h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Clay is a substance formed of minerals and water. As such clay can be diluted or dried to form any consistancy from Very Hard, to Runny, or even; Very Runny.
The bipedal mammalian species that inhabit the planet upon which clay can be found make use of it by shaping it and then burning it.
When clay is subjected to an extreme heat - this process is called 'fired' - it hardens into a water tight and relatively tough substance.
It's different consistancies mean that it can be shaped with ease, even when you only have ten dextrous digits. And those with only two joints each.

but they are opposable.

you can a Golem from clay

this is true.

Sorry, i didn't mean to get than in my jounal... I was aiming for a new guide entry and missed.

this is true.

Sorry, i didn't mean to get than in my jounal... I was aiming for a new guide entry and missed.

Clay can be VERY relaxing, as can blu-tac.

how?

It's annoying when it wont go the shape you want it to go. THen it dries out and crumbles...

But when you've got a perfectly centred pot, and your up to your neck in watery clay.. that's fun.

I'm taking a pottery class, and am finding out that throwing a pot is dang hard.

IT really is! Centering take AGES! Are you using electric or pedal wheels. It's fun though aint it?

I am using a kick type wheel. My leg and back get a little sore from all that kicking. The hardest thing for me is remembering not to touch the clay at the same time I am kicking. You're supposed to get the wheel up to the speed you want, then take your feet off and start on the clay. That's how our teacher is showing us, anyway. And you're supposed to keep your elbows tucked in. It is hard to remember all the details like that! Centering is hard - the first two times I threw pots my clay came loose from the wheel, and started wobbling around. My instructor had to come over and press down real hard to recenter it. Luckily it was still in the early stages, where it is basically a centered blob. I've managed to turn out three fairly decent pots. It will be very satisfying to get them fired and glazed, and show them to my family. Yes, it is fun, in a peculiarly demanding way.

JEllen

It must be hard to use one of those! the electric ones its just like an accelerator pedal.
Yeah you have to really throw it onto the wheel to get it to stick!

You managed some pots! Cool. What colour are you glazing them?

I want to make the top two thirds yellow, and the bottom third blue. And if we can mix glazes, I want to put a purple stripe between the two.

Cool! You'll probably need a paintbrush for that

It's very relaxing, the way you can knead it in your fingers, it's like a great burden drops away as you mould it in your hands....

that was very poetic! It can also destress you when you throw it at people

I'd love to sculpt a whole room out of clay.

Tehy would be really cool.

*that

or mayb Oasis. That green stuff plants can grow in. That would be cool also.

Can you actually mold oasis?

yes.

When it's wet.

Well carve anyway. Which is the same as moulding

I thought moulding was sort of squeezing it into a different shape, whilst carving is sort of permanent.