The first step in creating each piece is to find a photo for inspiration. I never aim to replicate the photo exactly; instead, I envision how the piece will be used and design it accordingly, tailored to my preferences or those of my client. For instance, after stumbling upon a yarn bowl on TikTok, I immediately thought of one of my classmates who enjoys crocheting.
In crafting this bowl, I sought to determine what would suit her best, leading to a collaborative effort where she provided various designs and ideas for me to work with. After gathering input, I carefully planned the construction of the bowl, focusing on cutting out the hole and creating the swirl.
Initially, I considered slab building the bowl, but experimentation revealed that I couldn’t roll the clay out sufficiently to achieve the desired size. Realizing this limitation, I opted to throw the bowl on the wheel instead.
Once I had shaped the bowl to my satisfaction on the wheel, I proceeded to cut out the hole and swirl using a needle tool. However, I overlooked the fact that the inside of the swirl would need support to maintain its shape. To address this, I inserted some craft foam into the swirl to provide stability while the clay dried.
Upon completing the bowl for my classmate, I took time to reflect on its strengths and areas for improvement. As a result, I plan to create another yarn bowl to refine my technique. Specifically, I aim to elongate the swirl and achieve a smoother exterior
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