjoy doing in pottery (one of them is this podcast!) and only doing those things. *To stop rushing through making pottery and instead savour the process of creation. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.-------------------------------*New book: Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'.

Every person creating in clay is totally unique and therefore has a totally unique creative style in pottery! In this episode, I talk about the ways you can cultivate your own unique creative style in pottery, such as; *The importance of following your curiosity and joy in pottery. *How practising pottery techniques reduces the gap between what you want to make and what you can actually make, opening up new creative possibilities. *The importance of making ‘mistakes' and things going ‘wrong' in pottery for growing your skills. -------------------------------*New book: Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'.

Refiring is firing pottery again after it has already been glaze-fired once. But why on earth would a Potter want to do that?! In this episode we discuss what refiring is, and some reasons why a Potter may want to fire their work again. Potters may re-fire their work for example if their pot has been underfired in the first firing, which can sometimes happen if the kiln switches off accidentally during the firing cycle or if the kiln hasn't reached a hot enough temperature. Another reason to refire pottery is if you don't like how the glaze looks after the first glaze firing. In this episode, I tell you about two top tips for re-firing pottery from a potters book by Bernard Leach as well as my two failed attempts at refiring pottery!The book featured in this episode is A Potters Book by Bernard Leach the 1976 edition published by Faber and Faber. -------------------------------*New book: Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'.

I learned the concept of a ‘Second Brain' from the book: ‘Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organise Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential' by Tiago Forte.In this episode, I talk about what a second brain is, and why it's so amazing for anyone with creative ideas (ie everyone!). I explain four reasons why having a second brain is particularly useful for Pottery makers. As well as what my own second brain looks like at Oxford Clay. -------------------------------*New book: Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'.

Making your own casting slip can save money and be more environmentally friendly.CO2 is saved from transporting powdered ingredients rather than the water present in ready-made casting slips. In addition, Potters can control exactly what ingredients they are using, sourcing ones mined in areas of high regulation.Making casting slip is also really fun, especially when you see the magic of how a deflocculant works to make the clay runny!You can find an eco-conscious casting slip recipe in the book: Eco-Friendly PotteryI learned to make my own casting slip from books, YouTube videos and a lot of trial and error! In this episode, I tell you about the 13 top tips I've learned over this time:*Wear an FFP3 Facemask when working with powders*Use a plastic gardening scoop to measure out powders*Keep powders in a metal bin with a lid, on a wheeled platform for manoeuvrability*Use rainwater*Use paper in slip to add strength to your work*Use a recipe with ball clay to add strength to your work*Weigh out the deflocculant onto the paper you're adding to your slip (no washing up spoons!)*Use a hand stick blender to blend the water, paper and deflocculant first, before adding to the dry ingredients*Make up small amounts of slip each time (5ltrs) to minimise the risk of over-deflocculation*Use a paddle mixer to mix slip*Use a silicone spatula*Always sieve slip before use (even if washing the sieve afterwards is annoying!)*To make the slip more runny, try adding water first, before adding any more deflocculant!-------------------------------*New book: Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'.

Having a perfectly flat base or rim on a pot adds a professional feel to handmade pottery.In this episode, I tell you about an amazingly simple and easy technique to create perfectly flat bases or rims on your pottery. After having read about this pottery technique in a book, it is now something I use on every one of my pots!-------------------------------*New book: Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'.

Disappointment in pottery can happen when the pot in your mind's eye isn't the same as the one that comes out of the kiln! That sinking feeling of disappointment can really hold us back as potters and can affect even the most experienced of Potters. In this episode, I talk about three mindset shifts that I use to deal with my own feelings of disappointment in pottery; 1. That disappointment is a natural part of the creative process. 2. That disappointment is a natural part of pottery-making so much out of our control as potters (especially what happens inside a kiln firing!). 3. That experiencing failure and disappointment in pottery means that you are at the growth edge of your skills and experience.I hope this episode inspires you not to be discouraged if feelings of disappointment ever come up in your pottery-making. The book featured in this episode is ‘A Potters Book' by Bernard Leach, 1976 edition published by Faber and Faber.-------------------------------*New book: Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'.

