Author: Tammy Jo

Ceramic Birdhouse – Ceramic Projects

Posted on by Tammy Jo

We did it! If you have been following along on the Hobby Potter 10 Year Anniversary project journey, CONGRATULATIONS! 

This final installment in our monthly projects is a birdhouse/birdfeeder, which if you think about it is a perfect December project. (Full-on winter in about a month and little birdies would be thankful for a fresh new space!)

Most people think of a birdhouse being a “handbuild” style project, but you will find a link to both wheel-thrown and handbuilt instruction videos.

DOWNLOAD THE PROJECT INSTRUCTION PDF

Keeping today’s blog post short so you can get to it! 

Next blog I’ll have a special announcement to make, and hope you will be here with me for that!

Enjoy this project and be sure to take a quick second and follow the Hobby Potter journey on Instagram and Facebook 

Wishing you Love, Joy, Peace, Safety and Health ….now get to that clay! 

Tammy Jo

Making A Glazing Box For In-Home Use

Posted on by Tammy Jo

I should have done it years ago! Since glazing has always been designated to my barn/garage/studio…and I’m a “messy potter”, it never occurred to me that on bad weather days I could be indoors enjoying my clay journey! 

What are my concerns about glazing in my living space? 

Before I share all that I put in my kit, I had to be sure the space I was working in would not harm my family or animals. Let’s face it …glazes are NOT paints, they are chemicals that are harmful if ingested or inhaled (fumes from lusters, and dust from dried glaze.) So that means METICULOUS area protection and cleaning up after the fact. 

So, What’s Inside! 

So not that was all figured out … here’s what I grabbed for in-home glazing time.

Since I choose to facilitate the most sit-down, time-intensive activities to the coziness of my home, it’s all about designing and underglaze! (I left all the dipping glazes and glazes for mass glazing out in the studio). 

Tammy Jo’s Glaze Box Checklist

  • The Container: 6QT Plastic Container (Home Depot $1.78)
  • Colors of the Rainbow Underglaze: 2 oz Bottles
     Red, Orange, Green, Blue, Yellow, Purple, Black & White. I save empty 2oz underglaze bottles in case I need to mix colors and store them.
  •  Filled Fine Tip Bottles -Pens – Tips
    The fine tip pens (for over and underglazes) are one of the best Amazon buys I’ve ever made. The cap has a needle included so the tip is cleaned every time you close it! The squeeze bottles are great because they come in a variety of tips sizes. An added perk is that these tips are also interchangeable with the pens.
  • Chalks & Choxils & Underglaze Pencil 
    I admit … in my love to underglaze I usually forget I have these wonderful tools, so in the box, they went!
  • Plastic Cups from Apple Sauce Containers 
    Kids eat applesauce, I have leftover containers! These are the perfect size for mixing glazes on the go.
  • Black Underglaze Wash (in a feta cheese container)
    Pre-mixed wash saves me from myself and the mess I could possibly make mixing it on the fly. 

  • Small Wooden Skewers | Palette Knife | Variety of Brushes |Sponge
    These tools have great versatility applying, removing, mixing, scratching through for design, and adding freeform designs… I love them!

Depending on my project, I may eventually add a small bottle of clear glaze so I can finish the process instead of waiting to dip everything out in the studio. 

Now, this is just what I put in my mobile Glazing Box, think about your glazing process and what tools can you compact down so you can enjoy clay in your own home! 

Getting Creative With Platters & Stamps

Posted on by Tammy Jo

Hopefully, you have been inspired to take advantage of all the possible projects you can do for the coming holidays!

This month we will be exploring platters, trays, and adding stamps for either texture or for applying underglaze designs.  

Download PDF Project Details

We are getting close to the FINAL PROJECT! It’s been a great year providing these springboard project ideas and watching the beautiful unique results. 

I will keep you posted on what next year has instore! 

Thank you all for joining me and hope these projects have been helpful to your clay journey 😀 

Love & Blessings, 

Tammy Jo

Making Bowls & Layering Glazes

Posted on by Tammy Jo

 Here we are only 3 more projects away from finishing out 2021! Random selection brought about the most basic of clay forms and techniques… a bowl with layered glazes.  As I always say, it may sound simple, but I can only see  ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES! 

CUP-O-RAMA fundraiser!
If you haven’t it’s never to late to Make a Cup, Sell a Cup and Donate the proceeds to your favorite charity!

Truth be told, the fact that the possibilities and variations of these projects are endless, it what keeps me excited about my clay journey…even after 10 years. 

DIRECTIONS:  Download PDF  Instructions
http://www.hobbypotter.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/10-2021-Bowls-and-Layering-Glazes.pdf 

  1. CHOOSE 
  2. WATCH the video links Instruction & Techniques
  3. MAKE & SHARE your journey somewhere online! 
    ** If you post to Instagram use the hashtag  #hobbypotterproject and tag me @hobbypotter so we can find and encourage each other!

Love & Blessings as you enjoy your journey!!    ~ Tammy Jo

Soap Dish – Masking & Bubble Glaze Ceramic Project

Posted on by Tammy Jo

Download August 2021 Project


When I drew this form from the bowl I worried it was a little too basic to put into a project. But it might be the perfect project after last month’s busy teapots and the business of summer. With no attachments (well, unless you want to add feet), a simple soap dish form is the perfect place to practice your designs! 

This month’s design has two components to choose from. “Masking” is the process of covering sections using automotive tapes or newsprint, then applying glazes or underglaze to the exposed surface. Bubble glazing is a fun technique using underglazes and dish soap to create a marbled-looking surface. Try one, try both!

Go ahead and download this month’s project and be sure to share your results!

Always remember, these projects are meant to help you grow in your clay practice. After 10 years I have barely scratched the surface (pun intended ;P) on what can be accomplished with clay. Whether it’s to try a new technique, stretch your creativity, or just to give some direction in your home studio … a successful journey is not always the results you get, but what you experienced along the way!

Enjoy the clay, Tammy Jo 

Teapot – Stripes & Spiral Project

Posted on by Tammy Jo


The sun is hot in my neck of the woods (going to be 107 degrees F. in a couple of days)!  Strangely it’s the perfect time to start MAKING teapots for the coming cooler weather.

This project is simple enough (DOWNLOAD THE PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS PDF HERE ) and leaves a lot of room for creative interpretation…first in the form (what type of teapot you want to make) and then the design (what technique will you choose to apply lines and/or swirls).

Sometimes looking outside the box of just “ceramic videos” may be the key to your next inspired technique to try with clay. ~ Tammy Jo

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PS. Speaking of teapots … I went back to the YouTube Hobby Potter Weekly Series and pulled together 4 real-time videos to share a beautifully fun project from beginning to end. It made me smile and hope it gives you a little inspiration on your clay question!