Seasons greetings to our valued readers, community members, and potters! October marks the beginning of the harvest season. At Warwick Pottery, we’re in the full swing of holidays as our potters pump out the cutest seasonal decor. This month, we’re sharing some reminders regarding studio housekeeping and sharing a kind reminder of our upcoming show. Read on to see what we’re up to in October!
– Marilyn
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! Our annual Show & Sale is back!
Join us for our 5th annual pottery show & sale! Our show & sale is an opportunity for the students of Warwick Pottery to come together and show off their incredible talent. Click here to read the official announcement!
When: December 14, 2025 10AM – 4PM
Where: Warwick Pottery Studio – 11 Hamilton Ave., Warwick, NY
FOR STUDENTS: SIGN-UP’S ARE DUE BY SAT. NOVEMBER 8, 2025!! To participate in the show, sign-up HERE. To volunteer with setting up/taking down, click HERE.
Studio Updates
Kiln Cookies
I’m beyond grateful to everyone who’s been making cookies to go under their pots for the kiln! When properly sized, kiln cookies make a huge difference when it comes to keeping glaze drips off the kiln shelves and protecting everyone’s work.
Quick reminder: Don’t place your unbisqued cookies under your pieces for the first bisque fire. In their unfired state, the cookies are too fragile to support your pots and can easily crack. Cookies should be no wider than the widest piece of your pot and at least ¼ inch thick, as thin ones tend to warp/break during firing. After you’ve made both your piece and its cookie, set them side by side on the shelf. After bisque fire, the cookie will be strong enough to hold your pot.
Your care and attention make kiln loading so much smoother — and help keep everyone’s pots safe from glaze mishaps. Thank you for being such a thoughtful studio community!
Missing Giffin Grip Pieces
We are missing the third piece that fits into the Giffin Grip that holds the third arm of the Giffin Grip. If you find the missing piece, please put it back in its home with the Giffin Grip and let Marilyn know you’ve found it!
NEW!! WHEEL CLEANING BUCKET SYSTEM!
Rachel has introduced a fabulous new wheel cleaning system to help with studio efficency. You will notice that each wheel has a basic tool kit in a blue bucket, black tray, large yellow sponge, and large bucket. Please see below for step by step instructions of using the new system.
1. Fill the large bucket with water to do an initial wash of all tools, the wheel head, legs, and wheel basin. You can place tools in the black container as you clean so the bucket stays free while wiping the wheel down.
2. Empty the large bucket of dirty water into the bucket in the sink with the filter. Even if the bucket in the sink is full, the old water will flow out as new water is poured in. The filter will catch clay clumps and tools that may have ended up at the bottom of the large bucket while you cleaned up.
3. Fill the large bucket with clean water do a final wipe down of the wheel and tools with a sponge. The water should run mostly clear.
4. Do a final rinse of your tools and the wheel basin at the sink (this should be the only time you need to rinse at the sink).
Thank you for doing your part in helping keep our studio clean!
ATTENTION: PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH MOVE THE KILN FAN
You may have noticed it in the kiln room…
There’s a fan that is facing directly into the open area of the wires that feed into the kiln. It’s rather complicated as to why, but please know that it’s very necessary for operating the kiln!
We’ve come to find that the fan has been set aside or has been moved and it not facing directly into the wires of the kiln. Please, please, PLEASE… do not move the fan! It’s unsafe for the kiln. It causes a degradation of the wires. We have observed that the iln is not operating up to snuff because of this very reason.
Please pay attention!
Food Safe? Dinnerware Safe? What is the Difference?
After a meaningful conversation with Lesley P, Marilyn asked AI to explain the difference between dinnerware safe and food safe glazes.
Food Safe means a glaze does not leach lead or cadmium, while dinnerware safe includes this and also requires the glaze to be chemically durable and have a smooth surface that is easy to clean and doesn’t harbor bacteria.
Dinnerware Safe is a broader term that means the item is suitable for daily use with all foods, including acidic ones. An item can be food safe but not dinnerware safe, especially if it has a surface texture that is difficult to clean or a glaze that is not durable enough for constant use.
QUICK NOTES:
Food Safe
Dinnerware Safe
What it means
Dinnerware safe glaze does not leach harmful substances like lead or cadmium into food. Includes all the requirements of “food safe” PLUS, the glaze is chemically durable and its surface is smooth and easy to clean.
Surface Durability
Does not specify surface durability or texture. Glaze must be resistant to acidic foods and avoid surface textures that can trap bacteria. A glaze that is non-toxic but has a textured surface, like a crackle glaze, might be food safe but not dinnerware safe.
Example
A mug, plate, or bowl that can withstand acidic foods and is easy to wash is dinnerware safe.
Regulatory Status
In the US, it’s a regulatory standard defined by the FDA for lead and cadmium release. Not a legally defined standard, but is a term manufacturers use to indicate that an item is suitable for the rigors of daily use as dinnerware.