Pottery Cafe

Relax, unwind, squish some clay, make something cool

3-6pm, Tuesday 11 November, Economic History Common Room and Small Meeting room

We invite you to put your down your books, close your screens, and get creative for an hour or two at our Pottery Café, from 3-6 pm on Tuesday 11 November in the Economic History Common Room and Small Meeting room.

You can drop in between your classes and lectures and make a great project in just one hour, or you can stay as long as the cafe is open.

No previous experience or skills are required. We will provide all the materials, tools and instructions for making a range of projects, from plant holders to mirror and picture frames, wall hangings, decorative pins and badges, jewellery, bowls, jugs, trinket dishes, and more.

As air-drying clay takes a while to dry, you can leave your object with us for a few days and collect it later, and take paints and varnish home to finish your piece.

There will also be a limited number of ready-made items ready to decorate with paints.

From the café you can help yourself to free hot and cold drinks and snacks, so you can sit down and take a moment to decide what you are going to make while sipping hot chocolate or tea.

If you have any queries about this event, ask Helena

Air-drying clays (ADC) are a mix of clay and other materials which form a malleable paste which dries hard without the need to be fired in a kiln. We will be using DAS air-drying clay, which is good for fine, detailed work as well as bigger projects. Unlike some ADCs it can be sanded smooth once it's completely dry. If you do this, use a mask and do this outdoors, as it creates a fine dust which is easily inhaled.

ADC requires thorough kneading before use, as the particles and water separate in its packaging. Kneading for at least five minutes is essential to improve the structure of the clay before use, otherwise it's horrible to use. But kneading is part of the fun, and a great stress reliever.

Protecting your skin

ADCs are advertised as non-toxic, but they are sticky and coat your hands with clay as you work it, and will dry out skin with prolonged contact. If your skin is easily irritated or broken we recommend you wear non-allergenic gloves.

We also recommend you apply moisturiser or barrier cream before you start using the clay. This gives your skin a protective layer, and makes it easier to clean your hands thoroughly afterwards. We'll have scrubbing brushes and cleanser on hand for clean up.

You can make jewellery from ADC but I personally would not recommend making something that will make direct contact with skin. The paint and sealant on the object will act as an irritatant. Anything you pin onto clothing or wear over clothing should be fine. I've also seen ADC earring ideas, but bear my warning in mind.

Air dry clay is not safe for food or liquids

ADC projects are absolutely not suitable for contact with food, hot liquids, so don't make a cup thinking you can use it for hot tea. Do not, do not, do not use an air-dried clay object for serving, consuming or storing food or drink.

Also, however well you seal an ADC object with varnish, you cannot guarantee they will be completely waterproof.If your object gets dirty once finished, clean it carefully with a barely damp soft cloth - do not put it in a dishwasher or try to clean it as you would a ceramic object that has been glased and fired in a kiln. For the same reason, bud-vases etc are not suitable for fresh cut flowers, only dried. If you make a plant holder you can get around this by lining with plastic such as the cut off bottom of a plastic bottle or cut up plastic bag, but you will still need to be very careful when watering.

Drying and finishing

Depending on the project, ADC can take up to 1 week to dry thoroughly - more if it's cold and humid or if the object is more than 5mm thick in places. Only paint and varnish your object when it's completely dry.

Pick your project carefully

A lot of projects you will see require some kind of internal support or mould, which we won't be able to provide. Some projects take days to make rather than hours. Therefore if you are searching the internet for inspiration, choose your final project with this in mind.

Inspiration - what can you make?

There is so much inspiration available that it can be difficult to choose what to make. To help you decide we'll have some ideas with how-to-make instructions at the cafe, which you can look through before getting started.

In the meantime, here are a few ideas to get you inspiration flowing.

Pinch pots - a versatile classic

One of the simplest things and most satisfying things you can make is a pinch pot - take a lump of clay and work it into a pot shape with your hands. Congratulations, you now have a little plant holder or pot for all the doodads that clutter up your desk. You can decorate it by adding textures, handles, additional cut-out shapes, and go to town when it comes to painting.

Left: thinkmakeshareblog.com
Right: First Palette

Wall hangings and hanging mirrors

Hanging wall ornaments are very simple to make and can really brighten up a room. We will be providing small circular mirrors (7cm diameter) so you can create a base to your own design from rolled out clay. Just stick the mirror on when it's dry and decorated. These would make great gifts.

Left: fallfordiy.com
Middle: craftsbyamanda.com
Right: karamadeline.com

Badges and pins

DAS is great for making badges and pins and we'll provide the necessary pin so you can wear the finished object with pride. As they use very little clay you can make a bunch and give them as gifts.

Source: @pepe.espinoza (Instagram)

Stamped dishes and trinket trays

Roll out your clay and add textures, cut out motifs or designs, and drop it into a plate lined with clingfilm. When the dish is dry decorate it with paint, crayons or pens before sealing with varnish.

Source: gathering beauty blog

Small pot with a lid

These are simple to make once you know how. We'll provide instructions and ideas for decorating.

Source: Rocking Red Bird (Youtube)

Your own creations

You want to make a mini-sculpture with eyes that follow you around the room? Be our guest.

Source: @poorvaroid (Instagram)

More inspiration

Youtube videos, Pinterest, TikTok and Instagram have lots of inspiration for air-drying clay projects if you do a simple search. Just check that you can make the object you want in an hour or so, and that it doesn't need a mould or support (unless you want to bring this in yourself).

Pottery Cafe

Relax, unwind, squish some clay, make something cool

Air-dry clay - please read these safety tips and do's and don'ts