| CLAY PREPARATION | |
| CLAYS can be found near the ocean or by inland streams and ponds. The clay formed when tiny bits of dirt carried by streams sank and settled in still water ponds. Clays must be plastic enough to be rolled into a coil and bent without breaking. | |
| ADDING TEMPER | 
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| TEMPER may be crushed shell, sand, broken pottery bits, or plant material. Up to 1/10 of the clay mixture can be made up of temper for very fine natural clays. Tempering pottery makes it able to take rapid changes in temperature when placed in a fire. |
| WEDGING CLAY AND SPIRAL WEDGING | |
| WEDGE clay to make the mix even and to help remove air bubbles from the clay. If air is not removed from the clay pottery may break or crack when dried and fired. SPIRAL type of wedging clay is an efficient way to mix clay. Keeping the clay in a cone or shell shape, first pull a melon-sized piece of clay toward you. Second, push down and away from you while giving the cone of clay a slight turn. |
