Sneak peak at part of my entry for the Small Wonders exhibition
@ The Plant Empire, Brisbane
Exhibitions + Arts Trail
As you can see, it’s been action stations here at PJ Pottery with involvement with exhibitions in Brisbane, Sydney and the Arts Trail here on Tamborine Mountain STARTING THIS WEEKEND Sat/Sun 4/5 and 11/12 May 10am to 3pm
A HAPPY REMINDER To thank my treasured returning customers and supportive locals, there is a 20% discount on all purchases over $50 at my gallery during the Arts Trail . Choose from mugs, keep cups, dinner sets, cute little serving sets (perfect as a Mother’s Day gift) and a dizzying choice of teapots and Steampunk wonders. So, remember to let us know if you are a local or returning customer so we can share the love! If you are after something really special for your home, there are also beautiful handmade ceramic table lamps with linen shades included.
If you can’t make it to visit during the Arts Trail, you are welcome to book a private visit, fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch soon.Or you can find more of our ceramics at Butler and Grace and Elderflower Farm
Thanks for reading our bumper PJ Pottery May news!
Here’s a very short (slightly silly) video. The first in a series I’ve decided to make following the frequent question of: What is it used for? I make many products that do need explaining like herb strippers and vase frogs but sometimes it’s just a matter of demonstrating the various uses of a piece. If you enjoy learning more about my ceramic pieces, feel free to follow my Instagram page HERE this is where I will be posting the reels.
What’s it used for? – Open Bowls
Open Studio + Arts Trail
Don’t forget, if you visit PJ Pottery, you will also be able to see Steve Morgan’s magical Metal Art – more info HERE
I’ve been joyfully creating new works for the Tamborine Mt Arts Trail next month so I’m thrilled to show you a sneak peak at my latest porcelain and gold lustre earrings. They will be launched at the open studio price of $30 a pair until Monday 13 May and if you can’t make it in person, email your favs and I’ll post them to you.
And of course there will also be fresh teapots- blingy beakers and bowls along with my Steampunk range that I’ve been adding to over the last few months. I must say, the gallery looks amaaazing! There are many works not listed on the website. Come and see -I’d love to get your feedback.
Make a Ceramic House Sign 3 hour workshop: $110 fee includes all you need to create your own personalised sign, plus refreshments, tea, coffee and nibbles throughout. Going to be loads of fun!
I am enjoying the last days of warmth before autumn takes hold here on Tamborine Mountain. The gardens are looking wonderful and if you visit during the Arts Trail, you are very welcome to stroll through them. So that’s about it for PJ Pottery April news. Thanks for your support and encouragement, hope we see many of you next month at PJ Pottery
PJ Pottery March news EEK! I can’t get my head around it being March already…and autumn! So, I’d better tell you about the exciting things happening in two months.
Tamborine Mountain Arts Trail
PJ Pottery will be part of the Tamborine Mountain Arts Trail – mark those calendars: 4-12 May. My studio will be open on both Sundays only – the 5th and the 12th from 10am to 3pm. If you haven’t visited before, I have a working studio and a gallery. You will be able to watch pottery being made by me or some of my students and then you can buy direct from my gorgeous ceramics gallery.
Our large garden is full of native and ornamental treasures and is well worth a look. You are welcome to wander around and enjoy our landscaping efforts!
As a special thank you
…(and sweet incentive) to my generous mountain community and returning customers. I will be offering a 20% discount on all purchases over $50 during the Arts Trail. Simply mention that you are a local or returning customer.
PJ Pottery + Steve Morgan Metal Art
Another good reason to visit is that my very talented husband, Steve Morgan, will be displaying and selling his new range of metal art and wrought iron furniture at the PJ Pottery studio during the art trail. If you love beautifully crafted wrought iron furniture and garden pieces, you will love these pieces. Steve will happily explain the processes and you may be able to see inside his workshop and the tools he uses to create the works. Check out his FB page HERE
Create your own 4 piece dinner set!
