{Giveaway is Closed}
The Winner is: #88 Sandy!
Have you ever been to pottery class? Get your hands dirty, molding clay like the movie Ghost?
Over two years ago, I got the chance to go to a very fun blogger’s pottery class while I was still living in Birmingham and it was such a memorable event, that when the invitation came again this year, I said YES again to a night out at Earth Born Pottery Studio. I loved getting my hands dirty in the clay and sitting at the potter’s wheel for another whirl at making something handmade and interesting. My first pottery pieces are packed up in boxes right now, but one day soon they will all be unpacked and I’ll be enjoying them in my new home.
Without naming all these girls, because I don’t have all their blog names, I’ll just say it was a very fun time seeing some new and old friends again and we all got our hands in the mud and enjoyed the pottery class so much. Great bonding girl time! My friend, Rachel, from Grasping for Objectivity invited me to come over and I’m so glad I did. Her Aunt Tena owns the pottery and was teaching our class.
I love that Earthborn makes some incredible and gorgeous pottery for upscale restaurants, like the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, as well as renowned restaurants in Birmingham, like the Hot and Hot Fish Club. We were all so impressed with the wares coming out of Tena’s pottery studio. Handmade items like this are so beautiful and I have long been a fan of made from scratch pottery.
Tena and another potter, Nabeel, gave us some demos on how to work with the clay. I did pretty good the first time I did this 2 years ago, but this time it didn’t go all that well. I messed up some of the clay and had to start over a couple of times.
Tena explained how to work the clay into a ball and then bring it up to a bowl or vase.
Once it’s set solid in the middle with no wobbles (I had a big problem with the wobbles on mine), then the clay can be worked and sculpted. They make it look easy, but it’s SO not!
See how pretty her vase looks?
And Nabeel’s is beautiful and shapely too.
My blob of clay didn’t go nearly as well, but I finally coaxed a bowl out of this lump.
Next, I moved on to the table, where we did some freeform clay molding and I made a rough bowl.
I hope glaze and firing improves its looks, cause it’s not so pretty like this.
I made a fairly presentable bowl and I’m sure this will be pretty once the glaze is applied and it comes back from the kiln. I loved my other pieces when they were fired.
This lop sided bowl was my 2nd attempt on the wheel, but it’s definitely not going to win any awards.
And here’s the freeform bowl.
We took a tour of the back and saw all the great pottery back there waiting for glazing and firing. I’ve always been intrigued by pottery and how organic it is. Every piece is different, just like we all are.
Aren’t the finished pieces beautiful?? That blue bowl on top looks just like the one I took home last time I was there.
These beautiful pedestals were so gorgeous. I found out from Tena that she is now making pottery for Willow House and I do believe these were the bowls she said were Willow House bowls.
Isn’t that just the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen?
Just like our first trip, we all got to take home a beautiful finished plate and we got to choose one to give away to a reader.
I know, that means one of YOU!!
See the one on the LEFT? that one will go to one of my readers!! I know, exciting, huh?
All you have to do is leave a comment telling me if you’ve ever made any pottery or do you own any original pottery?
Do you love handmade pottery as much as I do?
Tena sells pottery to the public, so anyone can purchase from her. Wouldn’t it be so much fun to have a few place settings of this gorgeous pottery? She also has classes available, so if you’d like to find out more, just click on her website, Earthborn, for all the information. She offers group classes for several people at a time, so this would be the perfect thing to do with your church group or girlfriends. Go to Cahaba Clayworks for class info. Classes for 6 start as low as $35 per person for a 2 hour hands-on pottery throwing opportunity. It was a blast! We all had so much fun doing this. Thank you so much Tena and Nabeel, for letting us come in and play in the clay.
Tena tweets @EarthbornStudio, so you may want to follow her since she will be offering some monthly “limited edition” specials on pottery pieces for a thrifty price! We all love that.
I was not paid for this post, it is simply sharing my outing and the giveaway with all of you. I love pottery!
