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Joe Thompson

@oldforgecreations

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A graphic designer turned self-taught ceramicist, working out of a tiny studio in Surrey, UK.
Worldwide shipping.

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New and final release of donations are live on the fundraiser site!!!! ✨ We are so close to hitting the threshold for keeping the funds! Pdx community, please consider pledging a tote, sharing this, helping us get there and get this store OPEN if you’re excited about a new store! Thank you to all the folks donating (even twice!) to make this a reality! So grateful for this community!

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Mariah is thawing as we speak… meanwhile I’m over here slip-casting experimental baubles like a deranged Christmas elf in 28°C heat. 🎄☀️

Experimental baubles currently looking festive. Post-firing survival rate bets any one? Unknown so far. Thoughts and prayers for the kiln gods.

Also making firing props to protect the studio kiln @kekoclub_artstudio shelves from glaze chaos, plus another clay book pot… because apparently I enjoy giving myself extra projects before Christmas events.

Honestly feels like a proper South African Christmas — blazing heat, definitely no Christmas music on, but me covered in clay dust pretending it’s snow.

@oldforgecreations for the amazing creations. Definitely been a challenge learning this new skill

#Ceramics #SlipCasting #ClayLife #ChristmasInTheStudio #KilnGods

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Here’s a little more info about the five most basic glaze ingredients, for people who want to get started mixing or making their own glazes. If you want to know more, look at Joe Thompson’s First Five (US) or Freedom Five (everywhere else), you can find them here: @oldforgecreations

If you want to learn more from me directly, I’ll be teaching an intro to glaze chemistry at @roundrockcommunityclay and another at. @tumbleweed.clay (both in July).

Start your glaze journey NOW!

#heartlessmachine #minerals #glazechemistry

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I had put this off long enough. When my pots weren’t quite ready to trim, I was left with an unexpected free evening, which was the perfect time to dive in.

I’m going to scrap this test tile, because I realized the next day I hadn’t doubled the whiting. I added that into the glaze, and am letting these sit for a few days before dipping and testing.

I bought all of my ingredients from The Ceramic Shop. Here are the ingredients for this glaze:

Single Batch (I did a double in the video)
Glaze Recipe from @oldforgecreations via Glazy.org

Silica: 32.50 g
Frit 3134: 25g
Nepheline Syenite: 20g
Kaolin: 12.5g
Whiting: 10g

Colors:
Titanium Dioxide: 2.5g
Bentonite: 2g
Cobalt Carbonate: 1g

Water: 100g

I made a double batch because I was worried I wouldn’t have enough to dip my pieces, not realizing just how much 100g of material increases the volume of glaze.

I have NO idea if I did this correctly, so if you make glazes and have tips or input, please share them, I’m always incredibly appreciative of the help.

I’ll post the results in a few weeks!

#glaze #glazetest #learningpottery #ceramics #homestudio

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A little process video of making my very first batches of test glazes and test tiles. All these tests were fired at cone 9 oxidation, I am very happy with how a lot of these glazes came out! I will be making a few bigger batches and using them on some of my pieces in the future. I’d say a couple of the tests are pretty useless as glazes but I have learnt a lot from them and the next tests will be improved! Let me know what your favorite colours are from these tests or what colours you would like to see me try make! If you love these little robot test tiles as much as I do! Thank @oldforgecreations for the designs! They worked so well! #pottery #newhobby #ceramicglaze #tests #colours

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My daughter Rhiannon has arrived and so it’s time for some collaboration!

Today we started with pots and dots.

We have been both loving the work of @oldforgecreations, as it echoes what Rhiannon was exploring at her residency last year.

So we are using Joe’s work as inspiration for our first experiment together.

Rhiannon is a jeweller; we are seeking surfaces for her ceramic bangles.

*****
A fastly filling home

Last month Serch returned to spend another winter here. Last week, old friends of ours - Billy and Alba - arrived for an extended visit. Billy brings music to each gathering (including this video). Tomorrow Steve arrives (my kids’ dad). Next week Jake, my son, will get here and shortly after, my parents!

The house is filling with family, and my heart is full. ❤️❤️❤️

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Making drip catchers with Joe’s @oldforgecreations method.
Also trying a technique to release air bubbles during centring from @thepotterystudio

#pottery #potteryishard #potterywheelthrowing #dripcatcher #wheelthrowing

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Super excited to see the @oldforgecreations label on my package today! Thank you for the little Lego man! He'll sit in my studio with me.

Can't wait to try my new foot trimming tool!

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Coffee mugs, for a large piccolo or a shot or two of espresso, maybe.

Wheel thrown from @keaneceramics Mid Fire Black clay.

I’ve made the glaze based on one of Joe Thompson’s @oldforgecreations glazes. I’ve used @glazyorg to ‘Australian-ise’ Joe’s glaze to our available local ingredients. I’m very happy with the results. It’s a glaze that covers several of my favoured clays really well.

Part of my Dlpoma of Ceramics is glaze technology and we’ve recently learnt the potential that @glazyorg has in helping us alter and understand the materials in our glazes. It’s just fascinating!

#diplomaofceramics
#fionacarterceramics
#northernbeachesceramics

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Tips and tricks: a few key things to consider before setting up your own space!

#tipsandtricks #homestudio

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Projeto do mês: filtro de V60.

Usei o template do @oldforgecreations para acertar o ângulo. Falta fazer o acabamento a adionar os "veios" para ajudar no fluxo da água no filtro.

Depois o @olivernsc (meu barista 🤣🤣) vai testar e conto para vocês.

Algum amante de café por aí? 🤭🤭

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Part 1 of the Stilblūm water cycle 💧
Every drop counts. Every drop returns. At Stilblūm, water is cared for with intention. I harvest water straight from the foggy Bay Area air using a dehumidifier, my studio’s quiet multitasker. It captures moisture, adds warmth on chilly evenings, and becomes the clean water source for washing clay-covered hands and tools. This is inspired in part by @oldforgecreations brilliant breakdown on studio humidity and drying—well worth a read if you’re exploring sustainable studio upgrades.
Follow along to see how every drop finds its way back, no water wasted, no new water brought in. Part 2 of the Stilblūm water cycle coming soon.
#SustainableStudio #EcoStudio #BayAreaMakers #MindfulMaking #Stilblum #CeramicStudio #ClayReclaim #SustainableCeramics #WaterCycle #NetZero #sustainability #SlowCraft #ceramics #pottery #clay #handmade #art #ceramicart #stoneware #pottersofinstagram #ceramica #makersgonnamake #instapottery #artistsoninstagram #potter #keramik #glaze #handcrafted

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