Polymer Clay Storage Strategies

After those first few blocks of Fimo clay, about when you realize you’ll need a few of every colour and one of each tool you find, you start to think about storage. Since polymer clay stays usable for a long, long time under ideal conditions… you aim for the ideal conditions. Something that will keep it out of dust and heat but that the clay itself is compatible with. In my case that’s always been some combination of plastic zip bags, plastic tubs and shelves.

My unopened clay is on a rack in my studio shop, housed in a commercial building in my small town, for both me to pick from and students to buy off of. I found a few of these old book displays at the thrift store.

Once the clay gets opened it tends to live on my studio tables for a while but most of it gets put away regularly. The tub on the bottom catches scraps, loosely sorted into colour ways. There’s usually a few tubs going around here. Opened but not mixed blocks go in one of the blue lidded shallow boxes. Blends in one of the tackle boxes, canes to sell in other tackle boxes. Canes and blends and such that I’m using into the other blue lidded boxes.

Storage is a moving target for me – when I used far less clay, I got away with a few boxes on a bookshelf and that worked for a long time. These days, between studio work, classes and the physical shop I have more to store but also dramatically more space. As long as I remember to label and put things away, it even stays relatively neat.

What do you guys use?

There’s something so satisfying about creating a whole handmade set that feels like it belongs together. After experimenting with my grandmother’s doilies on flat slabs of clay, I wanted to see how they would look when pressed onto a curved form. That’s how this set of three doily pinch bowls was born—each one textured on the outside with lace, glazed in soft tones, and displayed together on a matching pink speckled doily platter.

It’s a beautiful way to combine sentimental textiles with modern pottery design. The finished set makes a charming serving arrangement for nibbles, dips, or trinkets, and it doubles as a decorative centerpiece when not in use.

Materials You’ll Need

White pottery clay (stoneware or porcelain)

Rolling pin

Crochet doily (preferably a smaller one for consistent texture)

Sponge and water

Small bowls or your hands (to form the pinch bowls)

Knife or clay cutter

Plastic wrap

Kiln access (or community pottery studio)

White glaze

Pink speckled glaze (or white glaze with pink oxide)

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Prepare the Clay

Cut your clay into three equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball about the size of a small orange.

Step 2: Form the Pinch Bowls

Using your thumbs, gently press into the center of each clay ball and pinch outward, rotating as you go, until you form small bowl shapes. Keep the walls fairly even, but don’t worry about perfection—pinch bowls are meant to have a rustic, organic charm.

Step 3: Press the Doily Texture

Drape a crochet doily around the outside of each bowl. Gently press it into the surface with your fingers or a rolling pin. Carefully peel it back to reveal the lace impression. Each bowl will carry the delicate detail of the doily, almost like a frozen textile pattern.

Step 4: Refine the Shape

Smooth the rims with a damp sponge, rounding off any sharp edges. Leave the outside textured, but clean up the insides of the bowls so they’re smooth for glazing.

Step 5: Dry and Fire

Let the bowls dry slowly until bone dry. Bisque fire them with the platter if you’re making the full set together.

Step 6: Glaze and Finish

For a cohesive look, glaze the pinch bowls in soft white or cream, allowing the doily texture to stand out. Place them on the matching pink speckled doily platter (created using the earlier technique) for a complete serving set.

Styling Ideas

Serving Set: Use the three bowls for nuts, olives, and dips when entertaining.

Jewelry Dishes: Perfect for holding rings, bracelets, and earrings on your dresser.

Decorative Accent: Place them on the platter as a centerpiece with seasonal décor inside (dried flowers, crystals, or potpourri).

Gift Idea: Wrap the full set as a handmade, one-of-a-kind present for weddings or housewarmings.

Why I Love This Project

These bowls carry a story. The lace impressions remind me of my grandmother’s hand-crocheted doilies, yet the final design feels fresh and modern. Displayed together on the platter, they become more than functional—they’re a handmade heirloom set that blends memory with everyday beauty.

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