Before bells, buzzers, or raised voices, some British taverns relied on a quieter kind of signal. Whistling mugs—ordinary drinking vessels fitted with a small whistle—allowed patrons to call for another round with a puff of breath rather than a shout. Used mainly in the 18th and 19th centuries, these mugs blended utility, humor, and civility. One sip for refreshment, one whistle for service—proof that even in a crowded pub, good design could keep the peace. These modern whistling mugs tip their rims to that tradition: when the mug speaks, it does so politely.

We're almost to February. I haven't had time for the January challenge, but was inspired by a Reddit post to offer this for February. Hear me out! Many new potters post, "How do I make this?" And that's fine, but to me, one of the joys of pottery is figuring things out. So, here's my challenge to you, with time to plan in advance, 'cause it may be a hard one. Find a tutorial video on YouTube or wherever. Then figure out a different way to make the item. Post the link to the tutorial and "making" images from your altered method. Think outside the box! For instance, Tiffinie Helmer (Hobble Creek Pottery) posted a video of hand-building a canteen. I don't have a lot of space to handbuild (and frankly, I'm not so good at it!), so I thought, "How can I make that on the wheel?" I threw two wide, shallow bowls with straight sides and joined them. Then I added pieces for the strap to go through, and a neck for a stopper. BOOM! A wheel thrown canteen. Images for inspiration. This was thrown with Laguna Frost cone 6 porcelain, relief carved, decorated with Colors For Earth Color Concentrates, and glazed with Kitten's Clear or Hanson's 20x5 (don't remember which!). It's got an adjustable strap and I used a rubber band glued to the stopper so it's actually functional. The only thing I'm not thrilled with is the "chain" attaching the stopper to the canteen. I'm excited to see what y'all come up with. There's a hundred ways to make a form. Let's expand our horizons and have some fun!

I’ve tried something new on my YouTube channel. I just posted a long format video (79 minutes) of me glazing and telling stories. My intention was making a video that could be played in the background to keep someone “company” if they work alone in a studio like I do. It was fun to make but took longer to upload and edit. My iPad microphone had some glitches which I need to figure out. That notwithstanding, I would value your feedback on this video before I try another one. I put in lots of chapters if someone just wanted to hear stories. Anyway, thanks in advance to anyone who wants to give me constructive feedback. Studio Ambience: 79 minutes of Calm Glazing, Aviation Stories and Wild Buffalo in Pawhuska https://youtu.be/ErYuxzILqvM

Hey Thanks! (for letting a dinosaur into the group 😉) I do my share of traditional pottery, but my specialty is making ceramic musical instruments, mostly flutes, ocarinas, udus, and drums. I look forward to interacting with the group.

Hi!