Guides
Making a Hinged Clay Reliquary Box for KeepsakesA small reliquary box gives ordinary treasures a considered home: a shell from the Great Ocean Road, a handwritten note, a wedding ring, or a dried sprig…
A Beginner’s Map Of Clay Drying StagesClay changes dramatically as water leaves it. A lump that feels soft and forgiving one afternoon can become stiff, fragile and ready for the kiln a few days…
How to Press Leaves into Clay for Deep Veins and Natural EdgesLeaf impressions bring a quiet, tactile quality to handmade ceramics. A single fern, eucalyptus leaf or broad garden leaf can create a detailed botanical…
Why My Best Ideas Surface While Cleaning Trimming Tool TipsThe most useful ideas in my studio rarely arrive when I am trying to force them into existence. They tend to appear after a making session, when the clay has…
The Zen of Centering for Tumultuous DaysSome days arrive already crowded: a packed Melbourne tram, a Sydney commute slowed by rain, a Brisbane afternoon storm, or a phone filled with messages before…
Building a Tea Set for One with Three Cups and a Personal TeapotA small tea collection can hold as much character as a full dinner service. Building a tea set for one around three cups and a personal teapot creates room for…
How to describe the feel of terracotta to a novice workshop attendeeTerracotta is often someone’s first encounter with clay because it feels warm, earthy and immediately responsive. Before a beginner learns technical terms such…
Turn a Failed Pot into a Mosaic Garden Stepping StoneA cracked or misshapen pot does not have to end in the discard pile. With a little planning, broken ceramic can become the colourful surface of a garden…
The anatomy of a good pour spout: research, test, and refineThere's a small, everyday satisfaction in a stream of liquid that arcs cleanly from a vessel into a cup without dribbling down the side. In Melbourne, where…
Hand-painted cobalt tiles reimagine the Spanish classicFor centuries, the cobalt-blue tile has carried the salt air of the Mediterranean into hallways, kitchens, and sun-soaked courtyards. In the studio of…