Corn Husk Bowls
Anyone else having a hard time thinking about anything other than food lately? Is it that we are hard wired during the Autumnal season to think about our food supply for the upcoming winter? I think it could be the case!
In keeping with Autumn, the harvest season, and food, glorious food, I created these Corn Husk Bowls! They are for popcorn but could be used for lots of things! They are made of clay so you could put a yellow candle in them or use them to hold yarn balls for kitting! Loads of potential!
Gather:
*Small bowl and a tall glass that fits inside
*Plastic wrap
*Knife
*Fork
Create:
1. Grab a small bowl that is at least 5 inches deep and about 6 inches in diameter. Place the bowl on top of a glass. This is to raise it off the counter. Wrap plastic wrap around the bowl.
2. To make two bowls, divide the 2.2 pound bag in half. Use approximately 1.1 pound per bowl. Roll the clay on parchment paper to about 1/6th of an inch thick.
3. Cut 2 wide strips that are the length of your bowl measuring from one top edge to under the bottom and to the other edge of the bowl. The strips should be the width of the bottom of your bowl. These are the anchoring pieces. Cut the ends into a point to mimic the shape of a corn husk.
4. Apply one strip to the bottom. Press it firmly down Apply the next wide strip over the first one perpendicularly.
5. Now cut strips the length of the bowl, placing them around the entire perimeter. Use the bend of the bottom portion of the bowl as your guide for placement.
6. Continue around the entire outside, pressing the clay firmly into place.
7. Using your finger and a small amount of water to smooth all the edges.
8. Use your fork to scrap down the outside of the bowl to create a textured husk look.
9. Let your bowl harden for 12 hours or so.
10. Remove the bowl and plastic wrap from the inside and place bowl on a clean, dry surface. Allow the clay to dry for 3-4 days. It should be very hard to the touch and white when dry. After 2 days you can turn the bowl on its side to speed up the drying process.
11. Paint your bowl the desired color. We chose a dark green for the exterior. We added a lighter chartreuse color for highlights in the interior portion.
Paint the lighter color in the crevices. Paint over with the darker color creating low lights.
12. Allow to dry completely. Paint the varnish over the bowls. (Now I have read several blogs that link to this particular varnish for it's food safety. I have done some research and have not found conclusive evidence for that claim. I have also not found evidence against that claim.) My solution is to use the varnish (for cleaning purposes) and place a square piece of parchment paper into the bowl effectively producing a barrier between food and varnish. You could also try food safe epoxy. I have not gone that route yet. If you have played with epoxy and clay, let me know!
See the parchment paper? Works great!
Or use them for yarn!