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Functional Pottery Makes a Great Gift, Plain and Simple

Are you looking for something unique to give a friend or family member for an upcoming birthday or holiday? If you really want to wow that special someone, why not consider purchasing an original one of a kind pottery gift that makes life better in some way.

Pottery gifts come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and they can be practical or extravagant. If your recipient loves to take afternoon tea, why not surprise him or her with a gorgeous tea set, complete with teacups, saucers, and teapot? You might even want to add a serving tray for that extra special touch. Perhaps you know someone who adores fresh flowers. A delicate vase to showcase a vibrant bouquet would likely be appreciated.

If you long to combine functionality with beauty in your everyday life, you will likely find pottery to be outstanding in every way. From the depth of color to the texture to the overall design, each piece stands apart from the next. Keep in mind that you do not have to buy matching sets of cups, plates, and bowls. In fact, it can be equally attractive to mix and match plates of one design and color with bowls from an entirely different set.

Handcrafted pottery takes time to create, as each piece must be molded from clay, glazed, and fired. If you appreciate fine art and won't accept less than the best, you will be pleased with the extensive inventory of handmade pottery that can be purchased from the internet. From birdbaths to vases to tableware, we are certain here at Northern Inventions that you will find the pieces that will bring joy and function to your life.

Handcrafted pottery is unique in that each piece has some variation, as it is nearly impossible to create two identical pieces of pottery. It takes great pains to design pieces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The process from start to finish takes no less than 20 to 30 steps, so you can be sure that you are only getting the highest quality handcrafted pottery.

One of the perks to purchasing handcrafted pottery is that every piece should be dishwasher and microwave oven safe. Furthermore, you should also be able to use pottery in a conventional oven with no worries, as all of the glazes used should be 100 percent lead free, whether you are looking for dinnerware, oversized coffee mugs, or a beautiful vase.

I believe functional pottery serves a purpose, even if that purpose is to add to the aesthetics of your home, along with being quite beautiful. It should also serve practical functions such as serving tea or holding a colorful bouquet of fragrant roses or to provide a haven for birds to gather and bathe in the outdoors. Every piece of pottery that you will find on any site should be functional, as well as pretty and stimulating to your senses. After all, pottery that makes you feel good by putting a smile on your face every time you look at it serves the most important purpose--making you happy.

Whether you are looking for a specific piece of pottery to fulfill a need, such as a colorful vase to display your floral arrangements, or you just want to fill your home with beauty, all functional handmade pottery should be expertly handcrafted from the capable and artistic hands of an artist that is experienced in what they are doing.

All of our stoneware pottery that you see on our site is durable and safe to use in the dishwasher, microwave, and conventional oven. This may come as a surprise to many people because our unique handcrafted pottery from Sofi's Sunspot Studio is so beautiful that you may be afraid to put it to good use. At Northern Inventions, we only sell products that are functional, and we encourage you to use your stoneware pottery in your everyday life.

In the rare instance that you don't find what you want, please let us know by contacting us at 705-524-3947. Or if you prefer, send us an email at Robert@northerninventions.com, and we will do our best to meet your needs in a speedy fashion.

Woodworking: Basic Safety Tips Woodworking can be a dangerous undertaking if you are not careful and choose to disregard safety guidelines. A circular saw, router, or other piece of power equipment can disfigure and even kill if not used properly. Even hand tools, which must be extremely sharp to provide best results, can cause serious injuries. In addition, the sawdust and fumes from wood can be harmful to the lungs if inhaled on a regular basis, especially if the wood was harvested from an orchard or tree farm where pesticides were used to control insects.

Imagine your are five years old. As your family arrives at the train station, your hand slips free of your Mom's and you dash over to the tracks. Looking left, then right, your eager eyes scan the horizon, searching for your train.

Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 6 - Finishing Equipment A civilization's maturity and intelligence is judged, in part, by the diversity and sophistication of its tools. When it comes to woodworking, the human race is quite advanced. There are general tools that work well in many situations, and there are specialty tools made for one specific purpose. There are tools that require only manpower and a rudimentary knowledge, and others that utilize computer programs, a wide range of knowledge, and a powerful motor. We have even learned how to harness power for our tools and package it in a small battery component, giving us the freedom to take our tools wherever we need them.