Top 10 gifts you can make on the wheel

The process of creating a handmade ceramic gift for your loved ones can take up to six weeks – making it, drying it, firing it, glazing it and firing it again! This is why potters and people who love clay start thinking about gift-giving in September and October - book now to start making! Of course gifts-giving is always in season – but if holiday shopping is a daunting chore, why not turn it into a meditative treat and take a pottery class.

Here are popular things beginners who come to Waveform like to make for their friends and family:

1.        A planter. A lot of times you might go all the way through when you first open up your pot. That’s normal – you’re getting to know the spectrum of pressure required to move the clay as it spins, and you’re probably still getting your sea legs when it comes to spatial awareness. Whether by accident or on purpose, planters are very popular forms, and they make great gifts – especially with a plant thoughtfully put inside! Waveform is collaborating with Knots & Found to offer a Planter Workshop – make a planter, and when you come to pick up your work, put a plant in it!

2.        An incense holder. Anything low and wide can be an incense holder – you just poke a little hole in it at the end with a pin tool for the incense stick to sit in! Some folks like to add spirals, dots, lines and other decorative patterns to embellish the piece. This person created their incense holder off the wheel, which is a great option, too!

3.        A lil’ cup. In the studio we throw with one pound of clay. When we use water to throw, some clay is lost in the process. You may also lose some clay as you get to know the material and smush clay off the wheel by accident. THIS IS NORMAL! As a result, the work you make may be smaller than you anticipated – not to mention, the material itself shrinks about 10 percent throughout the drying and firing process. Many people at Waveform make a small cup (2 – 3 inches in diameter) ideal for matcha, espresso, tea or tinctures.

4.        A bowl. A bowl for ice cream, cereal, olives, hor’derves, a beloved pet’s water or food. Bowls are very popular at Waveform!

5. & 6        A salt dish or spoon rest. You may end up with a little dish perfect for soy sauce, wasabi, ginger, salt, chili pepper flakes… a great gift for a foodie, someone who loves to cook or host. 

7.        A bud vase. Through a process called “collaring,” you can close a form back up to create a wide base with a narrow opening. Bud vases make a sweet gift – especially if you get ahold of a favorite flower before gifting it!

8.        An ash tray. Create a low form and at the end you can press a tool into the rim to create notches.

9.        Abstract art. No one said you had to make something functional. At Waveform we prioritize play…. And often the only way to get to know the material is to eff around and find out, if I may. You may end up unintentionally, or intentionally, creating a sculpture! Embrace the expression and gift someone something creative that brightens up their space and reminds them that you were thinking of them.

10.  A gift card! Give the gift of quality time with clay – gift cards are available for single sessions, bundles, Claydates and Birthday Parties. This is a great gift for someone who struggles to make time for themselves, has been craving tactile experiences, is burned out / tired, or loves art and crafting and wants more of in their life!

Feeling inspired? Book a class at Waveform before the first week of November and get head of gift-giving season so that your finished work is out by the holidays!