Im in LOVE with this 'landscape' window in the new studio - its high up ,and from the street is the only indication of what's going on in the big grey building . Ive been playing with the display , changing it every few weeks ..then running outside to see how it looks , and wondering what those who actually take the time to look on their walk are thinking happens in here !

The build is going really well , and Im getting my thoughts around working in a much bigger space ...so so exciting.. cross fingers for end of year finish !

Remember this Kurinuki from the last news post ? It was fired in my friend Lisa Maddern's (https://www.instagram.com/lisa.maddern/ ) wood fire kiln , glazed with Sheoak Ash collected from our trees . Ash glazes are a complete addiction , and a rabbit hole of never ending adventures .. Im sure many of you reading this already know !

This cutie little bottle is also Sheoak Ash glaze , from the firebox of Lisa's kiln ..

And yet another bottle ... this time in another kiln .. Jeannine Hendy's (https://jeanninehendy.com.au) sweet brand new wood kiln ..

I feel so lucky , to be invited to participate , and /or put my work in peoples wood fired kilns .. its such a special privilege !!

We managed to visit the extraordinary Lord Howe Island in July , and spent a week exploring this incredible little island , full of inspiration !

I hope to share more news and details about my studio with my subscribers soon , remember to sign up for my (very infrequent) newsletter !

Until then , only a few weeks until SPRING !!

A x

Yes . Its the Bird Series work .

I can hardly believe it myself . This very sweet body of work will be showing at Good Earth Pottery on May the 1st - 9am Online Pacific Time (USA) or in person at 11am when the gallery opens -A Special Feature Show thanks to the lovely Ann Marie Cooper .

A body of work that has been such a long time coming !

This grouping , the birds have flouncy Victorian headdresses , and feather 'boas' , and ruffled coats .. Im named some of the birds as well .. 'Baby Olive, 'Freddy & Franz'.

https://www.goodearthpots.com/special-feature

I hope you love them all as much as I enjoyed creating them !

In February , I took part in a great workshop at Warrandyte Pottery https://www.warrandytepottery.com.au which had been instigated by Jane Annois , as a part of the Pottery Expo https://www.potteryexpo.com/workshops

We had visited Elena Renker at her studio outside of Auckland last November , http://www.elenarenker.com so I was pretty quick to enrol in her workshop , here in Warrandyte - 15 minutes from home !

A fantastic 2 day workshop , and I haven't stopped making these tea bowls since . Mind you.. its a very SLOW process .. slow and mindful . And I LIKE that !!

Heading into Woodfiring season , a few of these might make it into a fire or two if Im a lucky duck !

Pen and Ink have been my companions in our travels this past season , and always Birds , and Flora .

And EVERYONE is always asking HOW the STUDIO build is going ?

Well.. here we are ! An empty SPACE ! And can you see timber framing on the floor ? Its happening !!

Dasha says she'll believe it when she's sees it TOO !!

In the meantime .. Im enjoying catching up with people via letters and postcards .. POSTCARDS !! Now that's a great thing to do .. make your own .. its the BEST FUN !

OK .. Melbourne is waiting for rain , and PROPER cool weather !

Chat to you again in WINTER !!

Cheers A x

Hello !!

Happy 2025 - The Year of the Snake !!

Are you looking forward to lots of good things this year ? I certainly am !!

Ive had the best Summer so far in the garden , even though we've had some scorching hot days .

My husbands workshop build is now complete , and now we move on to planning and executing my studio build . These things take TIME !!! But it IS happening , and Im really hoping to have a lovely OPENING by the end of this year , Im saving all my very special pieces especially - so fingers crossed we can finish it in good time !!

This piece was from a firing at Susan Acheson's catanery arch woodfired kiln 'Frieda' in November last year .

The clay is a mix of our own 'Croydon Gold ' and studio blend /commercial clays.

Porcelain slip , with a Hakame brush decoration , and Ash glaze made from the Casuarina (Sheaok) trees on our property .

The stamps tell the story of the 'ingredients' of the pot , with my signature 'chop' and the year . Im loving the little feet as well

Stay tuned for an UPDATE on a small feature of my Bird Series work at Good Earth Pottery in 2025 !

In the meantime ... Im looking forward to getting into the studio to begin making for my firings , gas fired work and hopefully a few small batch Online Updates .. (which I'll let my subscribers know about ), and the adventures of wood firings .. and of course porcelain Bird Series and painting .. did i mention I picked up some Japanese porcelain ?

But wait there's always more ...no more social media ..

Ive recently decided to step away from social media , Instagram, after 12 years on the platform . My account/profile is still there to view - Ive just 'logged out' . This NEWS page will be like a seasonal magazine page , with updates and images from the studio ..and ramblings .

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER which will be only to notify subscribers events /online updates - the FIRST to know about all good things - which is how it should be ! Short and sweet .

This NEWS page, then , will be like a seasonal magazine page , a visual diary of sorts, with updates and images from the studio ..thoughts etc .

AND .....

My YouTube Channel will be documenting the progress of the new studio build ,and this years making adventures in the current tiny studio . SUBSCRIBE to be notified when a new video lands .

You can find the link at the bottom of this page -the YouTube icon will take you there !

Enjoy the season wherever you are reading this from .Summer has been brutal here in Australia , I'll be glad to say goodbye to it !

Cheers A x