During the TM Arts Trail, I will be offering a special hand building workshop Mother’s Day, 9am-12pm Sunday 12th May This is a lovely workshop for adults with any skill level AND mums who may need spoiling with a special gift on Mothers’ Day. #shewillloveyouforit
You will get to create your own 4 piece dinner set! a dinner plate, a side plate, a bowl and a beaker or cup
$165 fee includes tuition, clay, glazes and firing your masterpieces. These workshops are very popular so book in early.
That’s it for PJ Pottery March news, if you don’t get to visit during the May Art Trail, you are still welcome to come and buy directly from the gallery at another time by appointment. Send an email to book a time.
Every day I feel grateful for living on such a beautiful mountain. We experienced a traumatic and destructive Christmas and New Year period tornado, then torrential rain and flooding. The whole mountain was without electricity for about 10 days. Throughout it all, the community worked together admirably to help clean up and repair the damage. We are now back to business as usual but the clean up of fallen trees and damaged buildings is ongoing.
I have had a slow start to the year affected by the time without electricity in the studio, but February has been productive with my own work, collaborations and preparations for Tamborine Mountain Arts Collective Arts Trail in May. Save the date! 4th to 12th May with a variety of artists opening their studios or participating in group exhibitions at venues on the mountain. I will also be offering an amazing hand building workshop during the art trail, more information to come on this, but email if you’d like to attend. So there is a lot of February news.
Here is a sweet little promotional video of my studio and gallery done by the talented Lilly Piri for the arts trail.
I am super proud to introduce this new business. Enjoy this quality work, it is unique and it is made by my very clever husband. A boilermaker by trade and an excellent craftsman, Steve has recently started his journey to follow a long-time dream creating bespoke wrought iron furniture and garden sculpture. His pieces are made with hand-operated equipment and tools. They include chairs, tables, house signs, plant stands and also quirky garden statues.
With his considerable engineering and construction skills and 40+ years’ experience working with metal, Steve’s pieces are superbly crafted collectible artworks that will grace any space. Check out his Facebook pageSteve Morgan Metal Art for more of his work. Follow the page for updates on new creations.
As we start the new year, look out for our collaborative projects combining my ceramics and his metal work pieces.
So! Get in touch to order a custom made house or business sign or an outdoor table setting.
These Steve Morgan metal art pieces are currently only available for collection from PJ Pottery on Tamborine Mountain because, as you can imagine, the shipping of wrought iron pieces is a little costly!
I participated in several group exhibitions, gave a few workshops to lovely enthusiastic people and of course, had a wonderful time at this year’s Pottery Road Open Studios as part of the Australian Ceramics Open Studios
I am always trying to challenge myself with more complex forms for my Steampunk teapots, so I was thrilled to win the People’s Choice Award at the 2023 Sydney Teapot Show.
Classes + Workshops
I am extremely fortunate to have a great bunch of students in all of my classes, most are returning next year so term 1 is full. Email me if you wish to go on the waiting list for term 2. If you can’t wait, or can’t commit to a full 10 week course, I am offering a one-day hand building workshop on 14 January, all the details are HERE
My students and I had a delightful end of year party with loads of food, laughs and – just to make sure they were paying attention throughout the year – there was a pottery quiz. I’m happy to report, they got all the answers right! And all of this is reason to do – a December happy dance!
Shopping reward 20% off
As a heartfelt thank you to all who gave support to my small business throughout the year, I am offering a discount of 20% off across the whole shop. Use the code XMASLOVE at the checkout
I really hope you all get the chance to do something you love over the festive season, hang out with people who make you feel good and bring in the new year with loads of positivity.
It’s been an exciting few months here at PJ Pottery. First, I was invited to participate in two group exhibitions – Gift Wrapped and the opening of the Knoll Studio. I’ve done a load of work in my sweet little gallery and studio for the Pottery Road Open Studio Trail this weekend. And I was thrilled to receive the People’s Choice Award in this year’s Sydney Teapot Show. Here’s the news for November – full of exhibitions and open studio trail
27 OCT – 16 DEC 2023 The Centre, 82 Brisbane St Beaudesert. Tues-Fri 10am-4pm; Sat 10am-2pm
Celebrating 2023 witha delightful exhibition of exquisite artworks by South East Queensland artisans … ready for Christmas gift giving.
