Best make of 2025

My most satisfying make of 2025 was this porcelain shade for an existing standard lamp.  Previously the lamp had a yellow glass shade which I managed to break.  I kept the stand with the intention of replacing the shade with a porcelain creation.

That was a few years ago and I finally got around to making the replacement during my Open Studio course at TAFE in winter 2025.

I am very happy with the result.  The translucency is great and lights up the room with a soft glow across the ceiling.

What to do next winter?

 

2024 Exhibition works

The highlight of 2024 would have to have been my entry in the Port Hacking Potters members exhibition at the Hazelhurst Art Gallery. 

"Metal Inspiration" large slab built vessel 2024

I was pleased with how these turned out and the bowls and the vase sold.  The larger vessel is now a holder for my kitchen herbs.

"Past Blooming" 2 wheel thrown bowls 2024

"Squared" slab built vase 2024

Just not Blogging very often

 I am still making pots and things - and taking part in events but it's a while since I posted here...

These pieces sold recently and I loved making them..

Small wheel thrown vessel with handles and a matching spoon

the little platter is thrown on the wheel and the three pieces glazed with a copper satin matt glaze.  

I'll be down the coast on Saturday on a stall at the Thirroul Arts Festival... fingers crossed it goes well.

New venue for my jewellery

 I have just joined the Como Marina Craft Nook in a suburb by the river not far from me.

They already have a couple of potters so I will only be selling my jewellery there.

Should be fun.

Here is a link to their Facebook group: Marina Craft Nook _Como

It is well named as the space is quite small.  There is a nice cafe next door and boat hire if you like fishing, so call by and check it out soon...

All sorts of nick nacks for the family

lots of crafts from knitted wear to aprons and more

Still here... preparing for a Mother's Day night market

 I am still around but mostly on Instagram these days.. @potterybyanna if you are there too.

I am currently getting ready for a market stall.  I will be sharing the space with two pottery friends.

Details on image here: 

the dance hall is in the Royal National Park on the eastern side of the Audley weir.  A lovely venue but don't forget to pay your parking/entrance fee.  I'll have some new pieces including my gum leaf and flower series.

More of these perhaps

 One of my entries in the "60 Years in Clay" exhibition sold.  It is wheel thrown using high fire porcelain, decorated with underglaze and scraffito design.  The design depicts the Australian native vine, Eustrephus latifolius or Wombat Berry.

looking forward to being part of this exhibition at the end of the month..

 I will be taking part in the Port Hacking Potters Group's 60th Anniversary exhibition at our local Gallery and Arts Centre.. mark your calendar and come along..

29 April to 10 May 2022

Charity Fund Raiser and First firing for 2022

 

I started the year off taking part in the fund raiser for the islands of Tonga who have been hit by an Tsunami and an earthquake.. the clay community came together and raised $A17,589 for the small Pacific nation. My brooch sold but the ring is still available.

Then happily someone decided they needed more of my pigs so I had a good reason to get into my studio again..

Some reasonable results but disappointed in a couple of vases.. the glaze I used is a fickle one and this time it was not wanting to play.

Yesterday was time to clean bottoms and pig trotters.

Goodbye 2021

 Well, we survived another year of the pandemic.. here is hoping for a better year for the world in 2022.

I hope you and your families have got through with as little drama as possible and your good health intact.

We are having a rather wet summer which makes for a nice change after recent years of drought and bushfire.  I am giving my studio  a bit of a clean and sorting out my clay.  Combining scraps and recycling and labelling the buckets so I have a better idea of what is there.  Washing out the plastic clay bags ready for reuse. Almost done.  Waiting for some scraps to dry out but it is a wet week so I can't quite complete the task yet. Once I'm done I'll then have to break that barrier of not wanting to spoil the clean and tidy look.  

Here are some memories from 2021and my best wishes for you and your families in 2022.

The Australian Brooch Show had an interrupted showing but managed to proceed and happily my turtle and fish both sold.

My commission for the Year of the Ox was well received.

Another commission for 30 condiment dishes had me throwing off the hump, a technique I had not used for years.

A very successful Pop Up Shop with the Port Hacking Potters Group, held at the Cronulla School of Arts saw these all off to new homes.

And over on my Instagram page, @potterybyanna, it would seem these were my most popular posts for 2021.

Take care everyone but enjoy each day as it comes along and find something of beauty in the ordinary.

 Here is to a happy and healthy New Year for you all.

PopUp in Cronulla

 Looking to buy local?

Join me at the Cronulla School of Arts and see a range of styles and prices to suit all tastes.

