From Beginnings to Bespoke: Why I upgraded My Clay for Your Kitchen

When I first started my journey with Clay Fairy Ceramics, I was learning the ropes and experimenting with different materials. Every artist starts somewhere, and for me, that was with Scarva Saint Patrick SP 20 Red Clay.

At roughly £13 a bag, the SP 20 was a great 'Artware' clay for learning. However, as I began designing pieces for your homes, I realized that Earthenware wasn't the right fit for the high standards I have for my work.

While it’s lovely for decorative items, Earthenware isn't as durable as I wanted for everyday use. Most importantly, it isn't always naturally food-safe or suitable for the long-term functional use that a busy kitchen requires. Don't get me wrong, this is an absolutely beautiful clay to work with and sculpt and start off with, so I highly recommend it for people starting out with hand-building or throwing. It's more cost-effective before you really dive down the rabbit hole of making food-safe wares and spending extra money on a bag of clay. In the end, I wanted you to be able to enjoy a hot chocolate in a Clay Fairy mug without a second thought about safety or strength—so I moved on!"

The Move to Stoneware: Efficiency & Excellence "To ensure my mugs and plates were fully functional and 100% food-safe, I made the jump to Stoneware. Did you know most of your ceramics are made from stoneware? From casserole dishes to your everyday mugs, stoneware is the most durable material for industrial and commercial use.

Initially, I moved to ES 5 Original White Stoneware. While this was a step up in durability, I hit a frustrating roadblock: the texture a wee bit of grit. The ES 5 had a just a bit of 'gritty' hardness after the first firing (the bisque stage) that required an incredible amount of labor. I found myself spending a day or even a day and a half just sanding down a single batch of pottery to get good smooth rims and handles. It was no joke literally mask on, goggles on, dry sanding in the back garden with dust floating everywhere. The i learnt wet sanding to be honesty wasn't a whole lot better but it is recommended in the pottery world. Big no no to dry sanding. It was time-consuming and, honestly, a bit boring! But handmade items need this attention. Especailly for quality handmade sellable pieces like mine.

Potter’s Tip: Find the right clay body! Don't do unnecessary work unless you have to. If you’re spending all your time sanding, it’s time for a change!

Expert Advice & The Professional Upgrade Finally, after 3 years (I'm a creature of habit!), I spoke with a technician at Scarva. Their advice? Switch to Professional PF 520 White Stoneware.

I am so so so happy I made that change! The PF 520 is a game-changer for me and my business:

• No More Heavy Sanding: This clay is so refined that the grit issues are almost gone.

• Smart Cleaning: I can now do my 'fettling' while the clay is still at the greenware stage.

• A Perfectly Smooth Body: It feels elegant in your hands and allows my glazes to lay beautifully.

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Quality You Can Trust

​My journey from a hobby clay to professional-grade stoneware is a promise to you - I will never compromise on the safety or quality of your ceramics. Every piece I make in my Northern Ireland studio is now stronger, smoother, and designed to be a functional piece of art you can use every single day.

Thank you so much for reading this blog and following along on my journey from red clay to professional stoneware. Every ‘gritty’ moment has been worth it to get to this point!

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Clay body images courtesy of Scarva.com

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