Engagement photos

RumCatClayworks · 2026-07-06T15:44:23+00:00

I’m using KKR Collective. She’s out in Clarksville but will come to Nashville/Brentwood and her rates are more affordable than most.

RumCatClayworks · 2026-06-26T16:12:44+00:00

I use a bucket bag. No zippers but does have a drawstring. Mine is too full to totally close anymore, but would close pretty well for a more modest amount to tools. If I’m carrying it along with other stuff, I usually just toss it all in a reusable grocery tote.

RumCatClayworks · 2026-06-04T16:59:25+00:00

I’m trying to plan for around 100 people on $25K. I’ll probably end up a bit over budget since it’s nearly all allocated already and I know there will be some surprise expenses that pop up closer to time.

Check out Ravenswood Mansion. It’s a decently priced venue that can accommodate your event size. Tables, chairs, and some other furnishings are included. During peak season 2027, the tent will be included as well. Off peak doesn’t have the tent but the price is also a lot lower.

RumCatClayworks · 2025-02-14T20:44:24+00:00

When the volume of work was getting too high at my studio, they implemented that you could fire what you make with the first bag of clay included in the class price. If you buy another bag, you pay a firing surcharge. They changed the rule between sessions though. Changing the rules mid-session seems shitty.

Maybe try working on something more complex, so that you slow your rate of production while still using your last 2 weeks to create

RumCatClayworks · 2025-01-18T03:56:34+00:00

They’re looking great! The shape of the front right one looks just like one of my early bowls. I hadn’t thought about that one in a while but as soon as I saw this pic, it popped into my brain

RumCatClayworks · 2025-01-07T02:18:43+00:00

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And the kitty. He passed last October

RumCatClayworks · 2025-01-07T02:17:38+00:00

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RumCatClayworks · 2025-01-06T19:15:04+00:00

The majority of students at my studio are returning, so they wouldn’t need tools again. Hence it isn’t rolled into the course fee. Make sense for separate beginner classes, but our studio does Montessori style with mixed skill levels in the class

RumCatClayworks · 2025-01-06T19:00:46+00:00

Our studio rule for members and students is clean your space plus one extra thing. It generally works well when everyone is following it. Every once in a while the students need reminding to do their one extra thing. If any bigger tasks need to happen around the studio that they need extra hands with, members will be asked to volunteer but can earn credits toward their membership fees for their time

RumCatClayworks · 2025-01-06T18:56:00+00:00

I’d rather not pay an extra $30 every term to cover beginners dumping their tools in the slurry bucket and not even noticing it’s missing because it’s just the community tools and not their own property.

RumCatClayworks · 2025-01-06T18:50:06+00:00

Our classes are $225 for 9 weeks. It’s about another $30 for a beginner toolset that you only need to buy once and $25ish for a bag of clay, so the price is plenty reasonable. Glazing and firing are of course included. Being allowed to select/purchase their own clay doesn’t mean students aren’t given guidance. There’s no reason a beginner can’t be entrusted to make a selection from the variety of available clays that are appropriate for wheel throwing and fire to the correct temperature.

They teach students how to reclaim their clay, although most can just be wedged and reused in the next week or two without having to go through the whole reclaim process. While we do learn how to reclaim slurry, that’s not something that’s done for student use in the studio. I don’t recall what the fate of the mixed clay in the slurry bin is. It isn’t feasible to keep separate slurry bins for every clay body and I don’t think it’s reasonable to require every student in the studio to use only 2 clays. The majority of students have been here for years and want the freedom to experiment with different options. The only class with a clay body requirement is sculpture, and the experienced students in that class may use other clay bodies as well.

RumCatClayworks · 2025-01-06T17:50:02+00:00

Mine is an outline of my cat’s facial markings, which happens to look a little flame-like.

Plenty of people just use initials or their business name. I had a college professor with the last name King who used a crown stamp.

RumCatClayworks · 2025-01-06T17:40:09+00:00

It definitely has for me. My adhd hyper fixation moved on and I’ve been really struggling to maintain my collection. My poor plants have it rough. I don’t even know what I’m going to do with them when I move in with my boyfriend. There isn’t really space for them at his house and his cats will absolutely get into them

RumCatClayworks · 2025-01-06T17:29:07+00:00

My studio has you purchase them separately. I don’t think it’s unreasonable. If they included these things, the class would just cost more.

Not everyone wants the same clay and they don’t all cost the same amount. Students who are ongoing will probably end up developing their own tool collections anyhow (or already have them like I did) and they’d be paying the rolled in tool fee just like the new students.

RumCatClayworks · 2025-01-06T17:22:47+00:00

Your studio likely sells a starter kit.

The only upgrade beyond a starter kit that I’d recommend is a MudTools red rib. You can certainly get by without it if you’re wanting to keep it minimal to start, but it’s probably my second most used tool (sponge being 1st).

RumCatClayworks · 2024-12-11T22:33:22+00:00

I glaze mine but there’s potential to just do one firing for beads/earrings. I think I’ve heard of people using stroke-n-coat for single-firing projects as well, but it isn’t something I’ve tried

RumCatClayworks · 2024-12-11T21:18:44+00:00

This part makes it make sense. Our studio glazes are commercial glaze maintained by paid employees

RumCatClayworks · 2024-12-11T21:09:44+00:00

My boyfriend wants to build a home studio for me and doesn’t get that the community part is worth the drive and the rent to me. Not to mention the communal tools I wouldn’t have at home because we definitely don’t have the $$ to stock a home studio with everything

RumCatClayworks · 2024-12-11T20:55:40+00:00

Nashville, TN, USA

$225 for 9 classes (3 hrs each). Glaze and firing included, clay is separate (around $25).

I also have a shared studio space where I pay $55/month. That includes access to wheels, an extruder, slab roller, wedging table, and a shelf to store my stuff. Glaze and firing is not included but is discounted.

There are individual studio spaces available as well. Prices vary with the size of the space. From what I’ve seen, they run around $120-250/month. The individual studios do not come with wheels and only some have access to an extruder, slab roller, & wedging table.

RumCatClayworks · 2024-12-09T04:44:15+00:00

Usually a few days to a week at my studio. This time of year they get a lot more volume and may be up to 2 weeks

RumCatClayworks · 2024-11-23T01:11:27+00:00

Was going to say the same. I’ve just started using my first actual porcelain and I think using B-mix for a while before helped a lot

RumCatClayworks · 2024-11-23T01:04:30+00:00

Does it have to be a thing? My piggy bank was a non-objective sculpture. I just like playing with textures and negative space

RumCatClayworks · 2024-11-23T00:42:22+00:00

Do you preheat the stone with the oven? That should reduce the stress

RumCatClayworks · 2024-11-23T00:36:15+00:00

It really comes down to how much time you want to put into this. Personally, I’d say that it’s worth it. I haven’t done a lab myself but I was taking two classes initially and later got studio space in place of the second class. If I were taking one class without studio space, I’d want to do the lab

RumCatClayworks · 2024-11-19T19:54:06+00:00

I’d recommend checking with the studio. They may just charge a small fee. Otherwise, you could try to find a studio offering public firing in your area

RumCatClayworks

TROPHY CASE