It's Autumn here in the UK and the leaves on the trees are starting to fall! But did you know that you can actually make a pottery glaze from fallen leaves?! Whilst wood ash is often quoted in glaze recipes, leaf ash can actually be used instead. In fact it is often the leaves of plants which have fallen naturally at the end of their growing cycle which create the most beautiful pottery glazes! In part two of this two-part episode series on making pottery glazes with fallen leaf ash we discuss: *How to make a stoneware glaze using quartz, cornish stone, leaf ash and water. *How to weigh out glaze-making ingredients. *How to mix a glaze and sieve it.The eBook Leaf Ash Glazing: A guide to sustainable pottery glazing with fallen leaves is available here.The ash glazing recipe in this episode and also used in the book Leaf Ash Glazing: A guide to sustainable pottery glazing with fallen leaves is:*Quartz - 20 Parts *Cornish Stone - 40 Parts *Leaf Ash - 40 Parts *Water - to make up to the consistency of single cream. -------------------------------*New book: Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'.

It's Autumn here in the UK and the leaves on the trees are starting to fall! But did you know that you can actually make a pottery glaze from fallen leaves?! Whilst wood ash is often quoted in glaze recipes, leaf ash can actually be used instead. In fact it is often the leaves of plants which have fallen naturally at the end of their growing cycle which create the most beautiful pottery glazes! In part one of this two-part episode series on making pottery glazes with fallen leaf ash we discuss: *How to identify plants so that leaves can be safely collected from non-toxic plants.*How to collect leaves without accidentally collecting insects and other invertebrates. *How to sort and dry leaves ready for burning.*How to burn leaves into an ash that can be used as an ingredient in pottery glazing. The eBook Leaf Ash Glazing: A guide to sustainable pottery glazing with fallen leaves is available here.-------------------------------*New book: Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'.

Clay shrinks at every stage of the pottery-making process. This can make creating the right size of pot quite tricky!Another confusing thing is that different clays shrink by differing amounts up to around 25 per cent, from wet clay to finished pot. Join me for this episode, where I talk about a simple way to find out how much your specific type of clay will shrink by. I talk you through how I discovered that my clay at Oxford Clay shrinks by 15 per cent from leather-hard clay to final glaze-fired pottery. -------------------------------*New book: Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'.

Because the process of making pottery is so prone to technical ‘failures' it can often feel like you're constantly doing pottery ‘wrong'! In this episode, we explore how giving yourself permission to get things ‘wrong' in pottery as you learn and grow in your pottery-making skills and experience, opens up infinite creative opportunities for your work. I share some things I've changed in my own pottery recently and some tips for how to give yourself permission to grow in your pottery-making. Knowing that pottery isn't meant to be ‘perfect' and choosing thoughts such as ‘I'm doing it right' (even though it often doesn't feel that way!), really supports our pottery-making learning journey. -------------------------------*New book: Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'.

Colour in pottery is usually created with commercial metal oxides available as a raw material or as an ingredient in stains.In a special bonus episode of this podcast series to celebrate the release of the book ‘Eco-conscious Pottery Colour: A guide to colouring ceramics with scrap metals, glass, plant ash and clay', we explore some things I've used in pottery to try to create colour that haven't worked, including sugar molasses, kale stems, Chia seeds and fermented seaweed fertiliser!*Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'. --------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog

Colour in pottery is usually created with commercial metal oxides available as a raw material or as an ingredient in stains.In the fifth of this special five-part podcast series to celebrate the release of the book ‘Eco-conscious Pottery Colour: A guide to colouring ceramics with scrap metals, glass, plant ash and clay', we explore how to create beautiful colours in pottery, using metal-rich clays.*Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.--------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'. -------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog

Colour in pottery is usually created with commercial metal oxides available as a raw material or as an ingredient in stains.In the fourth of this special five-part podcast series to celebrate the release of the book ‘Eco-conscious Pottery Colour: A guide to colouring ceramics with scrap metals, glass, plant ash and clay', we explore how to create beautiful colours in pottery, using the ashes of plants! *Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.----------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'. ----------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog

Colour in pottery is usually created with commercial metal oxides available as a raw material or as an ingredient in stains.In the third of this special five-part podcast series to celebrate the release of the book ‘Eco-conscious Pottery Colour: A guide to colouring ceramics with scrap metals, glass, plant ash and clay', we explore how to create beautiful decorative colours in pottery, using scrap glass. *Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here.*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'. --------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog

