Chris, I've never done this but your mention about the handle got me to thinking. You could go with a cement handle. You could embed anchors and screw on a drawer pull or make one from wood. I just saw a smashed up doll on the road and I could run back and get a leg for you to use for a handle. I'll bring my own china mug if we ever have a get together, LOL! I just can't imagine putting a hot liquid in that mug and drinking from it even if it's sealed.
Thin enough?? Don't see why you couldn't use a mortar mix with acrylic fortifier and re-enforced with mesh. Maybe even use the strips of mesh like paper mache, dunk in your mix and wrap around a form then put on a smooth finish. Maybe we could have a cement mug challenge. Billie