trying car camping with my jimny and making a bowl

i wanted to try my jimny for camping and also make a bowl for this month’s video.

i’ve always been interested in camping food, especially cooking over fire, and i ended up using this bowl for many different meals.

in the past, i used to do bikepacking, so i was used to traveling light and carrying only lightweight items. because of that, the idea of making a ceramic piece for camping never felt right. but after switching to car camping, i realized this could actually work.

for this bowl, i tried an epsom salt technique and made some simple, soft lines inside. i usually add epsom salt by eye, and so far it has worked well for me. i haven’t had issues like cracking or problems during the process.

i shared the whole process on youtube. if it sounds interesting to you, you can watch it through the link. the video includes not only the pottery process, but also some simple camping meals.

Flower Shaped Cups – This Week in the Studio

This week in the studio, I worked on flower shaped cups.

The softly wavy rims give each piece a gentle movement. Every cup was shaped individually carrying small differences in form and surface. 

I stamped each one at the base and seeing them together after the firing felt special.
I also filmed the process.

You can watch the making of these cups on my YouTube channel.

Epsom Salt Surface Experiment

I mixed Epsom salt into slip and used it to create these raised lines on the surface.

I’ve tested this technique before on smaller pieces, but this is the first time I’m trying it on larger forms. I made these bowls for myself — partly as an experiment, partly just to explore the surface. I really like how they look in their raw state.

Now I’m unsure what kind of glaze to use. Something that highlights the texture? Or something more subtle and soft? I haven’t decided yet. Let’s see what they become after firing.

 

 

A new Youtube Vlog!

A new video is now live on my YouTube channel.

From an sea walk to the studio this video shows the process behind my black clay cups.

 

Black Clay Cups After an Ocean Walk

Sometimes you are influenced by something without noticing it at the moment. These cups came out in that way.

After a walk near the ocean I went back to the studio and sat at the wheel. During the walk I did not take photos or focus on any specific detail. Later I realised that the soft surfaces of charred wood pieces on the sand stayed with me. Wood shaped by wind and time. Dark surfaces that feel calm and worn. Not fully rough and not fully smooth.

While working with black clay I decided to keep the wheel marks. For me they are not mistakes. They show the process. The speed of the hands and small pauses stay on the surface. Like in nature not everything disappears. Some things remain as traces.

The form was shaped by how the cup feels in the hand. Not by a strict plan. The soft curve at the bottom and the slight change in the body create a natural balance. It feels quiet and simple. Easy to hold without thinking about it.

The stamp is a very personal detail in this work. I made it with my own hands. It is not a ready logo. I tested and reshaped it many times. It does not stand out loudly. On the black surface it appears only with light. Sometimes it is noticed later.

When the cups stand together they look similar but they are not the same. They feel like they come from the same walk. From the same place but from different moments. I did not plan a series or a story at first. I made the pieces and the meaning appeared slowly after.

Some works happen like this. First they are made. Then they remind you where they came from.

My New YouTube Video with the Rohde HMT600

I spent some time trying simple, free-form shapes with no particular goal other than getting used to the rhythm of the machine. A few small curves, a flower-like opening here and there and some pieces that didn’t quite work out but still taught me something. All part of settling into a new tool.

The video includes a short unboxing clip, the sound of the wheel, a few early pieces and a bit of my cleaning routine at the end. It’s a silent, slow studio vlog  just the process as it happened.

Watch the video here

Chasing the Iron Dot Effect

Over the past few weeks, I tried to achieve this effect using iron under dots applied under or just beneath the glaze. During firing, the iron melts and spreads slightly, with the center turning dark brown to nearly black, and the edges developing a subtle rust-like hue.

In my first attempt where I applied the iron very thinly, it flowed almost like water. In the areas where I applied it thickly, bubbling and separation from the surface occurred. 

For the second attempt, I hadn’t planned on doing it but out of impatience I quickly added it to my Cone 6 kiln. The result was a dark blotch; without sufficient flow, the effect lost its vitality and looked unattractive.

For the final attempt, I refined the recipe and fired it at Cone 9. The effect I was aiming for finally appeared. The centers were dark, almost black brown, and the edges had a delicate, warm rust tone. The iron remained slightly flowed but maintained its form, creating the lively, balanced effect I had envisioned.The glaze itself was quite thick almost the consistency of yogurt, which added to the depth and texture of the effect.

Red Iron Dots Recipe

Red Iron Oxide – 45 g

Frit 3124 – 40 g

Kaolin – 15 g

Silica – 22 g

Gerstley Borate – 10 g

These small but effective adjustments allowed the iron to move naturally beneath the glaze, giving the surface a sense of depth and life and making each piece feel unique.

This week I also filmed a video for YouTube capturing my experience making a ceramic piece from start to finish. Now I’m waiting for the glaze to be fired but it was a great experience and I’ll be sharing it soon. I might also return to sharing on Instagram though writing here feels more personal and comfortable for now.

 

Yunomi?

This blue cup with its slightly wide and subtly angular form might look simple at first glance. But the natural mix of beige and blue glaze creating soft, flowing patterns, reveals a different face every time. My recent cups have had a more minimalist stone-like feel; this one however, stands alongside them with both harmony and a distinct character.

One of my favorite details is the small variations that emerge after firing: the flow of the glaze and the blending of colors make each piece completely unique.

The shape of the rim makes sipping effortless, and when held in the hand, the geometric form seems to fit naturally, almost as if the cup has adapted to your grip. Drinking tea or coffee from it feels far beyond using an ordinary cup—you really sense the delicacy and individuality of handmade ceramics.

I considered listing this cup on Etsy, but part of me wondered if I should keep it for myself. Some pieces are just so special that you want to enjoy them daily, not just share them with others. This cup is definitely one of those.

A Cup With Two Ears

This little two-handled cup has been with me for about two years now. I first made it after reading some Etsy reviews where people were looking for cups with two handles—I hadn’t known before that for some, holding a regular cup can be tricky.

While making it, I didn’t focus only on that need; I wanted it to feel sweet and a bit playful too. The handles turned into ears, a tiny nose appeared in the front, and suddenly it became more like a character than just a cup.

It’s still one of my favorites, maybe because it carries both a story and a smile.