Ever heard of salt pottery?

Today, the salt pottery factory and store in Hohr-Grenzhausen was open for business which is special because today was Sunday (stores are usually closed). We headed to the Topferei Girmscheid so we could tour the workshop and see the pottery being created at all phases of development.....I also needed to go to place a special order for our Girl Scout leaders, but shhh more to come on that when it is ready for pick up! Gitta, the owner, was very helpful! At one point she got out her camera and asked if she could take a picture of Ian.

The pottery all starts with some clay and a wheel......

They have been busy creating all kinds of things!
Everything waits here to be hand painted......

First, designs are carved into the clay....
This is something special for garlic...one came home with me!

Then some paint is whipped up....

It was quite interesting to watch them carefully paint the designs on each piece!
By this point the kids were asking if they could make one too......

Then it is time for the kiln!
This is an IMPORTANT ingredient when it comes to salt glaze....

The salt is carefully layered onto each shelf.

Snapped a shot of the kiln as the worker was grabbing another shelf.

Now it was time to browse through the store....

Here is the finished product from earlier.
These are for scraping garlic on the deep ridges instead of pressing.
I added one to my collection of kitchen "stuff."

I came home with......
a couple of flower pots, vase, potato salad dish, garlic scraper dish, and a mug!

tschüss