My New Shoes!

Here is a couple of pics of my new runners! Solomons! I love them-so comfy-but I bought these pretty much on cute value.

For some reason, I seem to attach songs to my work.  Do any of you know and like the song:New Shoes by Paolo Nutini?  Well, It just makes me happy! and it really fits my mood when I wear my new shoes!  

And then…..da da da da…I looked at the soles of these beautiful new shoes!

These are the greatest clay stamps I have seen for quite some time!
These are the greatest clay stamps I have seen for quite some time!

At NCECA there were many booths selling all sorts of texturing devices!

DSCF3218
Metal tools!
DSCF3201
Wooden Tools!
DSCF3155
More Wooden Tools!
DSCF3141
Rubber rollers and individual rubber stamps
DSCF3140
Rubber Mats!

 So when I saw the rubber soles on these shoes, my heart leapt!  I had a billion new stamps for texturing  slabs AND a new pair of shoes!

I really NEEDED to put this new “tool” to use, so I decided to make a big platter for the upcoming wood fire at Murwillumbah Potters’ Group in May.

Step 1.  Roll out a big slab on my slab roller.  Place the rolled slab onto the floor on the canvas mat.

First step was to roll out a slab of clay.
First step was to roll out a slab of clay.

Step 2.  Spray the bottom of the shoe with WD40 so the clay won’t stick to the shoe sole.

IMG_3881

Step 3.  Lightly step on the slab, using the toe, heal and edges to fully texturize the slab of clay.

IMG_3880

Step 4.  Spray the intended slump/hump hold with WD40.

IMG_3892

Step 5.  Carefully place the slab of clay into the mold.  Use a tennis ball to push the clay into the edges and bottom, being careful not to distort or erase the texturing.

IMG_3890

Step 6.  You can support the overhanging edges of clay with door stoppers or draft stoppers (got mine at Bunnings-they work great for all sorts of clay supporting issues!).

IMG_3887

TA DA!

Oh, and don’t forget to check out your old runners!  They probably have cool stamps on their soles too!

IMG_3875

Be sure to check out Mud Colony posts this week!  Heard some good stuff is coming up!

And…tadadada!!!! Here is the final result of that platter from the woodfiring at Murwillumbah Potters’ Group in Fernvale!

Woodfired Platter
Woodfired Platter