There are many steps involved in making handmade tile-each fraught with disaster if the maker is impatient.

An understanding of the handmade process brings greater appreciation to the ancient craft of tile making.

Tiles are fabricated one at a time using a wooden tile press incorporating a carved plaster floor which creates the surface pattern. Wet terra cotta clay blanks are pressed into the frame by hand or often by foot, which saves wear and tear on the wrists.

Clay is then compacted into the press with a wooden stick which is also used to scrape off excess clay and level the back of the tile.

After compaction, the tile is popped out of the press and carefully peeled from the plaster floor.

Voila! Next, edges are smoothed and squared and the formed tile is placed on a drywall board.

Plaster molds are required for the high relief tile and are made from an original hand carved tile. Custom designs may be requested, requiring a new plaster mold. Custom molds take an additional two-three weeks to make and dry properly before use.

Wet porcelain clay is pressed into the plaster mold and the excess is removed. The clay in the mold shrinks as its moisture is absorbed by the plaster, allowing the tile to be released. On a typically dry Colorado day, eight to ten tile can be formed from each mold.

Pressed tile are placed on drywall boards, stacked and partially dried, generally for five to six days.

Tiles are placed on mesh shelves to complete the drying process. This can take up to several weeks for the thicker high relief tile. Hurrying the process results in warped tile-the bane of a tile makers existence!