We’ll begin by throwing a cylinder on the wheel, which will serve as the base of your wind chime. Once it firms up, we’ll transform it into a charming animal by sculpting facial features and adding decorative details. You’ll also create a small clay tail, which will act as the chime, producing a soft, melodic sound in the breeze.

Must have pottery experience and can successfully throw a cylinder on the potter's wheel.  

To bring your piece to life, you’ll decorate it using colored slip, carving, stamping, and slab additions. Once dried, your wind chime will be bisque-fired, then dipped in a clear glaze to enhance and brighten the colors before its final firing.

What You’ll Learn:

• Wheel throwing – Creating a simple cup form
• Altering forms – Transforming a basic shape into an animal
• Slipping and scoring – Proper techniques for attaching clay pieces
• Decorating with colored slips (engobes) – Adding color and texture
• Incorporating high-fire wire – Ensuring the moving parts function beautifully

Class Steps:

1. Throw a cylinder on the wheel as the base.
2. Alter the form by sculpting and adding facial features.
3. Attach high-fire wire to support the chime components.
4. Enhance with decoration using slab pieces, stamps, and carving techniques.
5. Apply colored slip for vibrant, personalized designs.
6. Final firing process – Bisque fire, glaze, and glaze fire for a polished, weather-resistant finish.

By the end of this class, you’ll have a unique, handcrafted wind chime that adds charm to any garden, patio, or home!

Disclaimer: During the drying process and kiln firing it is possible that your piece may develop a bottom crack making it decorative instead of functional. 

For ages 14 and up

Finished pottery pieces not picked up in 90 days will be discarded.

For questions call 262-547-1920 or email us at [email protected]

Cancellation Policy:

Full refund is allowed if cancelling 14 days prior to the class. No refunds or reschedules after the 14 day period. Six sign-ups are necessary for the class to run. If your session will not run for any reason, we will call you the day before class and will refund or credit for a future class.  This is a popular class.

Pottery classes are located in Waukesha, Wisconsin about 20 minutes west of Milwaukee