Take fresh air dry clay, add a tiny bit of water, and knead using push-pull-press motions (like pizza dough!) until soft. This removes air pockets and prevents cracking later.

Roll clay to an even ¼-inch thickness. Rotate and flip the slab repeatedly to prevent sticking. Smooth away tiny surface cracks using a wet finger.

Freehand draw an organic egg/oval kiwi shape onto the slab. Carefully cut along the lines, lifting the knife frequently to clean off clay residue.

Roll a thin clay snake for the rim. Score (scratch) both the edge of the base and the rim, apply water/slip, and press them together firmly. Cut rim ends at an angle to join smoothly.

Roll a super thin clay coil and smooth it into the inner joint where the rim meets the base. This keeps your tray from cracking or separating as it dries.

Mark the central core (loculus area). Roll tiny clay balls for seeds and attach them in a radiating ring pattern around the center using a dab of water.

Let the tray air dry in a cool, ventilated area for 48–72 hours. Avoid heat or direct sunlight to prevent cracking. Wait until the clay turns pure white!

Apply 2–3 thin coats of acrylic paint: outer rim & edge in deep green, inner flesh in pale green, central core in white, and seeds in black. Let dry for 2 hours.

Apply 2–3 thin coats of gloss varnish (letting each coat dry for 24 hours) to make your tray water-resistant with a shiny ceramic finish!