During my first pottery lesson on the wheel, I was told it takes 12 years to become a good potter. Anxious to make potter while honing my wheel-turning skills I hand-built pottery.

One project I made was spoon rests shaped like maple leaves.

I rolled out a slab of clay and then rolled maple leaves onto the clay making sure the veins pressed into the clay.   I cut the clay around the leaf and then rolled the edges up.  I glazed them in an assortment of colors.  

Now I have been making pottery long enough that I can turn whatever I want on the wheel.

 I have noticed cute little spoon rests that other potters have made. I decided to expand my spoon rest designs and make my twist on these spoon rests.

I sat down at my wheel and turned several small plates about three inches wide with a half-inch rim. With my damp finger, I worked one edge of the rim down flat for the handle of a spoon to rest in.

When they were leather-hard, firm enough to handle, I pressed a carved mushroom stamp into the centre. I set them on my drying shelf until they were bone dry, then bisque-fired them in my kiln.

I painted 3 coats of red under-glaze paint on the mushroom cap and two coats of brown on the stem.  With a damp sponge, I wiped the paint off, which left the paint in the stamped outline of the mushroom.  I used a Magic Eraser to clean off the final smudges of paint.

I dipped them in clear glaze and fired them again in my kiln. They will make a cure addition to any kitchen with or without a mushroom theme.

They are for sale on Etsy and my website here.  Click on the orange Etsy button of the blue The Butler’s Pottery bottom, below.

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My pottery journey, my passion, didn’t start until my 40’s. Creating pottery is my happy place, especially decorating, vases, cups, bowls, trays, and creating sculptures. The more I create, the more my imagination is spurred on. I will be sharing how I make pottery here.