I’m testing out a diatomaceous stone drying mat in the pottery studio and I’m really curious if this thing lives up to the hype. It’s designed to absorb moisture fast and self-dry, so my thought is… could this be a gentle helper for clay that’s taking forever to firm up? Here’s how I’m planning to use it: • Placing slabs or small handbuilt pieces on it to help even out moisture • Using it under freshly trimmed pots to pull water from the foot without rushing them • Testing it as a slow, steady drying surface instead of boards or drywall ( my drywall is peeling -- annoying) • Seeing if it helps with those awkward in-between stages when clay just won’t cooperate The mat is porous, meant to absorb moisture quickly, and dry itself with airflow, which sounds very promising for studio use. No heat, no sun, just quiet absorption doing its thing. I’ll be testing it today with different clay stages and will report back with results. If this works, it could be a really nice tool for controlled drying without cracking or stress. Has anyone tried something like this already? I’ll update soon with clay receipts 🏺👀

One of the big challenges on YouTube is to get watch time...and subscribers! I have tried to mention new channels every time I post to YouTube, and it seems to be helping others. But watch time is another challenge. I know I'm getting close to the 1,000 mark, and that's exciting, but I'm still waaay below the minimum watch hours to get my vids pushed to the next level. Perhaps we can help each other out by rewatching videos, or watching earlier videos that we haven't watched yet. I suggest that if you have a channel and want help with this, post your link in the comments, and let people know if you are trying to get more subscribers, watch time, or both.

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

As per Mary's request...a sample of my work

After weeks/months of behind-the-scenes work, my website is OFFICIALLY LIVE 🚀🎉💝 I would love it if you could take a look & share when you get time. At the moment I am only shipping within the UK whilst I get to grips with it all but will definitely be shipping globally soon. 🔗 https://www.sarahhallamceramics.co.uk/ Thank you for all your support 💝