Handbuilt Stoneware Mugs

Hand-building

1. Roll out a slab that is about 1/8” thick and measures at least 13”x4”.
2. These measurements are for creating a cylinder around a stoneware glaze jar, you can always use a wire or piece of string to measure the circumference of the cylinder that you are using for a mold.
3. Compress slab with rib.
4. Cover bottle with one layer of newsprint, flooding along the bottom of the bottle.
5. Roll slab around wrapped jar until the sides are fully covered by clay.
6. Cut slab a pencil thickness past the point where the end of the slab meets the clay to allow room for clay to overlap.
7. Smoosh clay with your fingers pulling clay over the seam until smooth, use credit card or rib to even out clay.
8. Roll out another 1/8” thick slab and compress.
9. Trace bottom of the cylinder on the slab leaving the same amount of space for overlap.
10. Cut circle and attach to clay cylinder by pulling and smooshing the clay up the sides of the form.
11. Smooth out sides of your piece with a rib by compressing the sides from the bottom up.
12. Be sure to keep the bottle flat on the table when doing this.
13. Apply stamp to outside of the cylinder by placing in desired spot(s) around on piece and gently applying pressure.
14. You can use your rib again to evenly apply pressure by smoothing over the back of the stamp mat always pulling the rib up towards you from the base.
15. To create a clean foot, hold the jar with two hands and rock it forward onto its bottom edge and proceed to roll all the way around the bottom rim.
16. When ready, remove the jar by pulling up and twisting, then pull paper out.
17. Roll coils to attach to strengthen the seams on the inside and smooth out with fingers.
18. To attach handle cut a strip of clay out of a slab that is about 1” wide.
19. Smooth edges and pinch to widen the top of the handle to create a wider surface to attach.
20. Option to slump handle over rolling pin or similar form to help it maintain its shape while waiting to be attached.
21. Attach top of handle first by slipping and scoring the wide side and attach it about 1” below the rim, holding the end of the handle up towards you.
22. Curve the rest of the handle down to attach just above the foot of the mug, creating an arch similar to the shape of an ear.
23. Cut off any access clay and attach by slipping and scoring.
24. Allow handle to set up a bit.
25. If you are having a hard time getting it to hold its arch, flip mug over and let the handle hang over the edge to set up.
26. Smooth out any cracks or imperfections with finger and/or sponge.
27. Allow to dry fully and bisque fire to Cone 04.

Glazing

1. From top left: SW-179 Muddy Waters over SW-167 Raspberry Mist; SW-179 Muddy Waters over SW-131 Birch; SW-179 Muddy Waters over SW-165 Lavender Mist; SW-179 Muddy Waters over SW-121 Smoke.
2.   Wipe off bisque with a damp sponge to remove any dust.
3. Using a soft fan brush, apply 2 coats of combo color option to the inside and outside of the mug, leaving the bottom unglazed.
4. Be sure that the first coat is fully dry before applying the second coat.
5. Once glaze is dry apply first coat of Muddy Waters (SW-179) the inside and the top two thirds of the outside of the mug and handle.
6. This will allow space for the glaze to run without allowing it to run off the bottom of the mug.
7. Apply your second coat of Muddy Waters to the inside and outside of the mug, stopping about a half inch above where you did on the last coat.
8. Wipe any glaze from the bottom of the mug.
9. Allow to dry completely and fire to Cone 6.