Finished Hippo Candy Bowls

Hippo Candy Bowl #1

 Hippo Candy Bowl #2

Hippo Candy Bowl #1 and #2

The customer who ordered the hippo was very very happy and picked it up today. I still have the second one (the one on the right or Hippo Candy Bowl #2), but I have a few people interested in it as well.

They are pretty darn cute.

Hippo Candy Jar

Here is one of the Hippo Candy Jars that I made. I was commissioned to make one for a man who wanted one for his wife. As advised by Joanne, the owner of Blossom Hill crafts, I made two. Just in case.

This hippo took about 15 - 17 lbs of clay to make. The body is completely hollow. The mouth is where the candy (jelly beans) will go. There are holes on the bottom of the hippo's feet that lead into the body part. That way we won't get any explosions.

Once the hippo was a bit dry, I started underglazing it with Western brand underglazes. I'll have to take a photo of the interior of his mouth next time so you can see the uvula. Now, I didn't make a hole between the head and the body just in case a stray jelly bean slipped through the hole. You'd never be able to get it out!

There's his cute little tail.

I'm currently bisque firing this hippo. He and his twin will be cone 5 clear glazed over the weekend. I can't wait to see them when they're completely done!

Gandalf and The Treewoman 2

Gandalf is finally out of the kiln. He turned out quite well, if I do say so myself.

The shadows/darker parts are all from the firing process. I didn't put any glaze or slip on him. Just put him in the kiln and had him angled so that the flames hit him on the staff side first.

And here is The Treewoman 2. In looking at her, I thought that if I make yet another one, I'll be sure to have more action with her arms. Maybe ones that go around and loop more. Still, I am pretty happy with this one. She's happy.