Wacky Clay Wine Stopper

Materials:

low fire, non-grog (sand)
white ceramic clay cone 04-06 (approximately 1/2 pound per stopper)
clay cutting wire
20-gauge high temp wire
various colored glass seed beads (sizes 6, 8, 11 - no smaller than 11)
variety of larger beads
wire cutters
flat nose pliers (jewelry making size, not your dad’s tool box size)
sharp needle tool or toothpick or bamboo skewer
small acrylic bristle paintbrush
round rubber tip tool
small round sponge
2, 16-ounce sour cream containers (one for water and one for slip)
1" diameter circle cookie cut out
kitchen scale
rolling pin
old pillowcase
various colored under glazes
dimensional under glaze
clear glaze
sable paintbrushes (#1 liner and #8 round)
cleaning file
slab roller
kiln
kitchen scale
masking tape

1. Cut off about 1-1/2 pounds of white, non-grog clay, cone 04 to 06, using a clay cutting wire.

2. Roll out the clay using a slab roller (or a kitchen rolling pin) on a flat surface with an old pillowcase as the base. The pillowcase allows you to lift the clay easily from the surface. Roll the slab approximately 1/4 inch thick.

3. Cut a small base piece using a 1-inch diameter cookie cutter.

5. Attach all the pieces together with clay slip: Slip is made up of clay mixed with a little water to create a paste the consistency of creamy frosting.

• Use a needle tool, toothpick or bamboo skewer and slip to attach all the pieces together.

6. Weigh each head on a kitchen scale to ensure continuity in size. Use four ounces of clay for each head. Base, eyes and nose not included.

7. Squish the clay for the head in your hand so it’s somewhat organic in shape and has a stone-age structure.

8. Create a smile or lips either by pressing your thumb into the clay to form a mouth or shape lips from two small pieces of clay that are simply pinched between your fingers and then placed on top of one another.

10. Score the side of each piece that touches another where they’re joined. Score crisscross lines in the clay on both pieces at the joint with a needle tool. Flatten the base of the head slightly to sit on top of the base piece.