Ceramics + Design 1

Paisley Rathje “cookie jar”

9x3x3, Stoneware and Glaze, 2025 

This is my cookie jar. I came up with this idea because I didn't want to make a pumpkin because I feel like it wouldn't get used as much. I could put a lot more stuff in the cookie jar and put it way more to use. To make it we coiled it and then smoothed it out after it was coiled, then shaped it how I wanted it to look.

Next my intention was to make a cookie jar for my family or we could use it as something else but mainly for a cookie jar. I think what was most difficult for me to do was the coiling and smoothing part. If I started over I would definitely make a pumpkin, it seemed way more challenging. 

Paisley Rathje “pitcher”

5x3x3, Stoneware and Glaze, 2025 

This pitcher was one of the first things we made in ceramics. I liked this one the most because it wasn't super easy but also not very difficult to make. This was one of my favorite i think this turned out to be really good it is very smooth and straight. I came home the day after i brought it home and my step dad was drinking coffee our of it so it's got a multi purpose use i suppose.

I chose to do this color because it stood out to me i loved the blue, blue is my favorite color so that is part of the reason i just thought this was a very vibrant blue and i love it. What was most difficult for me was getting the stamp on there perfect i had to wet it down and smooth it out so many times 

 Paisley Rathje “food bowl”

2x3x1, Stoneware and Glaze, 2025 

I made this for my cat Phyllis, she loves food and is always begging for food and so i thought i should make her something so i made her a food bowl. I love the color of this. This took a class time to make. It was a very easy project to make. It was difficult  to get the curvy edges on the bowl. I used the lab roller to make the slab flat and shaped it into a bowl, then smoothed everything in and then put it in the kilm room so it could get fired and then glazied it.

Paisley Rathje “charcuterie board.”

3x6, Stoneware and Glaze, 2025

  This is my charcuterie board. I made this at the beginning of ceramics class. My original idea was to make a chip bowl in the middle of a big platform. But I wanted to change up my idea to make it more unique. I wedged the clay into a flatter rectangle, then put it in the slab roller to make it completely flat.  

  After it was put into the kilm it was very bumpy, so I had to sand it a lot to get it smooth so I could glaze it and put it back in the kilm. I did about 4 coats to make it a bright yellow. I wanted to paint this bright yellow because I love the color yellow, I think it can really do something to a piece of art. I feel like this project turned out. Very good, and I would love to do this project again. 

Paisley Rathje "non ceramic project" 

origami, 2026

This is my non ceramic  project, for this i made a dog and a cat out of paper, i made it because it was an easy thing to make also while showing character and how easy it is to make stuff with little materials. something i struggled with was the nose sticking down i had to tape it and then the tape was way too big to look normal.