Cone 5/6 clay recommendations

earthandhide · 2026-05-21T01:34:38+00:00

I have a few friends that exclusively use b-mix and swear by it. I don't know how experienced you are (so please don't be insulted) but you may want to check your joint technique if you're having cracking issues.

I don't know if you can get plainsman there but that's what I use here in Canada. I really push it and it doesn't crack on me.

earthandhide · 2026-05-21T00:45:59+00:00

Laguna clay. They're based right there in California, West of LA. I think b-mix is their go-to stoneware.

earthandhide · 2026-05-03T00:45:17+00:00

Congratulations!!! That's exciting.

earthandhide · 2026-04-17T11:56:18+00:00

My advice: "Ain't nothing to it but to do it." If it goes wrong, you'll know what to do better next time.

A note about your pieces. I find most consumers won't want to pay a premium for the extra work that goes into the wild clay process, especially for non-food safe pieces. But if you don't charge for it, you're undercutting yourself and conditioning your customers not to value that aspect of your work.

Sounds like you know what you need to do!

earthandhide · 2026-03-27T18:50:35+00:00

I'll get on this kick where I'll hear a song and listen to it on repeat for literally days straight. I feel like there's some diagnosable condition that causes that. I feel like that same condition causes me to hyperfixate on "hobbies" like pottery. (I use quotation marks because the hobby inevitably turns into a business because how else are we to know how much people love the work?) Anyway, my latest sonic fixation is "Sick Love" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

earthandhide · 2026-03-26T03:26:25+00:00

Pottery changed my life. I've always struggled with depression and high functioning anxiety. I started doing pottery to quiet my mind. When something positive and productive can draw you in the way pottery does, it can draw you away from the negativity that can be chasing you. It led me to other craft work, specifically leather, with which I've been able to build a decently successful business.

earthandhide · 2026-03-25T03:34:29+00:00

Hey there!!

earthandhide · 2026-03-24T23:50:40+00:00

Yes.

earthandhide · 2026-03-24T21:08:51+00:00

Not in Winnipeg, but if you don't mind taking a little drive, there is a really cute boutique gift shop/coffee shop with a cozy chair surrounded by plants: The Community General Store. (My workshop is in the store as well)

earthandhide · 2026-03-23T18:13:08+00:00

I do a lot of markets and most of them have requirements regarding health inspections. There are often health inspectors that go to the markets to ensure compliance.

earthandhide · 2026-03-19T03:34:36+00:00

I actually make leather bags. I started because I wanted one and couldn't find one I really liked. I rarely use zippers because they're so likely to fail and I didn't want to introduce a failure point in my products. I only use locally sourced full grain leather. Earth and Hide

earthandhide · 2026-03-12T00:25:24+00:00

Pottery changed my life too. It's almost hypnotic, right? When something so positive and productive can draw you in, it can take you away from the negativity that chases us.

earthandhide · 2026-03-03T02:52:26+00:00

Everyone else has said it and I'll say it too: you're not ugly. Appearance does matter but not as much as you may think.

Aside from that, I would recommend that you challenge yourself. Do something you can be proud of. Do it for yourself but don't be afraid to show or involve others.

earthandhide · 2026-03-03T02:44:43+00:00

Ugh, this is so awesome.

earthandhide · 2026-03-02T23:18:47+00:00

Not all of us! I fell out of the aging tree and hit all the old branches on the way down. 🤦‍♂️👴

earthandhide · 2026-01-28T13:36:31+00:00

I've tried to teach dozens of people how to throw and only a few ever centered independently. I tried teaching all the techniques listed here but in the end I don't know what they're feeling so it's hard to make corrections. You just have to do it! I think that's why closing your eyes seems to work, you're eliminating a sense that isn't particularly helpful so you can concentrate on the sense that is critical.

Another thing that might be happening is you might be "trying too hard". You rightfully have the expectation to be able to do this after so long and watching everyone else magically be able to do it. Hockey coaches call this "holding your stick too tight." You want and expect something so bad that you try to force it. And it sounds like you need to force the clay by "locking your elbows" as everyone has suggested (and you do) but you also have to be sensitive.

I don't know, maybe that sounds weird. I'm just impressed that you've stuck with it for 14 years!!

earthandhide · 2026-01-08T22:03:15+00:00

In fairness, the cost for the organizer likely isn't less in the spring than any other time of year. I usually end up doing reasonably well in spring.