Colour in pottery is usually created with commercial metal oxides available as a raw material or as an ingredient in stains.In the second of this five-part podcast series to celebrate the release of the book ‘Eco-conscious Pottery Colour: A guide to colouring ceramics with scrap metals, glass, plant ash and clay', we explore how to create beautiful glaze colours in pottery, using scrap copper and iron.*Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here (from 14 September 2024)*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.-----------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'. ---------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog

Colour in pottery is usually created with commercial metal oxides available as a raw material or as an ingredient in stains.In the first of this five-part podcast series to celebrate the release of the book ‘Eco-conscious Pottery Colour: A guide to colouring ceramics with scrap metals, glass, plant ash and clay', we explore what Eco-conscious pottery colour is and why it's great for Potters, and the Earth. *Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available on the Oxford Clay website here(from 14 September 2024)*A paper copy of Eco-conscious Pottery Colour is available from Amazon here.---------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'. -----------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog

So many pottery projects involve joining clay together and it's not unusual for clay to crack apart after it's been joined. Join me for this episode where I talk about my 5 simple steps for joining clay together to stop clay from cracking apart! *Join clay that is the same level of dryness, you can encourage this by keeping clay in a damp box. *Use vinegar to ‘melt' the joining surface of the clay. *Score the surface of the areas to be joined. *Use slip on the joint (and superpower this by mixing in paper fibres!). *Dry your pottery slowly to prevent some parts from drying faster than others and cracking apart. ----------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.ukwith the subject line ‘Podcast Question'. --------------------------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog

Thank you for your listener questions! This is the first listener question episode, and we're talking about about crazing and pinholing in pottery glazes. The listener questions in this episode are:Is it a defect of the glaze to have pinholes or hairline cracks after firing?Are these fired glazes permeable and will food residues settle in them over time, especially if you only wash them by hand?Can crazed and pinholed pottery go in the dishwasher?----------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.ukwith the subject line ‘Podcast Question'. --------------------------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog

Experimenting with making pottery glazes is one of my absolute favourite things to do.In this episode, I tell you how I make my glaze tests at Oxford Clay, and how you can do the same!----------------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.ukwith the subject line ‘Podcast Question'. --------------------------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog

In this episode, I talk about 5 simple things you can do to recycle resources in pottery!The 5 things I talk about today are:*Collecting Rainwater to use in pottery*Reclaiming used clay back into new clay*Turning scrap metal into colouring oxides*Making pottery glazes from plant ashes*Using glass in pottery to add colour and decorative detail-----------------------------------------------Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.ukwith the subject line ‘Podcast Question'. --------------------------------------------------Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for PottersPottery eBooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)Pottery Paperback Books available from AmazonVideo mini-courses for PottersOxford Clay blog

A mini episode today to let you know that I'd love to answer your pottery question on the podcast! Just email your pottery question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk Put ‘Podcast Question' in the subject line of your email so I know that you are happy for your question to be read out and answered on the podcast. I can't wait to hear from you! Resosrces for Potters:Submit a pottery question to the podcast:Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: info@oxfordclay.co.uk with the subject line ‘Podcast Question'. Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-pottersPottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbookDownload the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedulePottery Paperback Books available from amazon:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/coursesOxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

Did you know that you can actually make your own green pottery colourant called Verdigris?Verdigris is an ancient pigment that has been used for thousands of years, and you can make it yourself by recycling scrap copper! In this episode I share 3 beautiful pottery glazes I've made using Verdigris. Green Stoneware / high-fire recipes below: If you want to see what these glazes look like you can check out the video of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/WYg0ayYlJlYLearn how to fire these stoneware glazes in an electric kiln in this free workbook.Recipe 1: Cornish Stone - 50Quartz - 25Whiting - 15Dolomite - 105% Verdigris Recipe 2: Cornish Stone - 40Quartz - 20China Clay - 15Whiting - 10Dolomite - 105% VerdigrisRecipe 3: Feldspar - 56Quartz - 22Whiting - 13Plant/Wood Ash - 95% VerdigrisRecipe 4: (just in case you like this glaze?! / are making a sculpture of an amphibian and need a good glaze for the skin!)Cornish Stone - 40Plant/Wood Ash - 40Quartz - 2010% VerdigrisLearn how to make your own Verdigris and use it in your pottery in this video mini-course.Or this bookResources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-pottersPottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbookDownload the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedulePottery Paperback Books available from amazon:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/coursesOxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

