Students Work with Clay to Create Easter Decorations

Students unleashed their creative side as they shaped and molded clay into Easter baskets at the FabLab workshop on Monday, April 3.  

Nicolette Kaylor, a FabLab student employee, explained that during the workshop, students used the score and slip method to create their clay Easter baskets.  

The score and slip method joins two clay pieces together by first scoring the clay. This step is done by scratching the surface of each piece of clay that will be sticking to each other.  

After the scoring was complete, students then used the slipping technique. Slipping is a mixture of water and clay to glue the two clay pieces together.  

"You have to let it dry over a couple of days after assembling the piece," Nicolette said. "Once it is dry, we fire it in the kiln. You want it bone dry because if there is moisture, the water expands in the kiln, causing cracking."  

Nicolette stated that before using the score and slip method, students shaped and rolled out the clay with a rolling pin. Then, they cut out the clay with a template and decorated the pieces using a stamp.  

Nayla Hodges, a theater performance major, stated that working with clay opens up new possibilities for creativity and gives you a lot of "freedom" in the process.  

She shared that working in this medium connects her to her mom.  

Nayla remarked that her mom is a creative person who uses her creativity as a cake designer.  

Maritza Hernandez, an economics major, stated she was invited to the workshop by her friend.  

 She always had an interest in pottery and thought this event would be an excellent way to explore that interest.  

Events like this are great for her because "it is not easy to get the material to make stuff like this at home," Maritza said.  

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