What a fun adventure the last six weeks have been. What started as a simple crafting activity for my husband and I to do for our anniversary has turned into a fun side gig and newly launched Esty store. We are on a first name basis at the local ceramics store, Bit & Pieces Ceramics, and my husband has been such a trooper and side-kick helping build photo booths, researching best shipping/packaging tips, and of course – helping make more yarn bowls!
With COVID-19 putting the kibosh on Thanksgiving travel plans, my husband I stayed in the Valley for the first time ever. Typically, we go up North to visit my family, but this year it was just the two of us. We decided to make the most of it and signed up for a special class taught by Wendy at Bits & Pieces Ceramics – learning how to make Horse-Hair and Saggar ceramics!
Saggar
This is a fun technique that uses a chemical compound as a base, wire wrap, a layer of food items (food paste, egg shells, etc), then a foil wrap to contain all the items as they burn in the propane kiln. I don’t quite understand all the magic of it, but this article goes into a bit more detail: Aluminum Foil Saggars: An Easy Alternative to Traditional Clay Saggars
When we first walked into Bits & Pieces, I was surprised to see the chemical compound was a bright yellow. Hmm…I think I’ll make a glazed yellow piece next š …
Wendy, the instructor, explained how to layer each item and then we got to get our hands dirty. My husband and I each decorated two yarn pots. One with a lighter food paste and one with a darker one.
Next, it was out to the propane kiln. The smell, at first, was wonderful. Mmm…hazelnut and chocolate…Once it got to the chemical part, not so much. Wendy explained that once the foil was burnt off they were done. As we waited for these pieces, we went back inside to do the horse hair class.
Horse Hair
This technique is so awesome because you can never replicate the same piece twice. Once they take the piece out of the electric kiln, you only have about 40 working seconds before it is too cool for the hair to burn. Talk about pressure! The hair “dances” around the piece as it burns. You can also use feathers and different thicknesses of hair. I tried wool once just for fun, it had a very soft-lofty type line.
Alright, time to go — We “pre-loaded” our hair strands on the shelf next to the kiln and waited for the piece to be pulled out of the kiln.
Oh-my, what fun! We got to get our hands dirty (I kept my outfit clean thanks to my sewn apron) and while waiting for the saggar pieces to fire in the kiln and the horse hair finish to dry, we enjoyed lunch – turkey soup made from leftovers!
Bits & Pieces Ceramics does horse hair every Wednesday afternoon so it’s easy to get on their roster to try it yourself. It’s funny because when the regulars walk in and smell burnt hair they immediately mention, “Oh, you are doing horse hair today?” Yes, yes we are.
Next, we cleaned up both the pieces and sprayed them with a clear finish. The saggar ones all have their own “birthmarks” where the piece had extra debris that burned off. Sooo pretty!
Once home, it was time to photograph these new beauties so I can share them with you! My husband helped me set up the shed so I could keep them all out there and not have to keep moving them out of my “home-office” during client calls.
They are now posted on my Etsy store if you want to own your own. Bits & Pieces Ceramics is located in Mesa, Arizona and they offer classes each weekend. I encourage you to check them out!
Happy Crafting!
~Kori