You may have heard the word ‘Verdigris' used to describe a blue-green colour, or you may have seen it on brass statues or the roofs of buildings. Verdigris is also a pigment that has been used by artisans for thousands of years. But did you know that Potters can actually make their own Verdigris to use in their ceramics?! Making your own verdigris is a great way to avoid using commercial metal oxides, one of the least environmentally friendly pottery ingredients. In this episode, I tell you about how I make my own verdigris and how I use it in the pottery at Oxford Clay as a unique eco-conscious pottery colourant. Learn how to make your own Verdigris and use it in your pottery in this video mini-course. Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-pottersPottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbookDownload the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedulePottery Paperback Books available from amazon:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/coursesOxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

Leather hard clay is when the clay has dried a little but is still wet enough to work with. Clay is very versatile at the leather-hard stage, stronger, and less prone to breakage like bone dry pottery (also known as ‘greenware'). In this episode, I explain what leather-hard clay is and all the amazing things that can be created with leather-hard clay! From building slab pots, etching decoration and slip trailing, to turning the base of wheel-thrown pots and more!Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-pottersPottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbookDownload the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedulePottery Paperback Books available from amazon:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/coursesOxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

Any Potter can make their own totally unique pottery glaze! Making your own signature pottery glaze is a great way of creating a unique aesthetic for your ceramics. You may think that making your own glaze is difficult but it's not! If you can follow any kind of recipe, you can make a pottery glaze. In this episode, I talk about 3 ways to make a totally unique pottery glaze: *Tweak the base ingredients of an existing glaze recipe. *Add different colouring oxides to a base glaze.*Make a pottery glaze using plant ashes. If you're interested in learning how to make a Stoneware pottery glaze, and having a base glaze recipe to make your own unique glaze, you can download the free How to Make a Pottery Glaze workbook here: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbookResources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-pottersPottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooksDownload the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbookDownload the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedulePottery Paperback Books available from amazon:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/coursesOxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

After years of practising pottery, I've distilled the absolute one thing every Potter needs to know: be kind to yourself!Although being kind to yourself doesn't seem like it has anything to do with making pottery! Self-kindness is actually something that superpowers your pottery learning journey and helps you cultivate a growth mindset.Being kind to yourself is an absolute must for learning any new thing that requires a lot of patience and making ‘mistakes' along the way - like pottery!Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-potters Pottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooks Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbook Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedule Pottery Paperback Books available from amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1 Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/courses Oxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

Using moulds in pottery is amazing! Moulds allow Potters to make the same shape consistently over and over again, create sets of pots, and save time and energy in their making process.Moulds can be used to make the main body of the pot or for creating decoration. In this episode I talk about the 5 types of moulds available to Potters and how each one is used: *Press mould*Hump mould *Slip-casting mould *Sprig mould (plaster of Paris) *Sprig mould (silicone) Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-potters Pottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooks Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbook Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedule Pottery Paperback Books available from amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1 Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/courses Oxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

Pottery is a very safe activity but there are certain times when Potters need to protect their lungs from fine powders. That's where FFP3 face masks come in!In this episode, I talk about what an FFP3 face mask is, how it works, and four scenarios when a Potter would need one:*When making pottery glazes or clay.*When sieving plant ashes. *When scraping dry clay.*When applying glaze to pottery by spraying. Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-potters Pottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooks Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbook Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedule Pottery Paperback Books available from amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1 Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/courses Oxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

Did you know that clay is actually made from lots of different materials such as crushed rocks, ball clays and china clay? Making your own clay can be a great option for Potters who want to know exactly what ingredients are going into their clay to minimise the environmental impact of their pottery. Making clay yourself can be cheaper than buying it commercially and you can save the time, effort and CO2 emissions of haulage to get (heavy!) wet clay to you. In this episode, I talk you through the ingredients and process I use to make my own stoneware clay. Firstly by creating a casting slip, that I later reclaim back into clay for throwing!Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-potters Pottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooks Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbook Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedule Pottery Paperback Books available from amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1 Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/courses Oxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

