Tips and Tools: Studio Solutions Stacia Miller

Appears in the May 2025 issue of Ceramics Monthly.

Often the best tools are those that come together quickly and easily from everyday materials. The following are examples of handy pottery tools that are cheap, easy, and impactful. 

One of the best things about being a potter is creative freedom. I love creating new and interesting pots, but I also love finding creative solutions to studio problems. I own plenty of tools designed for potters, but I also like practical solutions made from inexpensive objects. 

Craft Foam 

One of my most versatile studio materials is craft foam. 

• Wedging: If I want to dry out my clay, I will wedge on a piece of cement board. But other times, to help maintain clay moisture, I wedge directly on a large piece of craft foam glued to my wedging table (1). Clay doesn’t stick to craft foam like most other non-absorbent surfaces, which keeps the clay in a nice, clean mass while losing less water. 
• Slab roller mat: Large sheets of craft foam can be ordered online, and cut to whatever size works for your slab roller (2). Be careful not to roll thick wads of clay, because craft foam can stretch out. Craft foam is easier to clean than canvas, helping keep clay dust to a minimum. It rinses quickly in the sink with a kitchen brush. 
• Clay storage: When my students roll a slab, but don’t have time to finish their project until the next week, we store their slabs with craft foam on both sides. It is then wrapped in dry-cleaning plastic (3). The foam helps keep the project moist all week, but is easy to clean, so doesn’t kick up dust like dirty plastic. 

Another type of foam that I frequently use is upholstery foam. Many potters use upholstery foam with press molds for trays. But another practical use is to keep your mugs from rolling away while decorating. I cut a hole in the center of some upholstery foam, and it cradles my mug while I work (4, 5). 

Dental Flosser 

One uncommon throwing tool I love is a dental flosser. 

• Throwing: I use it to remove uneven rims (6). I like that it makes a thinner cut than a needle tool, and remains taut on its own unlike a wire tool. 
• Trimming feet: I sometimes use it to cut lumps and bumps from an upside-down pot instead of a loop tool. 

Pool Noodles 

I love pool noodles for organization. I cut them into different sizes and shapes, and use them in several places around my studio. 

• Tool holder at the wheel: I cut a lengthwise slit in a small section of pool noodle, which can then slide onto the back edge of my splash pan. A needle tool can be inserted anywhere in the noodle, and various slits can accommodate ribs and a flosser (7). 
• Needle tool holder: I glue a small section of pool noodle onto a cheap cup for holding various hand tools. To avoid accidentally being stabbed when grabbing tools, I store the sharp ends of needle tools and scoring tools directly in the noodle. 
• Pins by the sink: I often use sewing pins to unclog the tiny tips of slip-trailing dispensers. To keep the pins handy, I make a little pin cushion out of a tiny piece of pool noodle (8). I glue this to a shelf right next to my sink for easy access. 

Toothbrush 

My favorite creative tool when making glazes is a restructured toothbrush (9). I cut off the bristled end and screw it perpendicular to the handle. 

• Stirring: I like to stir small batches of glazes with a semi-stiff-bristled brush. I find this is more effective than a spoon or spatula at incorporating glaze from the corners and edges of the container. Stirring with cheap toothbrushes helps keep the bristles of my painting brushes in good condition. 
• Sieving: a toothbrush is great for brushing small batches of test glaze through a sieve. 

Sharpie 

A fun alternative to wax resist for decorative work is a gold Sharpie. I draw directly on bisqueware, dip it in glaze, and the inked area remains unglazed. Sharpie can be easier to control than a brush with wax, and saves on clean up. Gold Sharpie can leave a copper-green haze in some glazes, so test for your own circumstances. 

I hope you can use some of these creative tools in your studio and are inspired to look for your own creative studio solutions! 

the author Stacia Miller makes functional stoneware and teaches pottery in Kyle, Texas. She loves developing new glaze recipes and hanging out with her husband and 10-year-old son. Learn more at www.claybystacia.com, or follow her on Instagram or Facebook @claybystacia for more pottery tips.