{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.
I have a passion for pottery and own many pieces of handmade pottery. I have made a couple of attempts to make my own, but it didn’t turn out so well. You are correct, Rhoda…it is not easy! I would love to add that display plate to my collections!
You really captured my heart with this most as I’m a potter! You should continue with this…it only gets better. I have lot of hand-thrown and hand-built pottery, both my own, but also that of friends and other potters whose work I admire.
While I collect “vintage” pottery, ther’s really no substitute for the human touch. The work coming from this Pottery looks very high quality so I’ll have to check out their site. CTD
That class really looks like fun. I have never taken a class but at one time did own a few small pieces of pottery and loved them. I had to get rid of them when I moved.
Ok, now I am going to have to call you Demi. 🙂 My one and only pottery experience was not so great because its when I realized I could not stand the feel on my hands. Who knew. But I created this lopsided “bowl” and had it for years until it blessedly got lost in some of the moves. haha
I do have a few original pottery pieces. They are about 20+ years old made by my now 28yr old son in 1st grade. My fave pieces. 🙂
xxoo
I love pottery and my husband had made his own pottery wheel and started making bowls, bowls, bowls…. I also have some very special pottery that my son made in high school, some plates and yes, a few bowls…you can never have too many bowls!!
I love pottery! Have never made my own by would love to sometime. (I guess I did way back in elementary school in the ’60s.)
Those pieces are gorgeous!
I have never partowicipated in a pottery class but it looks fun….I am however taking a woodworking class this month,,,can’t wait…Peace
What a coincidence that you posted this today! I was just at the South Carolina Artisans Center in Walterboro, SC, just yesterday, and they have lots of hand made pottery! In fact, I’m drinking from the coffee cup I bought there yesterday. I have several bowls I’ve purchased all over the country, but I tend to collect coffee cups because they are inexpensive and I love to drink from them. I would love to try to make some, but I think I would just embarrass myself! Thanks for the interesting and beautiful post!
I have a tea light holder that was made by a friend about 20 years ago. Would love to have a piece from this place!
I have never made pottery although have always loved handcrafted items. They are unique and special with so much more love behind them. As a Willow House Director I now own fabulous Tena Payne pottery and couldn’t be more thrilled to have it and share it with my customers. Thanks so much for sharing your love of pottery and a fabulous artist and giving Willow House a shout out.
Happy 59th Anniversary to your parents! A true accomplishment and blessing indeed.
I haven’t “played” with clay and a potter’s wheel, but
I sure would love too. Thanks for a great give away.
Never have I made an attempt to create a turned piece of pottery! But the collected pieces I have from most of the 8 places we have moved to in our married life (ie. Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Miami, South Carolina, Kentucky, North Carolina, Missouri), are my treasures! The different potter’s colors are what draws me in! The square plate that you have shown in this blog, is my favorite color…Green! Thanks for offering your readers the chance to get this beauty!
How much fun! I love pottery and I have always wanted to take a pottery class! I haven’t found a place in my area that holds classes, but I am still searching!
I have only made free form, never with a wheel. It was fun!
Never tried to make my own but I have been a “collector” for years through the craft fairs.
Since moving to North Carolina, I have acquired some beautiful pottery from local artisans…I am in awe of these talented potters…Now, when I have the opportunity, I try to pick up a piece of pottery when vacationing as a momento of our trip…recently picked up a few pieces in Ouray, Colorado…Thanks for the opportunity to win the beautiful piece of pottery…So glad you had such great times making your very own pottery and enjoying this experience with fellow bloggers!
I love Pottery and own Roseville, Hull, Mccoy and some unmarked. I always seek it out at local farmer’s markets and festivals in Louisiana. I like to support the local artist. There are a couple that make beautiful pottery in gorgeous colors and I own several pieces.
I have never taken a class but would love to.
I have an uncle that used to be a potter. Loved going to his house when I was little and playing with the clay. It is a blast!
Happy 59th Anniversary to your parents! What an accomplishment to be married so long. You are so lucky to have them still with you and they are amazing in how they have helped with your house. They are a blessing to you I’m sure.
Hi, I am a new reader of your blog. It’s great! I took a pottery class in high school. Boy was that a long time ago. But I still have a piece that I made. It’s on my desk and I use it to hold my pens and pencils. My parents still have a few pieces as well. Working on the wheel was almost therapeutic.