little brick house clayworks: Kids & Clay

little brick house clayworks: Kids & Clay: " Clay tutorials for children I have two boys mad about bugs, dinosaurs and anything that in..."

No breakages! No explaining!

In a recent post I mentioned the Greek pinch and coiled pots created by year 5 and 6. Well I've just unloaded the little kiln and all have remained in one piece. So here they are....

Phew!!!!

Just a wee bit nervous about this!!!

A few weeks back I was involved with a local school making clay vessels with class 5 and six who were learning all about ancient Greece. They all made either a pinch pot or a coiled vase which they all really enjoyed. They have been drying out slowly in my workshop and I've been stacking them into a small top loading kiln ready for a bisque firing.
I'm now feeling dread at the thought of opening it after firing incase they explode! Usually I don't worry but because there are so many and they spent so much time on them I'm feeling the pressure a bit, plus I'm using a smaller kiln that I'm not used too. So here goes, I'm gonna switch it on and see.


Their pots occupy 3 shelves of this little kiln, I have some of my test pieces at  the base of the kiln and a couple of my stoneware eggs at the top. (we shall see how they fair) I've fired lots of childrens work in the past but I just feel a little concerned with these as some have small components attatched added with the unfamiliarity of this type of kiln.



Indian block printing

I've been meaning to use these blocks for ages for something other than printing into clay (which I love) so I had a go at using them for what they were originally intended, printing onto indian paper & fabrics. I started out using them to print onto brown parcel paper & the backs of old wallpaper rolls to see how they came out.

Here is the selection of indian printing blocks all different sizes and designs.

I've mixed some water based paints and used some old fabric to press the blocks onto to absorb the paint.

Heres some of the results printed onto the brown packing paper

Here they are drying out on an inspiration board. I'm going to use some of them to pack up my ceramics next time I do a stall and some to wrap gifts, next time I will try using them with fabric, (next time I indulge)

Egg decorating competion!!

Check these out......
They are this years entries from my own little house midgets. As there didn't have to be an Easter theme we went to town and have no links to Easter whatsoever.


"Mr Egg and his veggie patch"
 My daughter made this little garden and made all the vegetables out of plasticine and fimo clay. The planter trough and spade came from their farm.




"Mr Eggs day at the beach"
A simple one from my youngest son, he stuck on the googly eyes and shovelled sand and added tiny shells, a little help from big sisters Polly pocket accessories to dress him up a bit with a hat,sunglasses, parasol and suntan lotion!



"Triceratops Egg with monkey"  (apparently)
An aptly obscure entry from my oldest boy, no help wanted as he just does things his own sweet way! offering the bizarre and the unconventional at every opportunity.
Lets hope we have a winner! Will let you know if we do
xx