2. Care of materials  Clay will clog sinks! They will explode! I’m NOT kidding! So, rinse your hands and tools first in the red buckets of water.  Return all supplies to the place you found them  Make sure unused clay is returned to the bag and the bag is WRAPPED up (sealed)  Clay dust is harmful to the respiratory system. Over time it can cause the big C. Protect yourself and your friends by keeping the room CLEAN. Wipe your desks CLEAN every day. Pick up any clay that drops on the floor. Never sand or scrape dry clay. Don’t blow dust.  NEVER throw clay! If you throw clay, you will not be allowed to use clay. It’s called…RESEARCH PAPER.

3. Before you begin  The first step is ALWAYS to wedge your clay. Even if it’s brand new. Even if you already wedged that piece yesterday. ALWAYS WEDGE. Failure to wedge will lead to explosions in the kiln.  Always “scratch and attach” when putting pieces of clay together. Failure to attach properly will lead to your pieces falling off.  No part of your sculpture can be more than 1” thick. If it’s thicker than that, hidden air bubbles might cause it to explode.

4. Care of your project  While it’s in progress, always wrap your work in plastic. If it dries out…you’re outta luck.  The greenware stage is the most fragile stage of ceramics. Be careful when transporting your work.  NEVER touch someone else’s project!