There is some incredible equipment out there that is not necessarily made for the handmade pottery industry, but Potters can use it for amazing results! In this 2 part episode series I'll tell you about 16 of my favourite pieces of non-pottery equipment that I regularly use to make my pottery.There's actually so much great equipment out there that I had to split this topic into two parts!In part 2 I tell you about how I use these things in pottery: *Silicone spatula*Gardening Scoop *Stone Pestle and Mortar *Slate Table Mats *Tea Towel*Flexible Bucket (also known as a Flexi Tub) *Tupperware boxes*Makeup brushes Resources for Potters:Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-potters Pottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooks Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbook Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedule Pottery Paperback Books available from amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1 Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/courses Oxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

There is some incredible equipment out there that is not necessarily made for the handmade pottery industry, but Potters can use it for amazing results! In this two-part episode series I'll tell you about 16 of my favourite pieces of non-pottery equipment that I regularly use to make my pottery. There's actually so much great equipment out there that I had to split this topic into two parts! In Part 1 I tell you about how I use these things in pottery: *Cellulose Decorators Sponge*Microfibre Cleaning Cloth *Plasterer's Bucket *Electric Paddle Mixer*Enamel Pie Dish *Vegetable oil *Bamboo Kitchen Roll *Catering Electric Stick Blender Resources for Potters:Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbook Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedule Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-potters Pottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooks Pottery Paperback Books available from amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1 Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/courses Oxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

Did you know that vinegar has several uses in pottery? In this episode, we explore three excellent ways Potters can use vinegar in their work, from helping to stick clay together, to thickening slips and even as an ingredient in making homemade pottery colouring oxides! Resources for Potters:Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbook Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedule Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-potters Pottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooks Pottery Paperback Books available from amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1 Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/courses Oxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

Slip casting is a fantastic way of making pottery. It allows Potters to make the same shape of pot over and over again, saving time and effort. Slip casting also allows Potters to make sets of items and standardise their making process to ensure they can consistently replicate the quality of their pots. At Oxford Clay, I've been slip casting for a number of years now and have experienced a lot ups and downs with learning the process! In this episode, I talk about the 10 best slip-casting tips I've learned over the years, from making your own casting slip to adding paper to the slip recipe to strengthen the clay! The stoneware slip-casting slip recipe mentioned in this episode can be found in the book Eco-Friendly Pottery: 30 Simple Ways to Make Your Pottery Practice More Ethical and Sustainable, by Oxford Clay available on the Oxford Clay website or on Amazon. Links for the Eco-Friendly Pottery Book with the slip recipe: AmazonOxford Clay websiteResources for Potters:Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbook Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedule Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-potters Pottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooks Pottery Paperback Books available from amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1 Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/courses Oxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

Plaster moulds are a great resource for Potters. Moulds can be used in pottery to press clay into (a press mould), smooth clay over (a hump mould), or pour liquid clay into (a slip casting mould). Plaster moulds allow Potters to make lots of the same shapes of pots simply and accurately. At Oxford Clay, I use a one-part plaster mould for slip-casting my work. In this episode, I talk through the step-by-step process of how I make my plaster moulds, by casting the profile of an enamel pie dish into plaster of Paris. You'll hear how achievable making your own plaster mould really is! Resources for Potters:Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbook Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedule Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-potters Pottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooks Pottery Paperback Books available from amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1 Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/courses Oxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

What are clay bodies made from and do you need to make your own as a Potter? Have you ever heard the term ‘clay body' and been curious about what it means? Well, the ‘clay body' and clay are the same thing! In this episode, we investigate what clay or clay bodies are made from, how they're made and three reasons why a Potter may choose to make their own.Resources for Potters:Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbook Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedule Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-potters Pottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooks Pottery Paperback Books available from amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1 Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/courses Oxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1

If you've ever felt blocked creatively in pottery or like nothing you're making is any ‘good' (who hasn't?) this episode is for you! We discuss five tips for getting your creative flow back and generating original ideas in pottery. Some of them are just about getting out of our own way and not believing the thoughts our brains like to generate about our pottery practice. Resources for Potters:Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners): https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-workbook Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/how-to-fire-bisque-and-stoneware-kiln-firing-schedule Oxford Clay website resources for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/resources-for-potters Pottery eBooks: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooks Pottery Paperback Books available from amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B0B1CKC9X3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1662270837&sr=8-1 Video mini-courses for Potters: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/courses Oxford Clay blog: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1