| Need a new lamp in the living room? Instead of | | | | throw it away. For the ceramist, this is no |
| shopping around and hoping that you will find | | | | problem. Rather, it is an opportunity. All that need |
| something which only resembles what you desire, | | | | be done is to make another handle out of clay, |
| make it yourself. It is not hard, really, once you | | | | striving, of course, to make it handsomer than |
| have mastered the basic techniques of making | | | | the original. |
| ceramic wares. Once started, you will find no end | | | | These are but a few of the things you can |
| of things of their children's development. The | | | | accomplish after gaining a little background |
| kindergarten boy or girl brings home drawings | | | | knowledge and practical experience. Stop and |
| made on cheap paper -which in a few years | | | | think for a few minutes and you'll be able to |
| crumble into dust, much to the parent's dismay. | | | | come up with many, many others. Just to run |
| However, if these same drawings, so much | | | | through the alphabet, there are: ash trays, bells, |
| treasured by parents, were done on tile, they | | | | cigarette boxes, dresser sets, egg cups, figurines, |
| would never fade; the colors would remain vivid | | | | gravy dishes, hat pins, inkwells, jam jars, lockets, |
| and fresh as the day they were made. | | | | mirror frames, napkin rings, ocarinas, pipe holders, |
| Among the most popular do-it-yourself projects | | | | quatrefoil wall plaques, razor holders, saltcellars, |
| today is the tile-topped coffee table. In a fine | | | | thimbles, umbrella handles, vases, window boxes, |
| furniture shop such a table would cost an absolute | | | | Yule cards, zipper tags for children which bear the |
| minimum of $100. Yet, the ceramics hobbyist in | | | | wearer's name and address. |
| his spare time can produce just as fine a table | | | | You could probably compile a similar list in short |
| quite simply and at one-fourth the price. | | | | order. Perhaps, you will even think of a ceramic |
| Similarly, when gift-giving time rolls around, you | | | | something that begins with the letter X. Many |
| can present your family and friends with things no | | | | ceramists have turned their hobby into profitable |
| one else could possibly give them things you have | | | | sidelines by conceiving of new ceramic forms. |
| created especially for each of them. Your gifts, | | | | The vast majority of professional clay workers |
| though inexpensive to make, will bear the which | | | | today got their start as amateur hobbyists, just |
| can be made for the home and your own | | | | like you. After they advanced far enough, they |
| personal adornment. The most ordinary article can | | | | found that people were willing to pay for the |
| be given real, lasting beauty with a bit of | | | | ceramic goods they produced. |
| imagination on the ceramist's part. | | | | Of course it is nice to be able to make your |
| Take, as an example, a commonplace kitchen | | | | hobby pay for itself. And it's even nicer if you can |
| knife. Let us say the handle is broken. The blade, | | | | earn a living by doing something you enjoy. |
| however, is fine steel and it would be a shame to | | | | |