Our handmade clay ring dishes are individually formed and decorated using techniques which makes each a unique item. Even though we carefully fire each piece in the same manner, variation occurs and gives unique qualities to the piece. These dishes are decorated using smoke and sugar as sources of carbon and smoke. The pieces is manipulated to direct the smoke while the feather is touched onto the plate, while the piece is held in tongs. Why tongs? Well the piece is something around 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. The technique is akin to using horsehair. On firing days, our kiln yard is filled with smoke and the "aroma" of burning feathers...the roar of the kiln changes with each opening of the kiln door. It's pretty exciting. One would think that the breeze might blow the smoke away. It would, but we plan our work around windless days to that the smoke can be directed where we need to it go. Folks ask me how I got started making these small dishes. I don't knit or crochet, but even I can see how crazy it is to either have stitch markers laying around the table top or finding them in the sofa cushions. The dishes started out as stitch marker holders. But since then, they have been adopted as ring dishes, notion plates, key dishes and on and on. They are not suitable for use with food, but don't let that stop you from using your imagination. Oh, about the lack of a "foot" on the plate and having it rock gently as you use it, it's by design and the reason we started to call them "rockn' diddles." Not everything has to be completely serious. We make these dishes to be usefhorsehairin ul and fun. The plates are about3 3/4 inches, depending on the shape. To read more about the carbon paintings technique used to make this piece look here.