How to Make a Pottery Ivy Leaf Spoon Rest

This design came from a pottery class I took at the local park when I was 7. It's been years, and I don't remember the instructor's name.

You'll need access to a pottery kiln. The easiest way to do this is take a class.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ivy Leaf
• clay
• rolling pin
• kiln
• glaze

1. Collect some ivy leaves. If you see other leaves with interesting shapes and veining, collect those too. There's no reason you have to stick to Ivy leaves.

2. Roll out the clay to form a slab as thick as you want your spoon rest. To do this use a rolling pin, and piece of cloth.

3. Press the back of the ivy leaf into the clay. It's best to use an older one that has large veins. You're trying to get a nice impression of the leaf for the design.

4. Cut around the leaf, leaving a 1/4 inch border. Remove the clay around the leaf.

5. Push up the edge of the clay slab to form a rim around the leaf. This will hold spills on the spoon rest.

6. Let the spoon rest dry.

7. Glaze it with a lead free glaze.

8. Fire it in a kiln.

Tips & Warnings

• You can turn this design into a soap dish by putting a foot on one end to make water drain off the slanted surface. The water can drain out the pointed end, or where the stem attaches.

[Gottaloveit]

on 3/20/2009 Love this pottery idea. Excellent. Thanks.