Clay Packages for Zoom!

Clay Packages for Zoom!

The Digital Craft Festival taking place from the 26th  – 28th March 2021. It’s a wonderful & fun filled weekend of craft demonstrations, interviews and workshops and I’m doing a ‘ make along’ pottery class on zoom. I’ve just sent the first batch of clay and materials to participants… hurrah! The package includes terracotta clay, a pot of slip. some card templates and a hand made clay stamp.

Please note the deadline for purchasing tickets is Monday 22nd March, this will allow plenty of time for your clay pack to be arrive in the post.

 

pottery materials for the digital craft festival in packaging box
zoom layout with digital craft festival and sarah monk ceramics
virtual workshop advert for digital craft festival

I will show you step by step how to make your own clay bug house and you can make along with me! No previous pottery experience is required, the session will be light and lots of fun!.

You can purchase tickets for my virtual craft workshop here!

I’m also launching lots of new designs in my shop especially for the event!

I will be posting on my Instagram over the weekend too @sarahmonkceramics

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Sarah x

 

 

Fresh Designs for Spring Flowers

Fresh Designs for Spring Flowers

Spring is emerging here in Herefordshire. The primroses and daffodils are starting to come out in the Pottery garden, hurrah! So….. I have been inspired to make a collection of mini planters and flower bricks. These have been created especially for the Digital Craft Festival which will be held online on the 26th – 28th March.

These pieces are created by assembling soft slabs of terracotta clay. I gently crimp the edges together with my fingers and then decorate them with painted slips and sgraffito. They’re all unique, no two are the same!

slipware slab built flower brick in white with blue dots by sarah monk ceramics plus layout with dcf logo l
brown planter and tray with sgraffito daisies made by sarah monk ceramics, corner view
cream slipware plant pot and tray with splatters and daisies by Sarah Monk Ceramics

I’m super thrilled to be taking part in the Digital Craft Festival ! It promises to be a  funfilled weekend of craft demonstrations, interviews and workshops on Instagram, Facebook and zoom. In fact, I’m taking my very own zoom class here in my studio. My virtual craft workshop  takes place on Saturday 27th March at 2pm. I will show you step by step my slab making process and you can make along with me! I can post clay if you book by the 22nd March. It will be relaxed with a strong emphasis on fun! No previous pottery experience is required. 

PLUS  the weekend provides an  opportunity to buy direct from the 150 selected designer makers websites, across all craft disciplines, from all over the world! I’m launching lots of new designs in my shop including my spring flower planters and flower bricks especially for the event!

 

 

slipware slab built mini planters with trays x3 by sarah monk ceramics with dcf logo
sea green slipware flowerbrick with x3 sgraffito daisies by sarah monk ceramics, side view
brushed dark green slipware  flower brick slab built by Sarah Monk Ceramics  with poppy seed head bouquet

I can’t wait to take part in the Digital Craft festival and I hope you can join me!

I will be posting on my Instagram over the weekend too @sarahmonkceramics

#digitalcraftfestival

Sarah x

New Designs for Digital Craft Festival

New Designs for Digital Craft Festival

Here’s some of my most recent pieces for the Digital Craft Festival. Fresh out of the kiln this week are espresso cups, plates butter dishes, lemon squeezers and egg cups. I’m very pleased with the results!

brown dotty butterdish with green polka dot handleby sarah monk ceramics
espresso cup and digital craft festival logo
lemon squeezer with brown dots by sarah monk ceramics

The Digital craft festival is an online event showcasing 150 international makers. This will include talks, demos and films. It takes place from the 26th – 28th March 2021.

 

 

shelfie of slab plant pot by sarah monk ceramics
blue and white dresser with new collection of colourful ceramics by sarah monk
teal flower brick with fresh flowers by sarah monk ceramics

As part of this event I will be running a virtual craft workshop on Saturday 27th March at 2pm. I will show you step by step how to make your own clay bug house and you can make along with me! No previous pottery experience is required.

The Digital Craft festival is going to be lots of fun and I hope you can join me!

I will be posting on my Instagram over the weekend too @sarahmonkceramics

#digitalcraftfestival

Sarah x

Digital Craft Festival

Digital Craft Festival

I’m super thrilled to be taking part in the next Digital Craft Festival taking place from the 26th  – 28th March 2021. I’ve enjoyed this event lots in the past….. it’s so lovely! A funfilled weekend of craft demonstrations, interviews and workshops on Instagram, Facebook and zoom. PLUS  the opportunity to buy direct from the 150 selected designer makers, across all craft disciplines, from all over the world!

Crafts Festival founder, Sarah James spearheads the interviews in the run up and during this event. I’m really looking forward to getting involved!

work in progress studio shot of slipware bt Sarah Monk Ceramics
Digital Craft Festival Logo
terracotta clay pots waiting to be decorated with slip in the studio of sarah monk ceramics

The Digital Craft Festival is an opportunity I would ordinarily have to pass on, what with the 3.5k class participants that pass through the doors each year at Eastnor Pottery. Now the Studio is currently closed to visitors I have more time to focus on my own work. I’m launching lots of new designs in my shop especially for the event!

 

 

slab built butterdish work in progress in the studio of sarah monk ceramics
work in progress studio shot of slipware bowls decorated with bold brown dots by sarah monk ceramics
slab built olive plate work in progress with cobalt splatters

I can’t wait to take part in the Digital Craft festival and I hope you can join me!

I will be posting on my Instagram over the weekend too @sarahmonkceramics

#digitalcraftfestival

Sarah x

Fabulous Flower Bricks!

Fabulous Flower Bricks!

Museum inspiration

I think flower bricks are fabulous! During my student days studying for a ceramics degree I spent a fair bit of time sketching objects of antiquity. The V&A Museum in London was (and still is!!) a favourite of mine. I remember a wonderful blue & white 18th century flower brick. A rectangular ceramic box vase with a number of small holes in the top so the flowers are kept in position. I found it very inspiring and have enjoyed making box containers of various shapes and sizes ever since!

Here’s a selection my most recent flower brick designs.

The making process

I make a protoype from cardboard first. I cut out templates. Next I roll out a flat slab of clay using a rolling pin ( a bit like rolling pastry). Carefully placing the card on top of the slab I cut out the shapes. Assembling the clay pieces at the correct time is crucial. The clay must be strong enough to hold itself up but still have moisture to minimise cracking. Once assembled , I brush it with white slip and wrap it in plastic overnight.

brushed green soap dish with fever few flowers stuck in the top

I enjoy the inherent qualities of slipware. White slip brushed over terracotta is the perfect surface for sgrafitto. I work quickly, scratching into it with simple doodles and scribbles. I finish off with a fun session splattering coloured slips with a paint brush. I place several pieces on a board at the same time and just go for it! Occasionally I miss and prefer what’s landed on the board!! My work is all about mark making and building up layers of colour, one piece could have up to 5 or 6 layers.

brushed green soap dish with fever few flowers stuck in the top

I finish off my pieces with cute little feet.

Finished off with a clear lead-free earthenware glaze. This makes them smooth to touch and durable for everyday use.

I have a flowerbrick at The Contemporary Ceramics Centre online shop! (Now SOLD) 27/11/20

I will be adding some of these to my online shop soon!

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