If you google “slab” you’ll find:

noun 1. a large, thick, flat piece of stone, concrete, or wood, typically rectangular.

“paving slabs”

verb 1. remove slabs from (a log or tree) to prepare it for sawing into planks.

Until April, in my mind, slabs were either a type of fencing used to corral pigs or large hunks of meat. I had no idea “slab” could be used as a verb, nor did I know I’d be using slabs to express my artistic abilities.

But alas… I slabbed my clay and used the slabs to create pottery. And I’m never looking back.

Why is slab-building preferable, Rach?

You might wonder why I am so enamoured by hand-building. Truthfully, it’s because the possibility of slabs excites me. If I have a future in pottery, it lies with hand-building, where only the slab is your limit.

Week 1: Coils

We started with basics. Rolled out my first slab and cut out a circular base. Then we measured sides and attached them to the base. It was basic. Here’s the final result.

(Hey, Mom, this one is for you!)

Put a Bird on It!

Week 2: coil project.

I’d been scouring the internet for coil projects–and I happened upon this very cool video! This was when I started getting excited about the possibilities of the slab!

My pottery-partner-in-crime, Heidi, went to Portland rather than sticking around for class, so of course, I had Portlandia on my mind. I also happened to wear a pair of leggings with birds on them–the only time I’ve ever worn them in public. Plus I was writing a short story about a woman following a crow to see the geese…And so started the bird theme.

I also started my “clay board” on Pinterest to try to keep projects straight in my mind.

Week 3: boxes

“Okay, class, you’ll each be making a box next week.” Chad (our lovely teachers) smiles.

“A box?” I’m stunned.

I mean, who needs a pottery box?

The next week, I announce “I’m making  a teapot.” I beam.

“A teapot?”Later on–once I’ve built the thing, Chad bursts my bubble and tells me that very rarely do teapots turn out.

Mine did. I think it’s ’cause I put a bird on it.

Week 4: Complete Projects-on-the-go

I finished them up and had half an hour to spare. Inspired by a man who took me dancing and brought me sushi, I decided I deserved a sushi plate of my own.

Sushi plate–let’s ignore the cracks.

(P.s. Thanks again, Pinterest!)

Week 5: Lantern

—Not too much to report. This project, like the first week’s project, is very normal. I’d never know I made it! (But it sure is pretty!)

Week 6: Something to hang

Truth be tld, this was supposed to be a birdbath. Notice the pattern I rolled onto the slab. I had added little balls of clay, but the next week, they were all cracking, so I cleverly carved them out. The results? A bird feeder. I just need some chain–and somewhere to hang it.

Week 7: Free project

I had no idea what I was making–I’d picked out a few things on Pinterest, but I was waiting for inspiration to hit. When I went to the Pottery Guild’s members-only room to use the slab roller, I came across this tiny patterned roller on the table. Nobody was looking, so I rolled it onto my slabs. It looked like shreddies! And, the “Shreddy” bowl was conceived. I guess my bird theme fizzled out.

Weeks 8, 9 and 10: finish up, wax and glaze

A New backup plan

For those of you who care, I have a backup plan—if my writing career doesn’t pan out, I think I’ll turn to slab building. If you know me well, you understand that I’ve got a bazillion backup plans—and have relied on them several times—throughout my life.

Now, I need to decide whether I am throwing pots or hand-building in the fall. What do you think I should do?

I suppose I’ve got another thing to cross off my bucket list as well.