Rustic Soap Dispenser

Step 1

Steps:

1. Center 2-1/2 lbs. of clay on the potter's wheel and open the clay all the way to the bat resulting in a 7-inch hollow cylinder. Let it dry to a light leather hard stage. Remove the cylinder using a cutting wire.

Step 2

2. Threaded neck: Press a piece of clay into a threaded neck plaster mold. Hollow the center out with a clay extruder and let it stand to leather hard stage.

Step 3

3. Soap dispenser top and bottom: Roll out a slab of 1/8-inch thick clay. Place the 3-1/2-inch square template on top of the slab. Cut around the template using a needle tool. Cut a second square of clay.

Step 4

4. Place one square on top of the domed bowl to dry to a leather hard stage. Dry the second square flat to a leather hard stage.

Step 5

5. Square the sides of the cylinder using your fingers — pinch each side into a rectangular tube.

Step 6

6. Extrude four 1/2-inch coils for the feet. Roll the coils over the textured surface.

Step 7

7. Unscrew the clay screw neck from the plaster mold. Attach it to the square slab on top of the domed bowl with slip and by scoring. Cut out the center through the round threads and smooth is out with your finger.

Step 8

8. Slip and score the top and bottom of the rectangular cylinder form — the body of the soap dispenser. Repeat for both square slabs to attach them together. Smooth any rough joints with a paintbrush.

Step 9

9. Attach the feet to the base at the corners.

Step 10

10. Roll out a small, thin, rectangular slab for the soap label. Gently tear off the edges to give a torn look and press the "soap" stamped letters into the clay. Slip and score the label to the front of the soap dispenser.

Step 11

11. Using the end of the paintbrush handle, indent the four corners of the soap label. With the black/dark brown clay, roll out four tiny round balls. Wet each ball before placing into each indentation. Flatten each slightly before pressing the tip of the screwdriver into it.

Steps 12-15

12. Dry the soap dispenser to a bone-dry stage and bisque fire.

13. Brush wax resist over the feet, soap label and threads. Dip into the cola green glaze.

14. Fire the rustic soap dispenser in the kiln. Cool and remove from the kiln.

15. Insert the soap pump into the threaded opening. Fill the rustic soap dispenser with liquid soap.

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