Tools and Texture

I am taking a Tool Making class for Ceramics this semester and it has been insanely fun!  It has made me look at things I have around the house differently.  What texture would this make if I pressed it into clay?  How can I use a fishing leader to make a wire cutter for clay?  It has all made my brain all abuzz with possibilities!

 Here are seven different designs I used to make 1 inch tiles.  I made 68 of the tiles and will use them to do a mosaic piece.

 I have no idea what this tool is called but it makes like a wood grain pattern.  Very cool marks on clay.

 The head of a Phillips head screw pressed into clay

 some sort of a spring rolled two ways on the clay

 A large dowel with hot glue.  Thanks Cindy!!

 Another large dowel but this time wrapped with twine.

 These stars are from some packaging material that I saved.  Knew it would come in handy someday

 Wood bark pressed into clay

 The end of a bullet shell.  Thanks Kyle!

 Metal tubes cut at an angle to put holes in the bottoms of pots.  Inserted into bamboo and wrapped with hemp.

 Plastic comb for scoring.....and it works!!

 A bundle of chicken feathers glued and wrapped with hemp.  The quill end of the feathers makes a great mark on clay.

Wire fishing leaders inserted into wood handles for cutting clay.  The wood handles are gessoed and drawn on with Sharpie pens then covered in a coat of Mod Podge to make them water resistant.  The very ends of the handles have a dimensional paint on them so I can also use them as a stamp.

 This cylinder has holes in the bottom so it can be a planter.  It stamds 14" tall.

 I used the stamps that I made to make the marks on the clay.

 The Goddess image is from a rubber stamp that I carved.

 The candle holder has now been bisqued.  Now the hard part......deciding what glaze to use on it.

 The image on the two sides is from a rubber stamp that I carved.

 A really really wonky bowl but it is growing on me.  I am thinking of it as a flower and if I epoxy a rod onto the bottom it could very well live out in the garden.

 This cylinder is going to hold my paint brushes.  I have started the glazing process.

 The background will be white and the flower image a teal and pink.

 The flower image is from a rubber stamp I carved.