I will have  a range of bowls, vases, plates, jewellery and Christmas decorations for you to choose from.

example of wheel thrown stoneware bowl

some small dishes for rings and things

 

 a selection of pendants

a small hand decorated plate from my Bush tucker series.

Hope to see you there.

Headed for the Gallery shop

the latest collection of pigs are now available at the Hazelhurst Gallery Shop in Gymea NSW

all hand formed in porcelain

 

not quite a match

 In this image the illustration appears to be black, however it is in fact a dark green... 

It is based on an Australian native plant which has edible fruit... will have to come back to you on which one...

Next time I will use a darker green underglaze for the border..

Wheel thrown using a mid firing porcelain - "Cool Ice".

Keeping busy in lockdown

 Here we are in September and still in lockdown here in Sydney and now the regional areas of the state are in lockdown too...

So to keep busy I have been putting some of my jewellery pieces together in the hope I will get to sell them.. maybe just before Christmas??

Brooch with glass and porcelain beads

pendant - porcelain with leather cord

porcelain pendant with copper rust glaze and leather cord

Spring is showing it's face and the rainbow lorikeets are loving the bottle brush flowers.

the Wonga Wonga vine only flowers for a short time but puts on a lovely show and the native bees and hover flies love it..

I have much to be grateful for but do miss seeing our family and friends in person... as more of us get vaccinated hopefully we can travel again.  Take care everyone.

One door closes

 I was working towards an entry in the Port Hacking Potters National Competition but unfortunately it has been cancelled.. Due to Covid restrictions in Sydney the gallery has closed and with it unclear as to when it could reopen the decision was made to cancel.  The committee couldn't risk pots from other states being left in limbo.  It is possible the group will stage a members only show a bit later, so another door opens.

I am fortunate to have my own kiln at home and have been able to continue work on a commission and some other work.  

I was quite happy with these cups.

stay well folks

Experimental Clay

 I have been having some fun back at TAFE the last few Saturdays.  I am undertaking a Master Class with Julie Bartholomew who truly is a Master of the unexpected.

https://www.instagram.com/juliebartholomewceramics/

She is a great teacher and I am hoping the short course will inspire me for an art work to enter in the Port Hacking Potters National Competition later this year...

One of the things we have been doing is dipping dry plant matter in porcelain slip and then firing them..  such interesting results.

An optomistic start to 2021

 Hi everyone, I hope the New Year is starting with you all in good health as we look towards a vaccine becoming available.

Before starting to make again I have been playing with jewellery pieces I have stashed away.

 orange porcelain adjustable ring

Textured brooch

clip on earrings in blue

While playing with these I realised I didn't have many beads left so now that I am back in the studio the porcelain is out and some more pieces are getting made.

I also have a commission or two to get me started in what I hope will be a better year.

Stay well everyone.

 

A very nice end to the year and Merry Christmas everyone

 This afternoon I helped to pack up the PopUp shop that I was part of with my local pottery group, the Port Hacking Potters Group.  I hardly had anything to bring home which was a very nice end to what has been such a difficult year for so many of us.

Thank you to those who purchased my work so that I can now decide what to make before our next sale event.

It is so encouraging when your work sells not to mention the bank balance.

So here are a few of my favourite pieces that sold.. and a very Merry Christmas to you all.  May 2021 be a happy and healthy one for us all.

small hand formed Christmas trees

Wheel thrown stoneware bowls - glaze on glaze decoration

Vase Wheel thrown stoneware with tissue transfer and underglaze design

Reindeer Christmas tree hangers

side plate - textured slab hand formed.

Donating for a good cause - Coastal Creative Appeal

Today I have packed up a little teapot which I am donating to the charity exhibition and sale down at Ulladulla in a few weeks time.

If you are able to travel to the NSW south coast the weekend of the 3rd and 4 October it will be well worth a visit. There are some very well known potters donating works. The money raised will go to help artists and artisans who have literally been through fire, flood and pandemic this year. Some were just starting to get their homes sorted after the fires when there was flooding rains. Then the area was visited by people who were infected with the Corvid-19 virus and businesses in the area had to close. Earlier I had sent down a small sculpture expecting it would be sold at this show which was to be held at Easter, however the Covid restrictions on gatherings and travel meant it had to be postponed. Fortunately my sculpture went to a gallery that also held a fund raiser and it sold straight away. So I am now donating this little teapot with a little bling.. "Summer II" Hopefully it will appeal to someone who goes to the exhibition and the funds will be able to help someone get back into their studio.