Crafting in Two Worlds
Cason t -
Hello and Welcome Back!
It’s been a productive week on my chess set project! Over the past week, I finished constructing the board’s frame and began working on the pieces. Fortunately, the process went much smoother this time around.
One of the biggest improvements was eliminating the issue of wood splitting—a huge relief! To prevent it, I spent several hours meticulously sanding the edges of each piece. This allowed for a better fit and safeguarded against splitting. However, the measurements of the tails on the new pieces were larger than the pins, which required extensive sanding. In the end, though, everything came together beautifully.
During my research into making chess sets, I noticed that most boards were constructed by gluing all the blocks together first and then attaching the frame around them. This method eliminates the need for a bottom that might contrast with the rest of the board and even offers the option of creating a double-sided board. Moving forward, I’ll adopt this approach for constructing the board; however, I’m setting it aside for now as I shift my focus to working with clay.
Speaking of clay, I recently received my supplies: three 2-pound bags of clay and a small spray bottle for rehydration. It’s been years since I last worked with clay, and I’m thrilled to dive back in! Even more exciting, I’ll have the chance to learn from a master of the craft, Ms. Junya Shao. She recently hosted a pottery class where students created stunning teapots in just three days. The designs were absolutely awe-inspiring. While I contributed to grammar-checking a Facebook post about the class, I haven’t been able to locate it. Instead, you can check out an Instagram post showcasing their incredible work here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DF6ALh8zsi-/?img_index=1
I don’t believe the 6 pounds of clay will be enough to create all the pieces, but it’s a solid starting point. Fortunately, I can always order more later to ensure the clay doesn’t dry out before I use it. Once I reach my site placement, Ms. Junya Shao has promised to provide more in-depth explanations of techniques and demonstrate how to use some of the tools. Earlier in the project, she generously offered to lend me tools for working with clay. I gladly accepted her offer but requested to receive them at a later date—that date is now fast approaching.
While observing her work, I was particularly intrigued by one tool she used: a clay mallet. Its purpose, conditioning the clay to prepare it for use, wasn’t remarkable in itself, but its design caught my attention. It had a simple handle topped with a large wooden block, almost resembling a club.
In the meantime, I plan to start creating pieces without the tools. This will give me a chance to either experiment with designs I like or re-familiarize myself with the process of working with clay. And now that I have a solid plan for the rest of the board, I can dedicate my full efforts to crafting the pieces—a creative and exciting new phase in this project. Stay tuned for more updates!
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