![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6OD4DMa6QWb5HuTipuafEuVXMsHRfkO_zdqIbwH_gwK0yFr70WeGfn0UQ05CG2T70IVBi-EAxhLW1dbPcodQXYLT4oE_pa_eOossnBa7o92EwOiLymq1G4fUs7rtr508UPJt7QNxBWMa/s400/Platter+with+slip.jpg)
Decorating with thick slip is one of the most relaxing things I do in the studio. Making all those tiny dots or squiggles can be quite hypnotic. I use a white and a brown trailing slip, one each made from the clay bodies that I use in the studio, which are Miller Clay's B-mix 10, and their #700. I used to mix clay from my own recipe; I stopped, but that is a whole 'nother post. Today I mixed up brown trailing slip.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaiwiMODprdLzhSVhMwLGI-XHyiZ3RElP6fmoaDu5ilYHTjxyhYyM1hgV-_wG8LaPuEu5u3T7JvTGcUs-UMMRPVdmjqI3wDiE9trqgfHbo6mGiX3NVxyzGVnWqhIgetSMQ7V94ntnzXis/s200/Blender+%26+tools.jpg)
Every studio should have a blender. I got mine at the Salvation Army for $4, (after hubby fried my old one, also a thrift store find.) I also use a palette knife, just in case I have to stick something in the blender to work the clay mass loose. Even if the appliance is unplugged, those blades are sharp!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWBnA6812uyKy1BVoApAFijnqgd6S73eDY4CFFAPH8-YpMsA5fbrnKBO_31r7aeP6E68R9cPdHJt1kNG9zkFqfqOn0FBsBt56uEO6-vAAi6zWXgRq2f2zJ4bikobKG2Ar9WCPv4lj_GcV/s200/blenser+with+slurry.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwr_AIrzl_wLcsCz1xSJlk85Sgn6arz8p6Gaxo6ahEQyRJQs6PrX0oSNqPeGTqglWX1IvB_UezZXumMXTGXio-jHwLJHUL0045rSaJJX64qJds3XWbbVdbxy4_QNt-5JwAfAjkH4_BkYM/s200/trailing+slip.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcw5jnMSmaYQuwTz6e9jxYiVMmTlVwOMDwuJ6rVVBk4FQdsve6EOos-cw8N7ut0JMaQLnthLdvM3JMBuXHkOt6ieG7Ak_V9fGe7N36uNC_ANf74KcR_7t43Vj34ZflX-y3quIRzXNYzA39/s200/slip+with+bubbles.jpg)
My brown slip trailing bottle has two tips. (I use seperate bottles for the white slip.) The broad tip is great for fluid lines; the pointy tip makes dots.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D_wOAjQae7ARYlVjKTTwqXMIhJi3R2t9GLN7iFWdgEuf7p05VL7JUYKxOPqS63rb_oeIwZwEv7fiAchql7Qp2JKdj7jQc2vUO3Bw_BEL47zr1cH3V2xKjxjqCmlgLTQU_jXV03Bl8BSv/s200/broad+tip.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNMcC2Stq2srJyE89nERfimCN47FIjKNzg6ruSDii9guv__WKI8sbkr8-Vrtrk1Aw614CmYwo3M-RpZC_8ZSq2Sp4EWiTWFodnL8Q4zbo2Pax99A1N0oDHX-D5IKtG-uUjdqze3GysLFA/s200/fine+tip.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUnpiswDsOmNTJ7M4iFYS-UIxyckbuJkekL1Moh90D7FssY_bJNGz-GTuvArRy8_BGyUBdXeBU9zOjGceQl5Ayicdv2PcycZh-JwEoBeRAeJZ3fDjTcIjRtQno2bx6ROA96I3s22m1RAP/s320/slip+blob.jpg)
I get inspired to do slip work looking at Steven Hill's platters, like this one.