Ceramic Spoon Rest & Utensil Holder

Intro: Ceramic Spoon Rest & Utensil Holder

This past year my daughter moved and I thought it would be fun to make her something for her new kitchen....so I made her a spoon rest and utensil holder using clay and leaves. 

STEP 1: Supplies

clay, I used red grog cone 06
clay cutter
rolling pin
leaves
slip
glazes 
9Z
X15 cardboard template
leaves etching tool
glaze brush
Kiln

STEP 2: Spoon Rest

choose leaf to use for spoon rest and roll clay large enough to fit shape.

STEP 3:

press the leaf into the clay, run your fingernail gently along the veins of the leaf to indent them into the clay

STEP 4:

using the etching pin cut away the excess clay from around the leaf.

STEP 5:

STEP 6:

Carefully remove the leaf
 from the clay

STEP 7:

STEP 8:

place the clay leaf shape on a drying board, roll small 
pieces of clay and put them under the edges of the leaf to give it the shape of a fallen leaf. 

STEP 9:

STEP 10:

when the clay is leathery or has begun to harden I smoothed the edges with a small sponge

STEP 11: Utensil Holder

Roll large enough piece od clay to cut the 9X15 shape. 

STEP 12:

STEP 13:

For clay into a cylinder shape, set aside

STEP 14:

roll a large enough piece of clay to place the cylinder on to cut base.

STEP 15:

use tool to cut clay for base, give about 1/2 inch around bottom.

STEP 16:

reach inside cylinder and with finger tips apply pressure from the inside of the holder, then using a finger push the clay up on the outside edge to secure the base of the utensil holder. 

STEP 17:

roll more clay and begin to press more smaller leaf shapes into the clay, again use fingernail to apply pressure to get veins indented into clay.

STEP 18:

STEP 19:

cut the shapes from the clay, remove the leaf, if it rips or gets stuck it is okay it will burn off in the kiln

STEP 20:

Using slip, (liquid form 
of clay, it acts like glue on the wet clay.) smear the leaf shapes and attach to the cylinder

STEP 21:

STEP 22:

This is a fig leaf from my daughter's Great grandfathers' fig tree!

STEP 23:

the leaves can overlap

STEP 24:

I use a bit of water on my finger to smooth the rough edges of the leaf shapes. 

STEP 25:

If slip squishes out a paintbrush
 can be used to clean up the wet clay.

STEP 26:

STEP 27:

STEP 28: Glaze

When pieces are thoroughly dry , fire to a bisque ware in the kiln, I used an o6 cone.

STEP 29:

I used clear glaze 
for the inside of the utensil holder. I poured it in and out. I like the clear glaze on the red 
clay, it looks very earthy. 

STEP 30:

I chose an overglaze called speckled brown for the outside of the Utensil Holder

STEP 31:

and the spoon rest

STEP 32: Final Firing

The pieces are fired again in the kiln and ready to wrap for the holiday gift giving.

STEP 33:

Comments

[poofrabbit]

I have a very sick obsession with leaves. This is fantastic and I love the glaze you used it really looks awesome with the clay body you chose! As always fantastically done!