Are you sure it's a bobbin and not a spool? **ducks and runs**



Looking forward to seeing the new example pictified

This is my ceramic frog on a pot that I made for one of my bird baths


Now of course you're thinkin HOW did dahlianut make ceramics without breakage and explosions or a big fire in the kiln Well I discovered that there are BRILLIANT ceramic artists who will help. These ladies had a fabby idea of opening a store with unpainted ceramic pieces. You go to their store and you pick out a piece and then the fun begins. You pick out the paint for the colours you want to put on your piece and you paint, paint, paint. I chose a piece with only 2 colours cuz you need to put 3 or 4 coats of paint on it and I thought there would be less chance that I would make a boo boo if there was only 2 colours. They have little fans set up so your piece dries quite quickly between coats. For the frog I chose a paint that has little grits it in that make that warty/marbly look when fired. At the end I decided that the frog should have black eyes and you can see there is a little twinkle in one eye which just happened (oops). When you are finished they do the kiln part ( ) and TA DA! you have a luvly piece which is exactly right for that certain spot.

Now you're thinkin but I don't live near a big town/city with ladies who have a store where you can do that. BUT I bet there is a guild or group of artists in your state and there might be one near you who you could make arrangements with. TRY it, it's way too much fun! For my next project I'm going to make a platter and design my own pattern with lots of different colours. They will have lots of fabby advice for sure as these ladies make the most beautious platters.

O I almost forgot to say that you don't have to do this in the store. You can take it home to paint, paint, paint and then take it back to be fired. I'm going to do that with my platter

Now you're thinkin that this whole thing must be expensive. My frog on a pot cost me $21. I'm pretty sure they make the pieces from molds but I didn't ask. It could be expensive though when you see their original pieces but I'm determined to make my own, twinkles and all.

Adorable!

Another pic of him cuz I'm smitten

He's beautiful, Dahlia. I love him!!

Thanks everso fiwit and Shar Methinks the possibilities are endless as long as someone else does the kiln part for me

Dahlia, that is so precious. We used to have a shop like that about 10 miles from my house. My sister and I would meet there and have the most fun. The process was exactly as you posted. Anyway, the lady got pretty old and she doesn't do it anymore, but I sure do miss it. I'm so glad you are enjoying yourself.

Dahilia is smitten by her froggie, well I am too. He is adorable! Years ago my sister made her own pots and fired them in her kiln. I have a few and they mean so much to me. She was NOT artistically challenged by any means.. I'm the only one in the family who IS artisically challenged, even trying the BB thingie.

Cute froggie! We have lots of those stores around Phoenix. My fav is As You Wish. Much fun to go there!

Your frog is just adorable! We used to have places around that did not, but they've slowly disappeared. My Mom used to go there a lot and still has most of the wonderful pieces she made. We do have a place not too far from here that makes cement lawn ornaments and bird baths and stuff with molds. We've gone there a few times and got stuff and painted it.

Boopaints said:Cute froggie!

I never knew about these places - what fun! I checked and there's a place in Charlottesville I'll have to check out the next time I'm over that way!

There's one near me called You Do The Dishes. I'll have to check it out.

The more I look at your froggie, the more I want one of my own. I can totally understand you being smitten -- my only question is, if we kiss him, will he turn into a handsome prince with a strong back and a deep love of gardening/yard work?

Don't count on the prince, just enjoy your frog as it is. I love the eyes on the frog. actually I love frogs and toads...

that there are places to do your own ceramics all about

I love your frog too! I used to go to ceramics with my Mom when I was a kid... same kind of place, pick your project, paint, paint, paint, then they fired it for you and viola! I loved doing that with my Mom. Must remind her when I go visit next month!

I remember that the paint was a totally different color when you painted it on the unfired piece. It was so awesome when it was fired, because it came out so beautiful.

I've painted a lot of memory dishes.

Glazes for ceramics are actually silica, same substance as glass, and are mixed with minerals (oxides) to create the colors. So when it's painted on and fired at high temps, the silica melts like glass would and forms a permanent layer of 'glass' over the ceramic piece.

But glazes start as a powder with a liquid mixed in so it adheres to the clay. That's why the color is very pale, then when melted the silica fuses with itself and the oxides and forms the bright or dark colors.

It gets confusing when you look at a pale sort of peachy unfired glaze only to have it turn into a gorgeous red once it's fired.