By the end of last week’s SURFACE DECORATION class, each of my students had completed their sgraffito plates. They all did such an AMAZING job… these turned out GREAT!!! And everyone had so much fun… which is always my main goal!

This past week in my SURFACE DECORATION class, we had a great demo by “My Talented Friend” Kristen Holub… and then my students got to try out her techniques. Remember the plates with colored slip rims?… this is WHY I made them… for my students to have something to play with!!!

And they did an AMAZING job.
Everyone learned so much, practiced the technique & had so much fun.
Such a great night in class!

Kristen did a great demo. Plus, I brought down my collection of carving & sgraffito tools from DiamondCore Tools for my students to try out. Better tools make better pots!!!

Our second demo this week with my SURFACE DECORATION class, was done by “My Talented Friend” Kristen Holub of Kayho Ceramics. She did an AMAZING sgraffito-carving demo on one of my platters. Remember the one where I shaved-off the bad colored slip, and then added a new layer of ombre’ blended colored slip? Well here it is again!

Kristen started with my colored platter – but then turned it onto a work of art showing off her own carving style. Going step-by-step teaching my students how to go every step of the way. I brought down my collection of DiamondCore Tools for her to use… along with my students who eventually had their chance to play along. It was an amazing night… so much fun & such a great demo!!!

And we can’t forget how great the Decorating Disks are from MKM Pottery Tools for dividing your pots into perfectly spaced segments for “evenly spaced” carved designs!

Kristen started out as a metalsmith when we first become friends many years ago. Then she took time off to become a Mom, and is now embracing her creative side in CLAY!!! She started as pottery student of mine, but quickly developed her skills & her personal style. She has now branched off and has her own studio space & brand-identity online. Be sure to follow her on Instagram – @kayhoceramics.

My how I love having talented friends!!!

Just a little Saturday carving session. This green slip ombré bowl has been under wraps for awhile… finally found some time to finish it up. Carving a detailed pattern using my favorite P1 carving tool from DiamondCore Tools.

Just a little carving with my favorite tool from DiamondCore Tools! Another bowl from last week’s class demo… now carving patterns through ombré blended slips. More is more… right???

Another bowl in need of some more carving. I mean, there was a solid band of slip screamin’ out for a little sumthin’-sumthin’!!! So I did a bit more carving here too… after camp & before class tonight!

I couldn’t stop…
Becky Lloyd is like my “pottery kryptonite”!

I mean… look at the sgraffito detail on the crazy tiny pot!!! I just couldn’t resist!!! And that’s the last of my haul from the ST. CROIX VALLEY POTTERY TOUR. A wonderful weekend up north in Minnesota… and some amazing new pieces to add to my pottery collection!!!

Amazing craftsmanship!!! The smallest & most detailed sgraffito carvings I have ever seen! And another addition to my pottery collection… from sgraffito genius Becky Lloyd. White porcelain pottery covered with a black terra sigilatta… and then carved through to reveal some miniature masterpieces! Quite possibly my favorite “treasure” from the ST. CROIX VALLEY POTTERY TOUR.

Back to the ST. CROIX VALLEY POTTERY TOUR…
and some of the beautiful pots that came home with me!!!

Like this sgraffito cup by Matthew Metz. I especially love the addition of the textured walls under the slip color & under the sgraffito carving. And yes, this is black clay with a colored slip dip… and the carved through to reveal the black line illustrations! Just amazing as always… and another beauty to add to my Matt Metz collection!

So while I’m out of town… my SURFACE DECORATION class tonight is still going on! I secured them a great sub teacher with a great demo! And I might have done a little “pre-prep” work so they have pieces to work on tonight. Thank you Catherine Tweedie for covering my class… and for sharing all of you Water Etching secrets with them. I can’t wait to see their results when I get back!!!