Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Bells with Speckled Clay

Yesterday I decided to take a detour into speckled clay and make more bells. Although this clay looks red now, it will fire to a light tan with tiny speckles in it. I've pressed leaves into the clay bells and stained them. A flat triangular piece will hang down below the bell interior and act as a sail to catch the wind and make the bell ring in light breezes.

Here's what all the parts look like while they are drying. Although bells seem simple things to make, they're actually quite a few parts needed to make them the way I envision them. Folks gave me several suggestions on how to fire the bells so the bottoms are glazed. One person suggested I fire the bells on a kiln post which I'll try next time. I just hope the bells don't stick to the post as it shrinks in the firing, especially with the conical ones. What do you think?

Although I was originally planning on using a wood clapper in the interior, one person said since the diameter of the bell isn't overly large a ceramic bead would do just fine. They also said a ceramic bead will make a nicer ring than a wooden bead. So I'll give that a try too. I'll also check my bead supply drawer and see if I have any beads I can use with the bells, like glass or others. I plan to put a clear glaze over these so the natural color of the clay shows through. Back to the studio. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

10 comments:

  1. the one and only bell I ever made (back in Jr. High) had a clay clapper. My bell didn't have a nice ring because it was too thick, since it was my first experience with the wheel. I bet a bead would make a nice sound. Looking forward to seeing these finished.

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    1. Hi Michele, thanks, well I hope my bells aren't too thick, we shall see.

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  2. Linda, I've seen people fire things like bells on a tall bisque base that was shaped kind of like a silver bell...and then only the very tip of the bell's inside wouldn't be glazed. I believe they made these bases specifically for this purpose. An idea? And I can't wait to see your fired pieces as I really like the speckled clay.

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    1. Hi Rian, thanks, I'll have to think of something that I can use because the posts are square and the inside of the bells are round.

      You know I can't seem to comment on your blog any longer it says it's open only to invited guests ??

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    2. Sorry, Linda. I did change my settings to allow only blog authors (of which you are one), but it did cause some problems for some people, so I changed it back.

      and when I said shaped like a *silver bell*, I meant like hershey's candy kisses (we called them silver bells) and that pointed top would fit inside your bell and keep the inside glaze from touching anything....

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    3. Hi Rian, thanks, will check our your blog, thanks for the explanation if the candy kiss as that was not what I originally envisioned.

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  3. I made big bells for a gardener and really enjoyed the process of figuring out how to get them glazed and fired. Mine were simpler with a metal washer for a clapper. I like all the parts---can't wait to see them finished.

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    1. Hi Charlene, thanks, oh I'll have to try some metal clappers as well to see which material makes the most pleasing sound, good idea.

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  4. You might want to experiment with the clappers. The sound of the bell defines it. Wooden clappers are often a dull sound ...

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    1. Hi Sue, thanks, yes I'll have to experiment with different materials, might as well make the sound as pleasing as possible.

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment