How to Make a Slab Vase with Inlaid Sprigs Jennifer Harnetty

Inlaying sprig molded forms necessitates you build your primary form through slab construction. Using two different colored clay bodies which mature at similar temperatures creates the most striking results. This allows you to create contrasting light colored objects inlaid into a dark clay slab or vice versa.

Choose two different colored clay bodies which mature at the same temperature. Stonewares or earthenwares work great for this technique. One of the bodies will be pressed into the plaster sprig molds and the other will be rolled into slabs.

Follow the sprig molded imagery directions above to accumulate objects in a plastic storage container. Allow the sprig molded forms to dry to a firm leather hard consistency.

Roll slabs with the other clay body. The slabs may need to set up a short while but you want them fairly wet for use.

Take your leather hard sprig molded objects and place them upside down on a non-stick work surface, They can be laid out randomly or in a pattern

Place your still wet slab over your leather hard objects and re-roll the slab. This will inlay the objects into the slab. Allow your slabs to dry to the desired consistency. Build your form with your inlaid slabs.

NOTE: When using two different clay bodies, do a test piece first to make sure the clays shrink at similar rates and dry very slowly to prevent cracking!