Today is my parents 59th wedding anniversary and I wanted to give them a shout-out! What a milestone that many of us will never achieve, I’m so proud of them.
What a fun thing to do. I’ve always wanted to do that! Love that orange plate for fall, and of course the blue/green one. Makes me want to look in a Willow House catalog to see what else she makes for them. I wish her studio was closer to me. Happy Anniversary to your parents! That’s a mighty long time! ;o)
I would love to give it a try. It looks like so much fun! I don’t own any pieces of hand thrown pottery and would sure love to have a beautiful piece.
I made ceramics years ago but never tried to make anything on the wheel, although I always wanted to try it. I am facinated by how different each piece looks when finished. Wish I could find a class in my area…now I am inspired to look for one.
I haven’t ever made any pottery but growing up in Mississippi I am a huge fan of McCarty pottery. It sounds like you had fun.
Outside of elementary school art class, I’ve never really done this but have always wanted to try. Would love to win this beautiful piece. Thanks!
I would like to start collecting pottery at some point. With a very active toddler in the house, this is not the best time for me! I have bought a few pieces for my brother, who brought pottery to my attention.
I love the simplicity of the green plate. I think it would be a great spot for often-worn jewelry kept near one’s bed.
Happy anniversary to your parents! My parents will celebrated their 49th this summer, so I can imagine how happy you all are.
Congratulations to your parents on their 59th wedding anniversary! That is quite the HUGE accomplishment.
The last time I made any pottery was in grade school arts & crafts class…a LONG time ago! I remember it being a lot of fun. I do love the originality of each handmade piece.
I have never made any pottery, but would love to try one day. (I love crafts of all kinds) Would love to win that beautiful bowl/plate. I do not own any orginal pottery that I can think of.
Those pieces are gorgeous! I have never done pottery, would love to some day! 🙂
I haven’t made any pottery since I was a little girl, but I do love the pieces I have acquired over the years. My husband and I have a set of dinner plates that were commissioned by his teaching colleagues as a wedding gift to us. They are treasures…both the plates and the colleagues! We have also collected other pieces which are much used and loved! What a wonderful giveaway! Happy Anniversary to your sweet parents!
I loved having lunch with you when you were in town for the pottery class and here you are in action making your masterpieces. I have never made pottery but you made it look fun! My sister-in-law has given me some beautiful pieces that I love. This would be fun to do with a group.
As an art major I made pottery in college, thrown and handbuilt. I love it! Actually, I cut some classes to get some more time on the wheel. We had kick wheels–no electricity, just our feet turning the wheel on the bottom. I taught a ceramic class when I taught high school art. I had two kilns that were fired every day. First thing in the morning I would open the doors for cooling and then unload around 3rd period. By 5th period it was loaded up again. The students made some wonderful pottery and scupture.
I’ve never made any pottery pieces, but I love to watch the process and see the finished item. Have you ever heard of Peter’s Pottery in Mississippi? He makes some beautiful pieces. Happy Anniversary to your parents!
I’ve never taken a pottery class but many years ago I took a ceramics class. My daughter had a pottery class in college and loved it. I am still displaying a vase she made all those years ago, it’s one of my favorite things.
I actually hosted a “pottery class” – wedding shower for my daughter several years ago…. the bride to be and her bridesmaids all made dinner plates and gave them to the bride!! Each one had a special little message on the plate !! They are beautiful!! So much fun as well!!!!! Terri
Done some ceramics but never pottery. I too love the look and shapes.
I enjoyed making pottery in grade school. Unfortunately I have not made any since then. However, back then I had the same problem, mine was always wobbly. I blamed it on my small hands :).
I’ve never tried pottery but would love to! Beautiful pieces…. hope yours look great once glazed. If not, your mama will love them… 🙂
You did a wonderful job. It looks great.
I have never made a pottery piece. Long time ago I painted pottery pieces already made. You did very well.
Happy Anniversary to your lovely parents.