Getting our hands dirty!

We've been taking advantage of the many free events around town that don't conflict with nap time (& even a few that did!). One of these events had an area set aside for kids to work with clay. Each child was given a good-sized chunk of clay to work with, and a teenager was on-hand to give them tips and advice, but other than that the project was completely up to them.  M&B really (really) got into it and spent a good hour and a half at the tables creating, smashing, starting over, smashing...

The only problem we've run into is that we brought their pieces home & let them dry on the balcony, but now I have no idea how to preserve them! It would have helped to have a bit of instruction for after-care.

If you know anything about clay, please let me know in the comments what we should do next. I figure we could finagle access to a kiln, but that seems like more work than it's worth.

Comments

[melissa]

I'm a potter- I'd say get access to a kiln- even your local paint-a-pot place might do it for $5 a piece or something. Failing that (or find a potter locally who would do it out of the kindness of their own heart), you could coat it with lots of polyurethane. That's what the self hardening clay boxes recommend. good luck!

[jennifer]

i've been dabbling in pottery for over a year now, and i agree with melissa. at present, the dried pieces are probably quite fragile.
the best option is to fire them in a kiln. then you could glaze and fire again. or you could paint it and forget the 2nd firing (assuming this is not going to be food safe).
I do like the idea of coating with polyurethane - seems easier somehow.

[Veronique]

Jennifer and Melissa, Thanks so much for the advice! I'm going to see if I can sneak a few things into a local kiln :-)

[molly]

umm...I have a few things I'd like to sneak into a local kiln, too! :)
I love this pottery. My girls love getting into my clay, too. So much, that we might just invest in a small kiln for home...(for all of us, mom included!!)