Seamstress Teapot

Project by Laura Peery from Chevy Chase, Md.

While Laura loves working with clay, she has a lifelong fascination with dressmaking and fabrics. When she works with her clay, she treats it just like fabric, cutting it from patterns and adding seam lines to make it look like it is sewn together. Laura also has a love of teapots. She has collections everywhere throughout her home.

Materials:

porcelain clay
canvas, upholstery fabrics, lace
basic clay tools (knife, needle tool, sponge)
large and small rolling pins
sewing tracing wheel
underglazes
clear glaze for clay
mason stains
brushes, sponges, airbrush
polymer clay
silicone
epoxy glue
ceramic kiln
toaster oven
stamps
embellishments

Steps:

1. Roll out slabs of clay with slab roller. Press fabrics into clay to add texture. Add stitch marks with tracing wheel.

2. Cut out pieces and form into teapot. Insert bunches of tissue into pot to hold open.

3. Make teapot lid. Make button with special button stamp and embellishments.

4. Make ribbons. Make leaves with special leaf stamp. Make feet.

5. Allow all to dry.

6. Put pieces in kiln to bisque fire. Remove pieces from kiln.

7. Paint on stain colors, sponge off, and let dry.

8. Brush glaze on to pieces.

9. Airbrush the teapot with underglaze.

10. Fire in kiln.

11. Glue all pieces together; secure with masking tape (allow to dry 15 minutes).

12. Make polymer clay flowers and bake in toaster oven.

13. Glue flowers on to finished pot.

Web site: creativepartnersart.com/Peery/index.htm
E-mail: laurapeery@rcn.com