Where does clay come from?
Clay comes from the ground. It is literally mud. However, the clay we use comes from a store that imports it from various parts of North America. It goes through a slight purification process in order to make it easier for handling & firing. -Also there are no earthworms or bugs in it! But it is possible to fire clay from your own backyard! It just is not as smooth to work with and very brittle when fired.

Why do we "wedge" clay before we use it?
We wedge and give our clay a good smash before creating our masterpieces in order to work out possible air bubbles that may be in it. If there is an air bubble in our final product, it will explode when fired.

What does it mean to fire clay? Why do we do this?
Clay has to be "fired" or cooked in a special oven called a kiln. It is capable of reaching 1800 degrees or more. Usually it is fired for at least 10 to 12 hours for the first stage called "bisque" firing. This stage will make the clay more permanent, give it that ceramic feel and sound, and prepare it for glazing.

What is glazing?
Glazing refers to the act of applying "glaze" to clay. Glaze is a liquid composed of special pigments and other chemicals that when fired, will undergo an incredible change. Bisqued pieces can be dipped in glaze that is made in bulk or hand painted with a brush for fine detail. The piece is then fired again in the kiln where the glaze undergoes its beautiful metamorphosis. There is a chemical reaction to the glass in the glaze and the final result is a glass film coating over the piece.