In this video I’m taking you through the full, very real process of making one of my ceramic rainbow cat mugs—from a literal lump of clay to a finished, functional coffee mug. Ceramics is such a time-consuming art form, and I feel like “simple mug” videos can skip a ton of steps, so I wanted to show the whole thing: throwing the mug on my wheel, getting the shape right, trimming, adding the handle, and building out all the little cat details that make these my favorite pieces to make. After the clay work, I walk through the not-so-glamorous but super important parts: drying timing, bisque firing, underglazing the rainbow design, and then glazing (I use a zinc-free clear so my colors stay crisp). You’ll also see how I think about making the mug actually usable—comfortable handle, nice rim, and a finish that can handle daily coffee or tea. If you’re curious what goes into handmade pottery (or you just love a cozy studio process), this is the tedious, satisfying step-by-step version—and yes, I enjoyed every minute of it.