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Do your pottery handles keep cracking? ⚡ Free mug workshop
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The difference between a mug you reach for every morning and one that sits in the back of your cabinet often comes down to just a few details. In this workshop, I share the techniques that transform basic cylinders into mugs people actually love using. ⭐ The Chiseled Lip Instead of just compressing your rim, create an angled lip that dramatically improves the drinking experience. This one detail makes mugs feel professional and intentional. ⭐ The 24-Hour Rule for Handles Cover your mug and handle together for the first 24 hours after attachment. Handles want to dry faster due to surface area, and uneven drying causes those dreaded cracks. ⭐ The Carrot Handle Start with a tapered coil, slice it lengthwise for strength, then pull straight down. Test readiness by flipping upside down - if it only droops one degree, keep pulling. ⭐ When Handles Crack (Because They Will) Skip the slip fillers. Use the excavation method: carefully remove clay down to where the crack ends, making it look intentional. Usually, 85-95% of your connection is still good. The workshop covers everything from clay prep to final attachment, but these highlights should get you started on better mugs today.
Workshop Highlights are up on the blog:
Happy throwing! Jess P.S. Forward this to a pottery friend who’s working on their throwing - they’ll appreciate the tips! Follow along below or hit reply and tell me what you are working on! |
Clay With Jess Sandford
Subscribe to join a vibrant community of clay lovers and receive weekly doses of inspiration, practical tips, and time-saving techniques. You'll get exclusive tutorials, behind-the-scenes peeks, and inspiring member showcases. We've designed our content to be both informative and actionable, with quick creative prompts and step-by-step guides for new techniques. You'll also be first to know about events and challenges to connect with fellow potters. Whether you have five minutes or five hours for pottery, our newsletter will help you make the most of your clay time and unlock your creative potential in our supportive community.
Hey, It's Jess and I teach pottery online :) I have a workshop happening this Friday and I thought you might be interested. If not, no worries, we will go back to tips and tricks ASAP- but I wanted spread the word. I'm excited to invite you to our March Monthly Challenge workshop: Ready to explore more ways to play with surface decoration? This month in Clay Together we will be doing just that! SURFACE DECORATION EXTRAVAGANZA Friday, March 14 at noon EST 90-minute live workshop (with...
When throwing pottery, unexpected twists in your cylinders can ruin an otherwise perfectly centered pot. Here are some ideas to help break down the main culprits and their solutions. Below is a summary of a blog post that you can read in full if you like: Full Post: Perfect Pull Ups Highlights: 1. Water Management Instead of applying water directly to the pot, rinse your hands up to your wrists every 20 seconds. This creates a constant drip of water and prevents hands from drying out as...
Join me for a FREE live Q&A this Friday (Jan 31st, 12 PM EST) where we'll tackle your pottery challenges together! We've been focusing on mugs lately, but I'll address ANY pottery questions you have. Hit reply and let me know what you've been struggling with - I'll make sure to cover it during our session! In this interactive hour +, you'll get: • Real-time solutions to your challenges • Practical tips you can use right away • The chance to learn from other potters' questions Register Here...