FAQ

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FAQ’s

How many people can you cater for?

Generally, we can cater for 1 to 12 people in one sitting

Are you able to cater for special needs groups?
EVERYONE IS AN ARTIST! We know that creativity is an inherent quality of every human being, not a talent reserved for the few.

By promoting creative expression we can give everyone a precious opportunity to explore their inherent talent and intuitive nature.

But I can't draw a straight line!
Don’t worry! We have stencils, rubber stamps and books from which you can trace images and transfer onto your pieces.

We can teach you new techniques, inspire you, help you draw shapes and choose colours that expose your hidden artiste!

How long does it take to paint my design?
For children we find that it takes from half-to-one hour. For adults it's generally 1 – 2 hours for basic items (mugs or small plates).
For larger items you might need 4+ hours to finish your masterpiece.

What is "bisque"?
Bisque means "baked twice", it's latin and is from the same source as the word "biscuit”. Freshly formed clay is called leather-ware,

it dries to become green-ware, and this is fired to make "bisque" ceramics. The bisque is painted, glazed and fired again to produce the finished article.

Why are the under-glaze paints all dull colours?
When the piece is fired chemical reactions occur that change the colour of the paints and make them brighter and more colourful.

Why can't I take my piece (mug/plate/bowl/...) home the same day?
We need to glaze and fire your pieces before they are ready to be used. Once you finish your work, the under-glaze needs 24 hours to properly dry.

After this, we dip it in a special glaze, which also needs 24 hours to properly set. We then "pack" the kiln by setting your pieces on specially designed
stilts then the kiln can be fired. It takes on average of 8-10 hours for the kiln to reach its final temperature of around 1000°C, but then it
can take over 20 hours to cool to the point where we can handle your items. We then unpack the kiln, and dremmel any stilt marks left on the
bottom of the pieces. If any quality issues come up during our inspection of your final piece, we will re-glaze and run it through the cycle again.

I am only visiting Swanage!

We can post your item to you for an additional charge. Alternatively, if you visit regularly, we can hold your item here until your next visit!

Can I put my mug in the dishwasher / microwave?
We do not recommend it as it can cause crazing

What's crazing?
This is when moisture gets into tiny holes in the glaze and causes a piece to expand. Glaze is glass-like and can't expand,

so it gets covered in tiny cracks - this is crazing.