Today’s School Call started a bit… chaotic 😄✨Everyone jumped in at once, lots of energy, lots of voices, it took a moment to settle in. But then @Renée Glasgow did exactly what she promised: a live kiln opening 🔥 And honestly, it turned into something really special. She shared her pieces while we were watching, some of us glazing at the same time, talking about her results, asking questions, reacting in the moment… and that’s when it really clicked for me how powerful this format is 💡 It’s so different from something like a YouTube premiere. Here we could pause, ask questions, go off on little tangents, and Renée would just continue whenever we were ready for the next piece. Super relaxed. Super interactive. And just really inspiring 🙌 So I had an idea: What if we open this up for all of you? 💭 If anyone feels like doing a live kiln unload here on the platform, we can just set up a spontaneous call. No pressure, no big production. Even during the week, at random times. You could show your pieces live, talk about your glaze results, get feedback, or just share the moment 🎨 And it doesn’t have to be just one person, maybe two or three of you team up and present your work together. Or even show pieces you unloaded a few days ago and want to talk through. Not everyone has a YouTube channel, and this could be such a nice way to still share more than just photos, to really connect, exchange ideas, and experience those kiln reveal moments together 🤍 I personally love this idea. So if you’re interested, just message me and we’ll set something up 😊Spontaneous, easy, and all about sharing the process. Would love to see more of your work this way 🙌✨

They bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart. While I don’t do realistic art/sculpture, I saw something like these simplistic animals over a year ago and wanted to make myself a herd of elephants and finally gave it a go! I’ve always been fascinated by the elephant system of community which scientists say highlight: - A circle of protection around the community - Shared strength - Deep loyalty - Lifelong bonds As our potters community grows I see this happening all around the group… so, if you’re so inclined, please join the herd 😊

April is here (almost), and with it comes that little shift that gets us outside again, into the light, into the fresh air, and a bit closer to everything around us. Nature is waking up, and so is our creativity! 🌸✨ This month, we are taking our inspiration straight from nature. And yes, that includes pretty much everything you can think of. Flowers, plants, and organic shapes 🌼 Animals and all kinds of creatures 🐾 Landscapes, textures, and the little details you suddenly start noticing 🌊 Your task is to create something that reflects what you see or feel when you step outside. Or even what you think you see when you stare at a cloud for a little too long 👀 It can be anything you like. A sculpture. A functional piece. Something painted, carved, printed, or fully experimental. 🎨 There are no limits here, only your interpretation. 🌱 One important rule Your piece should be created in April. Not something you pull out of your shelf thinking, “well, this kind of fits.” Nice try! 😄 Just like spring creates something new, this is your moment to do the same. You can also challenge yourself a little. Try something you have not done before. Go for that idea that once felt a bit too tricky. See what happens if you just give it a go. And of course, you are very welcome to share your ideas, your process, your progress, or even those moments where things are not quite working yet. That is all part of it, and honestly where the good stuff happens. Let’s inspire each other, learn from each other, and maybe surprise ourselves along the way! 💛 By the end of the month, we will hopefully have a whole collection of pieces that show just how much creativity this season can spark. Now go out, look around, and then get your hands dirty! 🌿✨

I was gifted a Kintsugi kit at Christmas and I’m finally ready to give it a go. I’ve got three plates I’m considering using it on and would love any tips, hints, or things you wish you’d known before starting. If you’ve tried it before, I’d absolutely love to see photos of your pieces too 👀 In my last kiln opening, I had two plates crack quite badly—both broke in half. I’d love to keep them as glaze references, so I’m hoping to repair them so they’re complete and safe to handle rather than sharp. However there are also some additional cracks visible on the back, so I’m wondering… 👉 Do I leave those as they are? 👉 Or is it better to break the piece further so I can repair everything properly? I've seen recommendations to sand the joins significantly before starting the process- is this to make sure that there is sufficient room for the glue to 'fill' a crack? Ive got visions it wont all align up afterwards! LOL I also have a little trinket dish that Nat at MudMagic sent to me which broke in transit so want to try to repair - but I don't want to mess it up! I’d be really interested to hear how well these kits actually work in practice if anyone has used them before. It comes with a two part glue, and three metallic powders. Any advice, experience, or photos would be amazing 💛

So I did a bisque fire on my plaque for my sister and two things happened. It cracked through the middle and it also bent again. I did all the things suggested for the previous tile that warped. I used batts to flip it when I was rolling it out and drying it. I kept the weights on it and it was perfectly flat when it went in. Is there something I can add to prevent warping or strengthen the clay? This is the wild clay so I’m not sure if it is missing a key property to keep it flat. The crack is only on the front side - is there anything I can do to fix it?