Looking for an easy and functional clay project? Clay spoons are a great way of combining and practicing multiple skills. For this project it's helpful if you already know
how to make a pinch pot. Supplies:
-
ceramic clay make sure it is food safe if you're planning to use for food products
- cloth canvas (or a cut piece of denim) surface to work on
- small cup of water
- paper towel or sponge for smoothing
- sharp pencil or pin tool (optional)
1. Start out by rolling a small ball of clay. The larger the desired spoon, the more clay you'll need. This about the size of a blow-pop lollipop!
2. Gently squeeze and form the ball into a cylinder, similar to a tootsie-roll. Place your hand at a slight angle and apply even pressure, rolling out a coil. Keep one side of the coil larger, this will be the spoon head.
3. Use your fingers to gently smooth out any cracks that appear, adding a touch of water to hydrate the clay as needed.
4. Continue rolling out the coil until you reach the desired handle length. Avoid making the handle too thin. Smooth the handle tip with your finger or a sponge to make it durable for kitchen use.
5. Create the spoon head by applying firm pressure with your fingers or thumb and creating an indent in the ball end. Gently squeeze the walls of the spoon head as you rotate the spoon to get an even "bowl" shape.
6. You can make the spoon head deeper, flatter, circular, or oval-shaped. This will depend on what you plan on using your spoon for.
7. Once you've reached your desired spoon shape, smooth the spoon one final time. Use a pin tool or a sharp pencil to add a hole for hanging if desired.
8. Set aside and allow to dry until bone dry. Fire, then glaze with a food-safe glaze if you intend to use it in your kitchen.
Looking for video tutorials? Watch our entire Clay Time series
here.
Ready to try your hand at clay but want some gentle guidance?
Sign up for one of our in-person
workshops hosted at our storefront in Portland, Oregon. They're an easy and fun way to learn about clay and connect with your local community.
And remember, it's about the process, not the product!
