Spring is here and the birds are chirping!! Make a low-fire clay
bird feeder that can hang outside your window. Use a store bought
leaf to imprint or find a large leaf to press into your clay.
Materials needed:
4 lbs of Blackjack low fire clay
Large store bought leaf or a large one from your yard
Jute to hang the bird feeder
Cotton sheeting or canvas, 15” X 15
Wooden slats – 3/16” thick and 12” long
PVC pipe 12” long
A small cup of water
Wooden skewer or needle tool
Old credit card to smooth clay
Plastic straw to bore holes
Glass stones (optional) I used green
Plastic bags (I used dry cleaner bags)
Wooden slats – 3/16” thick and 12” long
Access to a kiln
Low-fire glaze of your choice (I used Mayco’s Elements EL-123 Patina)
Paint brushes
Cut off wire
Lay out your canvas, wooden slats, rolling pin, needle tool, large leaf, and small
cup of water to begin. Take block of clay and slam down on the table to flatten
the clay out. You might even take the clay and sling it to the right and then sling
it to the left to get the clay to thin out. This will save time when you start to roll the
clay out. I even take my rolling pin and pound the clay to get it thinner. With the
3/16” slats on the side, begin to use the rolling pin to roll the clay out.
Keep in mind the width of the leaf so that you can make it fit on the clay.
Make sure to always keep the rolling pin on the slats so that the thickness
of the clay will be uniform.
Place the leaf on top of the clay and press carefully with fingers into the clay.
I made some extra details with my needle tool. Make sure you don’t go too
deep into the clay as this could result in cracking. With the needle tool carefully
cut the leaf out. With your finger slightly moistened, smooth out the rough edges
on the sides of the clay. Set this aside until it is a little bit stiffer.
With the straw, you need to cut out holes in three strategic spots to hang the
feeder while making sure the holes are large enough after the clay has shrunk
to be able to feed the jute through the holes. Take plastic bags wadded up and
begin curving the sides of the feeder up slightly. Cover with plastic to allow it to
dry slowly. Dry completely to bone dry.
Bisque fire to a shelf cone 04 (1060 degrees Celsius) and let cool. With a
low fire glaze that is compatible with your clay, brush the glaze onto the
bisque fired piece. Let the glaze dry between coats. Let dry. You could place
glass stones in the middle of the bird feeder if you prefer, but make sure there
are not too many as when the glass melts; it becomes liquid and it might run
off the piece. Fire in a kiln to a shelf cone 06 (999 degrees Celsius) and let cool completely.
Cut three pieces of the jute two feet long each. Use tape to secure the end
of the jute to be able to thread it through the hole easier. Tie a knot under the
bird feeder on all three strands. Take these three strands and tie together to
be able to hang your bird feeder. Fill this with your favorite bird seed and sit
back and enjoy watching all the birds!!
Enjoy your bird feeder for many years to come!!
Artwork and Photography by Karen Lowrey
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