Easter!

Growing up we always made an Easter tree, Mum would take us for a walk and we'd find a spidery branch to drag home and paint or decorate, then she'd stand it in a large vase and we would decorate it with ribbons, bows, eggs, anything really. 

It's things like that from childhood you end up remembering so now I'm a mother I've started to do it with my girls, plus it's an excuse to make ceramic eggs!!

This is the start of this years, here is some of the eggs I made and this is before the kids have had a go at it. We found a large brach and sprayed it with some left over gold paint, when we tried to stand it my vase it kept toppling to one side so I decided to break it down into a few shorted branches. 

All finished! It's a little busier than I would have made it, but the kids are thrilled and it does bring some much needed spring cheer to our living room. 

Now the sales bit....

I have added some eggs to my easy shop, Cariad Clay just in case you want to make your own Easter tree...

Our Easter Tree

When I was little we used to have an Easter tree, Mum would take us for a walk in the woods and we'd get some thin tree branches which she would put in a vase and hang little things off, it was lovely and always looked so pretty :)

This year I decided I'd do the same with my girls :)

So here is ours 

I thought we'd start small :)

we had a lovely craft day and made the little ceramic hanging eggs :)

I rolled out the clay and let the kids loose with the stamps :)
they loved it! and then we used our little egg cutter to cut them out

I should have got more organised and made some for my shop :( 

definitely next year!

I also found some pretty little decorations from etsy 

These sweet little flowers were crocheted by the talented Twinkknits 

These cute little paper birds are all the way from America from Up the attic stairs

The children are thrilled with the tree

I've told them the Easter Bunny will be really happy with it and leave them special eggs :)

Next year we'll go a bit bigger :)

But maybe not this big :)

This beautiful tree is from Germany where the tradition originated, find out more about this tree and the tradition in this lovely blog

Pottery! My process :)

Lots of people ask me how I make my magnets, buttons or hearts so I thought i'd take some pictures & write up the process, this is how i make a magnet :) it is the same for a button, i just add holes

First I roll out the clay

I use a place mat either side to make sure the clay is the same width 

Then I choose a stamp to use, these amazing stamps and lots of my others :) are from skull and crossbuns

After pressing in the stamp, I use a cutter to cut out the magnet 

They are then left overnight to dry out

When dry, they are cleaned up with a damp sponge to make all the edges smooth 

Then they are added to the kiln, This is done carefully as they are very brittle, I normally break one or a few :(

This is the first shelf

And the 2nd :)

They are then fired up to 1060°C, A very slow temperature rise is critical. 

During the beginning of the bisque firing, the last of the atmospheric water is driven out of the clay. 

If heated too quickly, the water will turn into steam while inside the clay body, causing the clay to burst. 

Once the kiln reaches this temperature it switches off and begins to cool, The cooling is also slow to avoid the pots breaking due to stress from the temperature changes. 

the whole process takes about 12 hours, so I usually do it overnight :)

when a piece has had it's first firing it is called bisque ware

Three bisque ware cupcake magnets ready for some glaze :)

The glaze is painted on

then it is wiped off using a damp sponge, this leaves the glaze just in the stamped indent 

Three glazed magnets, the glazes looks really pale but will get brighter when fired :)

The magnets need to be clear glazed, this gives them their shiny finish and will protect them

Three clear glazed magnets, it's kind of like dipping a sausage in batter :) the glaze dries to a power like coating

They then go back in the kiln for another 12hour firing this time to a temperature of 1015°C

glazed ware is not allowed to touch during this firing as the glazes melt they and will stick together so it's a fine balancing act to pack the kiln :)

In the morning opening the kiln is always a surprise as you never really know how things will turn out :)

Here are three finished magnets :)

you can find them and others in my shop Cariad Clay :)

well I hope I've not bored you too much :) x

Buttons Buttons Buttons

I love Buttons :)

I have a huge tin and I hoard them in it :)

So it was inevitable that I made Ceramic Buttons!

And here they are

These were my first ever buttons and I loved them :)
but they were an absolute pig to make :(

So I decided to go bigger :)

So my Big Statement Buttons were born!
and if I do say so myself they are so pretty :)

I have sold some in My shop and they have gone to new homes maybe to be hoarded by someone else :)

But some have already been Re-born on Etsy

This Beautiful Shawl was made by the very talented Margaret over at MolliMade

Three Buttons have been turned into Striking chunky necklaces by the talented KariOriginal

I love them all and am really tempted to buy one back :)

This bright and summery Bag was made by Joy at Perfect Little Purses