Polymer Clay

Fimo and clay tips and tutorials

Clay Studio Series – YouTube Video Review: Handbuilt Bird Feeder

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For anyone who loves combining pottery with a touch of nature, this YouTube tutorial by Jana Storm is a perfect project. In this video, she shows how to create a ceramic bird feeder using nothing more than the pinching technique and stoneware clay.

What the Video Covers

Jana shapes a hollow form with an opening that works beautifully as a bird feeder. She emphasizes the simplicity of the project: no pottery wheel, no advanced tools — just your hands, clay, and a bit of patience.

Why We Love It

  • Nature-Friendly: A functional craft that welcomes birds into your garden. 
  • Beginner-Friendly: Pinching technique is approachable for first-time potters. 
  • Stylish: The organic shape and speckled clay give the piece a modern, earthy look. 
  • Customizable: Use different glazes or even add macramé yarn for hanging. 

Materials and Glazes Used

  • Speckled Stoneware Clay with 20% chamotte 
  • BOTZ Glossy White Glaze (No. 9101) 
  • Pottery Tool Starter Set 
  • Macramé yarn for hanging 

Craft Gossip’s Take

We love this project for its mix of creativity and function. It’s a relaxing handbuilding project that doubles as a practical item for your garden. Perfect as a gift for nature lovers or as a personal project that brings more life into your outdoor space.

If you’ve been looking for a clay project with a bit of charm and purpose, this bird feeder tutorial will definitely inspire you.

Have you read?

Book Review Wednesday: Air-Dry Clay Making Handbook

This week’s Book Review Wednesday pick is Air-Dry Clay Making Handbook by Jacalyn K. Myron, and this is another one of those crossover craft books that could easily live in more than one corner of CraftGossip.

It is not strictly a jewelry making book, but the cover does mention jewelry projects, and air-dry clay is a lovely material for making lightweight pendants, charms, ring dishes, earrings, beads, and little decorative pieces. So I’m letting it sneak into the Jewelry Making series because, honestly, half the fun of handmade jewelry is experimenting with materials that were not necessarily “jewelry supplies” to begin with.

Air-dry clay is especially appealing for beginners because you do not need an oven, kiln, torch, or specialist setup. You can shape it, texture it, let it dry, sand it, paint it, seal it, and turn it into something sweet and useful. It is very approachable, which makes it a nice option for crafters who want to try clay jewelry without jumping straight into polymer clay baking or resin mixing.

This book looks like a practical beginner guide covering air-dry clay techniques, tools, tips, and projects, including jewelry, home décor, animals, figurines, and small sculptures. I like that mix because it gives makers room to play. You might start with a simple ring dish or pendant and then wander off into little bowls, ornaments, charms, or handmade gifts.

For jewelry makers, I’d see this as a gentle introduction to clay-based accessories. Think handmade pendants, textured earrings, little clay charms, or small dishes for storing rings and earrings. It would also pair nicely with our Jewelry Making projects and the more clay-focused ideas here.

My Shellie-style take? Air-Dry Clay Making Handbook looks like a calm, beginner-friendly craft book for anyone who wants to try clay without too much fuss. It may lean more general craft than pure jewelry, but there is enough jewelry potential here to make it useful for makers who enjoy handmade accessories, gift projects, and pretty little things made by hand.

You can find the book here: Air-Dry Clay Making Handbook.