Lora Rust Ceramics

Just like riding a bike…muscle memory took over while throwing for the first time in over a year.

🌺Let me show you how to make this Floral Mug in 2-day hands-on workshop Saturday 2/28 - Sunday 3/1. Details at link in bio.

“Transom” quilt in clay porcelain soda-fired

Taking inspiration from experiences and creative
work of my mother’s, I have created wall hangings made of textured and shaped porcelain squares which are folded, fired, and sewn together with wire.

Stormy Hearts quilt in clay wall-hanging
Porcelain, textured, soda-fired with copper glaze highlights and sewn together with wire.

Quilt of the day - Day 8 of 8: “Roses”
Ceramic Quilt Square by Lora Rust, available at link in bio
Fabric Quilt Square by Lora Webster Groton (my mother)

My mother loved LOTS of bright colors and patterns. Although I don’t really know all the inspiration and plan she had for this project, I do have these fabric panels and box of colorful fabric squares. For whatever reason the project was not finished. My goal has always been to complete these panels as I have done here in my medium, ceramics. Each square is textured and finished with underglaze, engobe, and glaze to represent its fabric counterpart.

On view through February 27, 2026. Available for sale framed (completed piece sewn to canvas) or unframed (completed piece with hangers to hang directly on wall).

Quilt of the day - Day 7: “Olive Starlight”
Ceramic Quilt Square by Lora Rust, available at link in bio
Fabric Quilt Square (unfinished) by Lora Webster Groton (my mother)

The partially completed fabric panel, which shows the detail of the cathedral window quilting process, is a moment frozen in time…note the needle left by my mother in the unfinished olive dot square. I’m not really sure why she stopped at this particular place or why she chose not to continue this bed quilt project. 🤷🏻‍♀️💠💔

Getting the colors and details of the patterns in this panel were a challenge, particularly the olive greens. Before the final glaze firing, the tiles are soaked in a solution of soda ash and water, the effect a light sheen on the porcelain squares, enhancing its appearance as fabric. After firing the pieces are sewn together with wire.

On view through February 27, 2026. Available for sale framed (completed piece sewn to canvas) or unframed (completed piece with hangers to hang directly on wall).

Quilt of the day - Day 6: “Lily”
Ceramic Quilt Square by Lora Rust, available at link in bio
Fabric Quilt Square (unfinished) by Lora Webster Groton (my mother)

The bright pinks and turquoise in “Lily” are very reminiscent of a summer dress 👗 that I had. As with several pieces in this series, my mother designed the fabric layout and pinned it to a pillow case in anticipation of sewing the colorful squares into the cathedral window quilt pattern.

Before the final glaze firing, the tiles are soaked in a solution of soda ash and water, the effect a light sheen on the porcelain squares, enhancing its appearance as fabric. After firing the pieces are sewn together with wire.

On view through February 27, 2026. Available for sale framed (completed piece sewn to canvas) or unframed (completed piece with hangers to hang directly on wall).

Quilt of the day - Day 5: “Medallion”
Ceramic Quilt Square by Lora Rust, available at link in bio
Fabric Quilt Square (unfinished) by Lora Webster Groton (Lora’s mother)

Rich burgundies, purples and pinks in “Medallion”, named for the intricate patterned corner squares. A lot of testing went into recreating the ceramic versions of the calicos and ginghams to get the patterns and colors right. As with several pieces in this series, my mother designed the fabric layout and pinned it to a pillow case in anticipation of sewing the colorful squares into the cathedral window quilt pattern.

Before the final glaze firing, the tiles are soaked in a solution of soda ash and water, the effect a light sheen on the porcelain squares, enhancing its appearance as fabric. After firing the pieces are sewn together with wire.

On view at Clay Center of New Orleans through February 27, 2026. Available for sale framed (completed piece sewn to canvas) or unframed (completed piece with hangers to hang directly on wall).

Quilt of the day - Day 4: “Little Bugs”
Ceramic Quilt Square by Lora Rust, available at link in bio
Fabric Quilt Square by Lora Webster Groton (Lora’s mother)

A.k.a. “Spring Greens”, “Little Bugs” shows my version of drawing is using my texture tools. When faced with making a lot of the designs in this quilt series, I had to pull out of my comfort zone, use other methods, tools and materials, like bright underglazes, engobes, and glazes to represent the fabric counterpart.

Before the final glaze firing, the tiles are soaked in a solution of soda ash and water, the effect a light sheen on the porcelain squares, enhancing its appearance as fabric. After firing the pieces are sewn together with wire.

On view at Clay Center of New Orleans through February 27, 2026. Available for sale framed (completed piece sewn to canvas) or unframed (completed piece with hangers to hang directly on wall).