“Why are handmade ceramics so expensive?” This is part of the reason why. 👇 After sculpting the original Victory Bell planter by hand (Part 1), I’m now deep into mold-making—a process that’s slow, intense, expensive, and absolutely essential. To reproduce a piece like this, I have to first make a multi-part plaster mold. That alone takes several days of hands-on time. But plaster molds are fragile—they only last ~20 casts and can be used just once a day. So if I want to make more than one at a time (and keep prices reasonable), I need to make a silicone master mold… which cost me over $300 in materials just for this piece. And that’s not even counting time, tools, recycled silicone chunks, or the hours of prep it takes to get every seam perfect. One misstep? I’m back to square one. And remember: this is just one step in the process. No clay has even touched the mold yet. No glazing. No firing. No packaging. Just the blueprint for what’s to come. So the next time you see a $100 mug or a $200 planter—know that the price isn’t just about the product. It’s about the process. The labor. The time. The skill. The art. Part 3 (Slipcasting) is coming soon. We’re finally getting closer to seeing the Victory Bell Planter come to life. 🌱🔔 . . . #ceramicprocess #ceramicart #pokemon #victreebel #carnivoreplant #moldmaking