Expert: stephen - 1/29/2010

Question

Our church is attempting to go green.  Problem is that everyone is so use to using the "evil styrofoam" that they do not what to use ceramic cups.  To get them motivated I thought we could purvchase greenware mugs, have the children decorate, personalize them, and then get them fired.  I think a great idea, but not so easy to find out how to do it and how to do it as inexpensively as possible.   The children will be selling the cups to raisde money for a good cause.  I need some guidance because we need to make around 100 mugs.  

Answer
This really depends on what equipment you have? Kiln etc
You could ask a potter to do it but I am not sure what prices they charge over there.
You can get 1 mug make a plaster mould and then reproduce that way, but decorating material for ceramic ware is not cheap.

Ask your local potter how much he would charge for 100 mugs unglazed, then work out what you need for decorating, underglaze/slips etc then a glaze over the top of that. then see if you can buy cheaper from a shop?


sorry thats about all i can help with