How to Make Ceramic Wall Pockets: Beautiful Wall-Hanging Vases

Wall pockets are an elegant and space-conserving way to display fresh or dried flowers in your home. Although these wall-hanging vases are all the rage at craft shows and art boutiques, they are actually extremely easy to make for even the beginning ceramicist. With just a few easy to follow steps, you too can make beautiful wall pockets to decorate your home with or to give as gifts.

First, you must select your clay. If you plan on using your wall pockets for fresh flowers, you'll need them to be waterproof. For this reason, I suggest stoneware clay. Stoneware clays are designed to be fired to high temperatures which render them waterproof. However, this project can be completed using earthenware clay as well. You will need to glaze the inside of the pocket when finished if using earthenware to make sure it will hold water. Conversely, if you wish to only display dried or artificial flowers, any clay, including air-dry clay, would work.

After selecting your clay, take a baseball sized piece and wedge it. To wedge clay, work it on a table much like you would knead bread. Wedging clay warms it up, expels any air bubbles, and gets it ready to work with. After your clay feels fully wedged, you are ready to roll out your slab.

When rolling out a slab of clay, it is important that the clay be a consistent thickness across the slab. An easy way to achieve this is to set two dowel rods or wooden spoons on either side of your clay. Next, place a rolling pin on the rods or spoon handles and roll out your clay slab. The rods or handles will keep your rolling pin level and a consistent distance from the table, creating a perfect slab.

Next, you are ready to trim your slab. Take a ruler and thin knife and trim your slab into a rectangle. The size of the rectangle depends on the desired size of your finished pocket. Regardless of size, you will want your rectangle to be approximately one and a half time wider than it is tall. I have found that a six by nine inch rectangle works nicely.

Now you are ready to form the pocket. Using your knife, score with small cuts both six inch size edges of your rectangle. Next, wet your finger and gently dampen the scored edges. Now, gently roll your slab to form a cylinder and smooth the seam with a wet finger. Do your best to smooth the seam to the point it is no longer visible. This technique will connect the two sides and create a tight seal. Now, score and wet the inside of the bottom of your cylinder. Pinch the bottom together and once again, smooth the seal. Finally, take a drinking straw and pierce a hole on either side of your pocket near the top.

Set your pocket upside down to dry. After it is has fully dried, follow the directions of the clay your selected. If you are using a stoneware clay, bisque fire your pocket then glaze the outside as your wish. If you are using earthenware, bisque then glaze the outsize and inside fully. If you chose air-dry clay, paint or seal your piece with acrylics and a thick gloss coat. Finally, place a piece of copper wire, raffia, or leather through the holes and you are ready to hang your creation.