Category: pottery class

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PJ Pottery July news

PJ Pottery July News

I was reminiscing about the wonderful time I had opening my studio back in May. I am sharing this gorgeous little video made by Lilly Piri for the Tamborine Mountain Arts Trail because I didn’t get to share it enough. It beautifully captures my pottery business and the joy I have following my passion. I hope you enjoy watching it!

VIDEO BY LILLY PIRI

New summer workshop

I am happy to announce I am offering a 4 week pottery course covering hand building and an introduction to throwing. It’s suitable for beginners, so check out all the details and book in soon! I have a waiting list for all of my classes, but my lovely students just keep returning so there are not many spots available in my term classes. I know! It’s a good problem to have.

BOOK SOON!

I am always learning, if you have the chance for some professional development – DO IT! I’ve just completed an online business course and have done hours of work on my website – go take a look, I’m keen for some feedback. As a result, I am now offering FREE SHIPPING over $120 spend. If you are like me and huddling around a heater and grumpy, what better to cheer up is a bit of online shopping, especially handmade Australian ceramics!

PJ Pottery website home page image
START SHOPPING

Fresh from the kiln

beaker in Shino glaze 2
Temoku and Chun beaker3
Temoku and Chun beaker
temoku and chun bowls

These gorgeous beakers and bowls were made at a recent throwing course I took part in last month in Murwillumbah, NSW. Getting insights of production potter, Malcolm Greenwood was fascinating. I came back to the studio full of ideas and a swag of newly made tools. I decided these pieces would look best in these traditional Japanese and Chinese glazes. These are now perhaps considered old school, but I just love the rich earthy goodness of the Shino, Temoku and Chun glazes. They were fired to stoneware temperature in reduction. This means the oxygen is restricted in the kiln by closing the dampers and this atmosphere brings out the metallics in the clay and glaze.

Exhibition News

I am thrilled to announce that my work has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious 2024 Stanthorpe Art Prize With $50,000 in prize money over 2D and 3D categories, it attracts entries from across Australia. Opening night is Friday 6 September at the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery when the winners will be announced.

I was successful in entering in the Scenic Rim Small Sculpture Prize 2024 with my perky teapot, Zoot. I am excited to attend the opening and viewing all the other entries. Wish me luck!

Zoot Steampunk teapot
Zoot Steampunk teapot

Thanks for your interest in my pottery journey and reading the PJ Pottery July News. Cheers, Nicci

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Hand building pottery workshop

Here’s a chance to create your very own ceramic pieces at the PJ Pottery studio on Tamborine Mountain.

In this fun one day workshop with experienced potter and teacher, Nicci Parry Jones, you will make an assortment of hand built ceramics and learn different techniques of making with clay.

You will create pinch pots, a slab platter and a coil planter plus a few extra pieces if time permits. Your pieces will be glazed and fired for you and you can collect in 4-5 weeks or you can arrange postage. All inclusive fee of $165 (tuition, clay, equipment, glaze and firing)

Suitable for beginners, maximum of 6 participants

Hand building workshop – the basics

Check out other PJ Pottery workshops and classes here

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Glazing amazing

glaze test tiles
glaze test tiles
students making a glaze
students making a glaze
student glazing a plate
student glazing a plate
glazing workshop group
glazing workshop group

Glazing workshop

At my recent glazing workshop at the PJ Pottery Studio, we had a heady day of learning. Talking about glaze ingredients and what purpose they have in a glaze. The attendees then went through the process of making a glaze and adding colourants in increments to create a line blend. Their pieces and the glaze tests will be fired and examined, we can’t wait to see the results. Oh, and there was homemade rhubarb tarts.

Glazing is a huge topic in pottery, there are literally infinite variations to experiment with. Changing the percentage of one ingredient can alter the look and feel. You can turn a matt into a glossy glaze; you can alter the opacity or colour. Many old school potters, (like me) make their own glazes from scratch so we can make adjustments to find that elusive perfect glaze.

There is now a large selection of ready-made glazes and easy brush-on glazes. These are handy because many of those new to pottery may have not had the opportunity of learning how to make their own glazes through the TAFE system or through higher learning. I was pleased to offer this glazing workshop to enable emerging potters to develop this important skill.

Check out this super website with loads of glaze recipes glazy.org

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Rain, rain, go away

Here on our misty mountain we have had 4 days of rain and more to come, the mould is happy! The biggest problem is that pots won’t dry so heaters are on and the firings are very slow. On a happy note, my Mt Tamborine classes are full and running and a new 5 week course at Gold Coast Potters Mudgeeraba studio is about to start on 25 May. If you are on the Goldie and interested in getting into clay either for the first time or as a return, this is your chance.

BOOKINGS HERE

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autumn and clay adventures

at the GC Potters Mudgeeraba Studio
poster for pottery classes Gold Coast and Tamborine Mountain
at the PJ Pottery Studio

learning ceramics

There is a chill in the air here on Mt Tamborine signaling the approach of winter. So, out come the jumpers and socks but not much interferes with getting creative and we are getting ready for term 2 of classes at PJ Pottery. There is one space left in the 10 week intermediate class on Thursday nights for people with basic skills in hand building and throwing.

