\nFirst I centre a big lump of clay so I can throw off the hump (mound) <\/a>because squishy cups are small and I don’t want to wedge dozens of very small pieces of clay – one for each cup.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.lablanchepoterie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/squishy-cup-centered-clay.jpg\" "\\"squishy")
<\/a>centering the mound of clay<\/p><\/div>\n
Then I bring up a small piece – just enough for one cup and my thumb finds the centre so I can open the clay.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.lablanchepoterie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/squishy-cup-lumpf.jpg\" "\\"squishy")
<\/a>finding centre<\/p><\/div>\n
Then I make the opening.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.lablanchepoterie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/squishy-cup-opening.jpg\" "\\"squishy")
<\/a>opening the clay<\/p><\/div>\n
All of this is done with two hands on the clay at all times…except when I’m trying to take a picture to illustrate how it works. \u00a0I like this particular vantage point because you are seeing it as if YOU were at the wheel!<\/p>\n
Why two hands? \u00a0Two hands on the clay gives you more stability. \u00a0I usually use one hand as if my fingers were a tool and the other hand to guide or give pressure to the “tool” hand to move the clay.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.lablanchepoterie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/squishy-cup-the-beginning.jpg\" "\\"squishy")
<\/a>opened and ready for shaping<\/p><\/div>\n
It doesn’t look like much now, but three pulls later…<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.lablanchepoterie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/squishy-cup-donery.jpg\" "\\"squishy")
<\/a>done!<\/p><\/div>\n
…and it’s done…except for one important detail. The Squish!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.lablanchepoterie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/squishy-cup-dry.jpg\" "\\"squishy")
<\/a>"Batman" angle shot on the drying stage<\/p><\/div>\n
First you have to dry it just a bit. \u00a0Then you have to grasp the pot.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.lablanchepoterie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/squishy-cup-grab.jpg\" "\\"squishy")
<\/a>gently...<\/p><\/div>\n
And very carefully, but with authority, SQUISH it!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.lablanchepoterie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/squish.jpg\" "\\"squish\\"")
<\/a>I'm squishing it!<\/p><\/div>\n
The lovely thing about these squishy cups is that they fit really nicely into your hand, as you can imagine.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.lablanchepoterie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/squishy-cup-cut-off.jpg\" "\\"squishy")
<\/a>cutting the cup from the mound<\/p><\/div>\n
After drying the cup a bit more with the heat gun, I make a guide mark near the bottom of the cup and cut it away from the mound of clay, then make another squishy cup.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.lablanchepoterie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/squishy-cups-finished.jpg\" "\\"squishy")
<\/a>Six squishies <\/p><\/div>\n
They all have slightly different shapes so you have to touch them, hold them, feel them… (Oooooh!) just to know which one is “right” for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Last week I decided to make some squishy cups. \u00a0I call them squishy cups because just after I make them I SQUISH them…but not too hard! First just let me tell you how difficult it is to take pictures while … Continue reading