Woven Rim Paper Clay Bowl

Finally finished! Below is a photo taken as it came out of the kiln, filled with some of the beads I had fired to use on the rim.  

 Below is one more studio room ..... guess I really do take over the house. The bathroom makes the perfect weaving room as the reed is soaked in the bath-tub and the mirror is useful to help see how the rim is progressing.

 I had considered simply stitching around the rim and tying it off with a bead, but no that will be for another bowl.

 Finished .....

Why paper-clay?  Paper clay is much lighter than regular stoneware so it allows me to make large pieces with thick slabs or walls yet they are quite light. The paper clay I use is stoneware clay with the addition of paper pulp. Paper clay also has a strong dry strength so greenware is not as fragile as regular greenware as the paper fibers help hold the clay together. The one disadvantage I find is that the moist clay will mold quicker with the addition of paper in it. But that simply urges me to use that clay up and keep creating!