Please help me!!

To decorate, or not to decorate...

... that is the question! Ok, I know I only posted yesterday, but I couldn't wait to show you my finished (?) jug/pitcher (what's the difference anyway?). I'll show you it from begining to end, but the question I now have is weather to decorate it with some sgrafitto or slip inlaying, as I had originally planned, or whether to leave it bare and find a nice glaze for it.

This is how the jug started out. I had rolled out the clay and wrapped it around some tubing I got last year from a carpet shop.


When it had set up a little bit, I started shaping it by pushing in the bottom to create a "foot" and then pushing out from the inside with a spoon.


At this point I didn't really have a plan for the rest of the shape, but I just felt it needed something more at the top, so I added the "lip" and the "collar". The lip, or spout, took a few attempts, as like I said, I had no real plan for design and I've never made one before.


Next, after letting it set up more, I smoothed it out and set about making the handle. This is what it was supposed to look like:


The little bit sticking out at the top was supposed to be a kind of thumb rest. I've seen this kind of thing on pots before, and always found them comfortable to hold. But, this is what it actually turned out like - held in place here by a pot of glaze and rolled up kitchen towel!


I'd be interested to know how other potters support the weight of their handles while they're waiting for them to set.

And last (maybe), is the finished jug with no supports.


I didn't have the confidence to try to pull this handle, so I actually rolled it out flat and then rounded the edges.


And that's the jug. But the question now is, do I leave it plain, or do I decorate it as I had originally intended? I was thinking of using the Marianne design, but hadn't decided on either sgrafitto or slip inlaying, although I was leaning more towards slip inlaying. Please help me decide!! Here are the two options:



What do you think?

Update: I did it :)



I can't wait to make another one for "Emma", but right now I am sooooo tired.