This exhibition showcases beautiful paintings, works on paper, sculptures, pottery, jewellery, textiles, fibre works, books and much more. Come and explore a kaleidoscope of handmade art and bring the beauty of local artworks into your home this Christmas or give them to your friends.
We will have an official ribbon cutting at 11:30am as we open our orange doors for the first time! Gracing our studio walls and space, will be an exhibition of art from local artists displaying the artistic talent and versatile creativity we have here.
The iconic Sydney Teapot Show is an annual exhibition at Gallery Lowe and Lee. In 2022, I was fortunate to win the Glebe Book Award and this year Tristan B. Torus Steampunk teapot won the People’s Choice Award with a $500 prize sponsored by @galleryloweandlee This is one of the nicest accolades received in my long career as a potter!
PJ Pottery is again participating in Pottery Road Open Studio trail. I can’t wait to show you my beautiful revamped gallery where you can purchase my work. I’ll be giving throwing demos after lunch on Sunday if you’d like to see how pots are made on the wheel. As an extra incentive, I will be offering a door prize of a unique Steampunk mug valued at $45 to all who purchase works over the weekend.
Come and visit the four studios and six ceramicists and see where the magic happens and make the most of this annual event to stock up on beautifully crafted handmade Christmas presents.
I was very fortunate to attend the 3 day Spring Fever ceramic gathering in Maleny, Sunshine Coast recently and came home with my head brimming with inspiration. The demonstrators were knowledgeable, generous and innovative. A big thanks to Suncoast Clayworkers for hosting this amazing event. Be prepared to see some fresh new works coming from the PJ Pottery studio soon!
On the Saturday of Spring Fever, I had a stall in the Potters’ Market and had a successful morning, selling out my newly made Steampunk style mugs.
Save the Date
A bunch of talented potters (including yours truly) on Tamborine Mountain and valleys will be doing the OPEN STUDIOS again this year. More info to follow, and keep up to date by following the Pottery Road Facebook page. Saturday and Sunday 11 and 12 November
My beautiful boilermaker and I had a glorious week up in Far North Queensland, it’s our second visit there during winter. The landscape and greenery are large and lush and the beaches soothe the soul with every step you walk. Together, we built a large mandala sand sculpture on Mission Beach which brought joy to a few curious onlookers before the tide washed it away that evening. We have come back rejuvenated and ready to get back into work, for me that means Spring Fever potters’ market and competition time!
Photos by Nicci Parry-JonesWhat an artist does when on holidays!
Competition time
Being a professional potter means you are always looking at ways to design and create new work to satisfy your customers and part of this process involves entering competitions that provide a challenge to create work to the best of your ability. You often need to fulfil a brief, sometimes to a theme (like the Sydney Teapot Show) and to hopefully – if you are successful and your work is chosen – you can expand your audience of ceramics collectors and pottery lovers.
I am pleased to say my Steampunk teapot, Beatrix has been selected as a finalist in the Klytie Pate Ceramic Award. The Klytie Pate Award for Ceramics is a National prize, open to all ceramicists in Australia and New Zealand who are experienced in the craft, and carries a biennial prize of $10,000. The opening night is Thursday 14th September at 6pm, MACE 145 High Street Mansfield, Vic.
Ceramic Arts Queensland hosts the Siliceous Award every second year and I am hoping to have an entry in this.
Beatrix, Steampunk Teapot
I was fortunate to win an award in last year’s Sydney Teapot show (you can read more about this HERE) and have a work in progress for this year’s show, here’s a sneak peak at this new Steampunk teapot, I have estimated I’ve spent 7-8 hours on this piece so far, now I’m crossing my fingers it survives the two firings and glazing process!
Spring Fever Potters’ Market
PJ Pottery will have a stall at the Spring Fever Potters’ MarketSaturday 2 September, 8am – 12pm at Maleny Showgrounds. Hosted by Suncoast Clayworkers with over 30 stalls and free admission! If you are around the Sunshine Coast, come say hi and fill your bags with wonderful handmade ceramics.
Thanks for reading and your continued support, if you ever have any questions about pottery or would like to see any my process, let me know. Cheers, Nicci
