Ladies Custom Shaving Mugs

Reposting this here so Shelia can get some feedback please ladies -

Hi Silver, I am a shaving mug maker, my name is Sheila. I am interested in finding out if any of the ladies have preferences for their shaving mugs. I am going to be making some in the next few days and wonder if the ladies would give me ideas and feedback?
I have an album here someplace (I'm still sort of confused about using this site). Or - some of my work is in my Etsy shop: sheilasthings on Etsy
I'd like to make a fun and pretty, as well as functional product for us ladies!
Thank you for your time,
Sheila

Hi,
I am neither a lady, nor do I play one on TV. That being said, I forwarded the post to my wife to get her opinion since she has hinted at getting a mug and brush of her own.
Here is her reply:

"I actually like the ones she has shown. Most look like either a man or women could use. Maybe some girly colors with some flowers! I prefer a nice blue with a picture of a fly." J


When she says, "with a picture of a fly," she is talking about a fly for fly fishing. We are both fly fishers. She is a feminine tomboy. :cool:

These look really great! I just bought a "Big Daddy"

I don't know about the gals, but I think you guys will really like her stuff.

Steve

I just put Big Daddy in the mail yesterday, hope you like it!
I just applied for vendor status here.
Thank you!!! Sheila

Flowers, I like that idea, I'll make a few with flowers; 60's kind of hippy flowers maybe~thank you for taking time to supply me with feedback on my creative work!
Sheila

Nanna and I just looked at them and we were discussing form, function and design. In form they look unique and interesting. As for function we would use them more as a lather bowl than a puck mug so I would like to see the top of the side walls to neck back in rather than flair out. Nanna has to bowl lather as when she attempts to leg lather she has to recollect the soap or she'll run out. For the handle we really like the look, but it looks as though the handle is more on the top, with a flared side wall it works well because you can hold by the lip; but if the walls necked in the handle would be better if drawn out thicker and more to the side. Nanna also mentioned that she liked the idea of the fly as she does flyfish as well and I am a custom rod builder, but for alternative and more feminine appeal she also mentioned butterflies, dragon flies, also tribal designs and floral suggestives (shapes representing flowers,but not actually defined.) One other thing that I might add is that with lather bowls they usually have ridges in the bottoms I have tried some with just finger ridges and others with carved ridges I believe the carved ridges running longitudinally and radially really create a great lather and hold creams in place well during lather building. What you have now are great I think Nanna is interested on getting a couple when we get some extra cash. Sorry for the long post.

Thank you for taking time to help my design. I have been adding ridges in the bottom to make the soap sit up off the bottom, thanks for the reminder. Also, I will make them collared in at the top and a little bit deeper. The handle is something other people have mentioned. I added a handle mainly for looks and perhaps to hang onto with a thumb. I will now add a more functional loop type of handle on the side rather than across the top. I love to make dragonflies, those I can do, and I'll work on some "suggestions of florals" as well as the tribal type of symbols. (note to self: work on painting fishing flies!)
Yay, you have really helped me everyone. I begin throwing again next week and your ideas will be implemented.
ps, I did a Google search for *puck mug* but didn't find an answer, sorry for my ignorance!

Also not a girl, but I have one next to me, and I am a bowl latherer, so here's a rough compilation of both our suggestions:

I find handles to be uncomfortable (I don't like the angle of it for lathering) but I like the stability they provide... Solution: Thumb loop ( http://www.schwarzweisskeramik.de/images/s_143.JPG for example... Oskar's stuff is GREAT in the hand!) The thumb loop lets you hold the base of the mug in your palm for added control and comfort, and the thumb loop lets you keep a nice grip when the suds are building and spilling.

Another suggestion: I see you glaze the mugs... Why not leave the bottom (underside) unglazed, and somewhat rough/raw... That way it will not slide on a wet surface (as most shaver's surfaces are wet)

Also, like was said before, vertical and horizontal interrior grooves help keep cream in place and aid in lather building.

Another one: Put a lip around the top (nothing too pronounced, but enough to keep the building lather from spilling over, and redirect it to where you're whipping the brush.)

As for colors and patterns, my girl /loves/ orchids, so there's another vote for varied flower patterns... You could also do, as was mentioned before, butterflies, dragonflies, etc. I'm partial to a cerulean/sapphire blue, as is she, or a clean white color. Flat black is also good.

As mentioned before, taller walls are very helpful, and, with that, you will want to make it more of a bowl, and less of a base with sides (that way the brush doesn't hit walls while you're lathering... a curved interior will let the brush move smoothly and gather then fluff lather more evenly)

That's all I've got for now... hope it helps. Good luck!

And I thought that the unglazed bottoms would be unpopular! Not a problem, leave the bottom unglazed, I like that, it makes it easier to fire too!
That thumb loop is interesting, I've never seen anything like that before, I may have to try that on a few to see how they fly.
OK, more rounded interior - I better start writing all of the great suggestions down so I don't forget...
Blue is popular (note to self: buy more colbalt!) LOL; flat black, nice.
When you say vertical and horizontal grooves, does that mean grooves up the sides of the rounded bowl??? Another revelation!!!
Here is my list:
rounded walls, higher and inward curving walls, grooves to aid latherig, thumb loop, blue, dragonflies, fishing fly lures, florals, butterflies, orchids....yes, I must make a list!
Thanks it does help!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PotteryMaker

I just put Big Daddy in the mail yesterday, hope you like it!
I just applied for vendor status here.
Thank you!!! Sheila

---

I just got "Big Daddy" in the mail today. In fact, It arrived as I was reading this thread(ironic). I was reading Zombies post on his opinion, and I thought, "I haven't shaved, yet, I'll go in and try it now" and through in my opinion, too".

Well, I absolutely love everything about it. First of all, I do not like tapered mugs, and, yet, you can't find a shaving mug whose sides are straight up and down. This mug's sides are straight up and down. I like the size and the shape, also. The handle was a bit puzzling for me, but I like the fact of how it is attached; this makes the outside profile smaller and easier to store. Not only that, as I used the mug while shaving, I rather liked the handle. It worked really well for me.

Sheila, I really love this mug of yours! Thank You for this really neat design, and your great service.

Steve Boyd