I like to alter my form with pattern. I begin by drawing on the thick walls of my pieces and then, while still soft, carve and stretch the clay following the lines. This process is like a dance with the clay, carving away from one side and adding back to another. I use a serrated metal rib to stretch the clay up and out. I am blending the surface design into the form, meshing the 2-D and 3-D. As the piece transforms, I will reassess, adding new lines, altering the rim and base until I feel the piece is complete.