Email for more info

I am excited to announce my return to Gold Coast Potters offering a 5 week introductory course in hand building and throwing. Classes are on Wednesday mornings at Mudgeeraba.

Bookings here

art + music = adventure

The other exciting news is that Tamborine Mountain Arts Collective TMAC will be hosting an Artisan Alley at the Long Sunset Festival presented by QMF featuring Angus & Julia Stone. This “radiant new music event” is on 30 April at Elysian Fields, Canungra. PJ Pottery teapots will be included in the TMAC gallery space.

Long Sunset Festival details HERE

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Winter at the studio

We are all rugged up on Tamborine Mountain, wood smoke fills the evening air but it’s been snug and cosy at the PJ Pottery Studio and my wonderful enthusiastic students have just finished term 2 classes. I am so proud of their progress and some magic pots have been created over the last 10 weeks. Check out these amazing works including some marvellous monsters from a children’s pottery workshop I conducted in April with Scenic Rim Regional Council

Don’t forget my WINTER SALE of handmade jewellery ends last day of June – HAPPY SHOPPING!

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2 day surface treatment workshop

There is a wonderful array of workshop choices at the 2021 Buderim Craft Cottage Winter School on the Sunshine Coast. These include a two day workshop with me! THE CLAY SURFACE 3-4 July 2021.

Explore a variety of surface treatment methods for application onto clay, from the raw surface to onglaze methods. Participants will make new pieces to be enhanced with surface treatment techniques and see demonstrations on carving, stamping, water etching and much more.

Check the details and book HERE

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a big thank you

thank you to all who bought my pottery; commissioned work; attended classes and gave me such encouraging feedback through 2020. Being able to work in ceramics is such a privilege and I love what I do. So, it gives me a thrill to let you know what I have planned for 2021.

regular classes

I am now offering pottery classes from my home studio on Mt Tamborine through Qld school terms:

TEN WEEK TERM Wednesday (fully booked for term 1) and Thursday nights (a few spaces still available) 5:30pm-8:30pm

  • 10 week terms, 3 hour weekly classes commencing end of January
  • structured program for beginners to intermediate students
  •  maximum 5 students per class
  • Term fee $450 (includes: tuition in hand building and throwing, firing and glazing costs, some additional fees will apply to extra surface decoration materials)
  • byo clay and tools (a list will be provided to students)
  • session times Wednesday and Thursday night classes 5.30-8.30pm
  • please email to book a spot and find out more hello@pjpottery.com

CASUAL CLAY Sessions Thursdays from 9:30am-11:30am. These are 5 week courses for those newbies wanting to test the waters or those with some experience wishing to do their own projects with a bit of guidance. More info and bookings HERE

gallery

since the Australian Ceramics Open Studio event last November I have established a small gallery of my current work that worked so well, I am leaving it in place! It is open by appointment. Please EMAIL to book a time, EFTpos and cash sales available. You can also find my work at Butler and Grace.

workshops

throughout 2021 I will be running workshops in hand building and throwing. The first up is CERAMIC JEWELLERY MAKING bookings HERE

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ceramic jewellery making workshop

jewellery montage

In this one day workshop we will cover a few of the many different options available to create ceramic jewellery including:

  • coloured porcelain inlay
  • pressing and stamping
  • bead making 
  • using a resist to create a pattern
  • and how to attach the earring or necklace parts.

No experience necessary.

$135 fee one day jewellery making workshop includes everything you need: porcelain clay, firing, 2 sets of stirling silver earrings and several options for necklaces and glazing your finished pieces. Morning tea is provided, BYO lunch and yes, social distancing will be in place.

10am – 4pm Sunday 17 January

Email me hello@pjpottery.com for more info. These are small private sessions, maximum of 6 students so you get my full attention! If you don’t get a place, please put your name on the waiting list and I’ll run another workshop if I get enough interest.

PJ Pottery regularly runs workshops, check more here

BOOK HERE

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hand building teapot workshop

hand building teapot workshop

This workshop was postponed due to COVID-19 – happy I can now offer it again!

Ever craved to create something in clay? Here’s your chance! This one day workshop will give you a chance to build your own teapot, no experience necessary. $135 fee one day workshop includes everything you need: clay, firing and glazing. Morning tea is provided, BYO lunch and yes, social distancing will be in place.

9:30am – 3:30pm Sunday 12 Julyhand building teapot workshop

BOOK HERE

Email me hello@pjpottery.com for more info on this hand building teapot workshop. These are small private sessions, maximum of 5 students so you get my full attention! Subscribe to my BLOG for news on other workhsops

From a recent student: “Thanks for an awesome, laid back and insightful hand build  workshop I learned a lot. Your workshop is inspiring and your talent and skills impressive.”