A couple of weeks ago, I sold a mug to a co-worker. When I delivered it, he excitedly picked the mug up and grabbed the handle. He looked at me and smiled, “Wow! I can fit three fingers through the handle, that’s good!” It was then that I realized this guy has huge hands. He stands about 6′2″ tall, and is just generally a big-boned guy. I bet he seldom, if ever, comes across a cup or mug with a handle that he can get all of his fingers through.

I remember that when I gave my Dad a mug for his birthday in March, he comfortably fit two fingers through the handle. I could stick all four fingers through that same handle. I don’t know why the light didn’t come on that day, but it didn’t. After the occurrence with my co-worker, I started paying closer attention to the hands of the people I came in contact with, in all of my different walks of life (only a potter would understand!) and realized there are a lot of men out there with large hands who might appreciate a mug with a handle made to their size.

So this week, I set out to make some man-sized mugs. I threw larger mugs than I normally do, and affixed wide strap handles to them. Now, I can fit my entire hand through these handles in the leather-hard stage. I am anxious to see how much shrink I get out of them. When they’re finished, I am going to take one in to my co-worker to see how it fits his hand.

Here is a new form I’m playing with. This one is going to be pretty small, next time I’ll try a taller pot, or maybe a bigger round one. I threw a small cylinder and rounded out the bottom. Then, I closed the form at the top. I dried the form on a hardi-board shelf, then when it was leather hard, I trimmed the bottom into a nice round shape. After it was trimmed, I brought it to the table and drew out the pattern, then carved it out very carefully with an exacto knife. The final step was to clean up the edges of the cutouts with knife and sponge.

I think this little pot might have all sorts of fun uses. It could be used as a vase for short-stemmed flowers. Or a toothbrush holder (in a taller model). How about a pencil holder? Or, just a neat decorative piece for a table or desk.

I have some ideas for some new forms, so I am going to write them down here so I don’t forget.

Pillow vases - small pillow or box-shaped forms with holes in top for single flowers or small bunches of flowers with small stems.

Hobo bag vases - small bag-shaped vases with a ribbon around the top. I’m picturing a bag shape like a bandanna, if it was full of stuff and tied to hold the stuff in, with the cloth sort of ruffling around the top.

Incense burners - long, narrow holders, curved at one end with a hole to hold an incense stick. Maybe on little feet?