Yesterday at the end of summer camp, a couple of the kids finished early… and asked if they could make some stamps like the ones I made that I let them borrow. Of course I said YES!!!

Little tiny pots need little tiny stamps, right???
I mean, just because they’re smaller doesn’t mean they should go unadorned!!!

That would just be wrong…

In one of my classes, a student asked if they could borrow my stamps… and I said “no”… but I’ll show you how to make some of your own! I happened to have some of my MKM Pottery Tools with me in class, so we rolled some slabs, textured them with the handrollers… and then cut out sections of the pattern. We attached little nugget handles on the back, and then bisque-fired them. They now work as stamps… and they all had a great time in class “making their own stamps!!!

After playing with my handmade stamps in our SURFACE DECORATION class, we worked together to make some new stamps my students can call their own! And then we’ll see what kind of beauties they can create using their own stamps! Can’t wait to see ’em…

After my stamping class demo, I encouraged my students to use some of my handmade stamps on their own pieces. I suggested they start by”testing” the stamps on a small slab, and then move onto their own bowls, plates & vases. They seemed to have so much fun playing with my stamps… and they made some really cool patterns on their pottery!

Still working in the studio… and I’ve moved on to stamping some serving bowls. Just have to pick the stamps I want to use… and then start pressing them into the “softer-than-leatherhard” clay one by one… by one… by one…

Same clay, same day, much like many other days…
doing a bit of decorative stamping with my handmade clay stamps!

And there it is… after “just a few” stampings! I’m always enamored by how the repetition of just one handmade stamp can transform a smooth platter into a crazy cool textured pattern. Each stamped pressed in one by one… by one… by one…

Here we go… the first stamp is always the toughest. Once you press that first one in, you’ve kinda committed to doing it all. And it’s difficult to stamp with my fingers crossed! HA!!!

Another night in the studio… tackling a class demo platter. Sure, I could leave it smooth & plain, but what fun is that? So instead… time to pick “the right” stamp!!!