Yeeeooowwweeehhh!  Hot coffee can burn fingers when a mug made of ceramic is without a handle.   

While a mug made of ceramic (clay fired in a kiln) holds liquid it does let some of the heat from a hot drink escape.  It holds in the heat better than pewter (a common metal used to make mugs especially around the time of the American Revolution) but not as well as an insulated Styrofoam cup.

                   MAKING HANDLES FOR THE MUGS

Working with clay always starts with wedging it to press out any air bubbles or clumps of clay.



Paragraph.

Then I start to form the clay...

Paragraph.

...and roll it into the shape of a carrot. 

Paragraph.

To start to form the shape of the handle, I get my fingers wet and pull down on the clay.

My teacher told me that the movement of the hand down the clay is like milking a cow, but since I have never milked a cow that didn't help me when I was first learning to pull handles!

I have to pull down the clay on both sides about the same amount of times so that the handle is balanced.

Paragraph.

 I pull down on the clay a bunch of times to make the handle thinner and into the form of the handle.

Paragraph.

I pinch off the clay above what will be the top of the handle...

Notice how much clay is left in my other hand.  I will use this clay to pull more handles. 

...and then set it on the table for about 20 minutes to let the handle get just a little bit stiff. 

A little bit stiff is referred to as "leather hard" among potters because the clay bends like leather. 

To make sure the handle stays fixed to your mug, I use a metal tool with rough serrated edges (like a tiny saw) to put scratch marks on the mug...

I just noticed how much more clay is on my hands in this picture compared to the previous picture of my hands.  That is because I pulled about seven handles in between pictures.  Plus, I'm a messy potter!

...and on the handle.

The scratch marks on both the handle and the mug (where the handle is to be placed) create more surface area for the handle to stay fixed.

Then I attach the handle to the scratched area on the mug, using my finger to push down and smooth out the handle onto the mug.

Paragraph.

Finally, I use a specially shaped stick (tool) to make the handle look like it is really a part of the mug - the finishing touch!

Paragraph.

Aaaaaahhhhh!   That's better...a nice sturdy handle to hold onto.

Paragraph.