Ceramic Jewelry Box Part 1
Making a domed lid for the jewelry box
I don’t know why I haven’t done this before, but I finally broke away from the square! The idea came to me in a dream – okay, maybe not a dream but a lucid day dream. Then, unexpectedly, I received an email from super talented Texas painter, Jean Levert Hood, who was interested in a custom covered box for her sister’s birthday. Now, I normally don’t do special requests (it’s too much like homework to me), but given her timing, I said, “Sure, as long as I can experiment a bit….”
Box with domed lid before cutting lid off
I set out to create a two level jewelry box that was longer than wide with a domed lid since I liked the square one I made recently. This is white ^6 stoneware and measures 6″w x 5″h (with dome, walls are 4″ hight) x 4″d.
Bottom interior of jewelry box
I like solving design challenges. When I decided to create a 2 tier box, I had to create a support system for the top level of the box since an insert will sit on top of the bottom level. What you don’t see in the photo above are the side supports. I added those after I placed the insert in and found that it wobbled.
The divided tray will form second layer inside the jewelry box
Since I’ve already closed up the box, I don’t have any photos of the 2nd level insert inside the box. I’ll be cutting the lid off today or tomorrow, and will have to give you that view a later day. Initially, I didn’t want to put a divider in the second level, but I found out that I needed something to grab onto to make lifting it out easy.
Jean is really easy going in regards to this project – she did tell me that her sister loves bunnies and butterflies which I am going to incorporate into the design. Then there’s the issue of color - I’d hate to make this purple if her sis hates the color. I am going to use a turquoise under-glaze and will also be using the white of the clay. I’m looking forward to seeing how this one develops – so I had better hop to it!
Meanwhile, I’ll leave you with this video. If you keep up with me on Facebook, you may have already seen this one. It makes me laugh, so just in case you need a giggle, here ya go:
Have a good day everyone,
~Cynthia
