Hi, I am Bea and I took the plunge last Autumn and joined Hannah's pottery class, and to say I loved it would be an understatement! There is something so incredibly grounding about working with clay, and I’m so glad I finally gave it a try.

Right from the very first class, we were  getting to try our hands at the potter's wheel. It was a brilliant, messy experience! For the remainder of the course, we had the freedom to choose our own adventure: either stay on the wheel or dive into slab building.

While both techniques are great fun, I quickly found myself leaning toward slab building. I loved that it gave me a bit more control over the shape and structure of what I was creating.

After weeks of shaping and constructing, our pieces were bisque-fired just in time for the final two classes, which were entirely dedicated to glazing. This is where the real chemistry happens!

Picking up the finished pieces after their final firing was the absolute highlight. Seeing the total transformation from raw clay to vibrant, shiny ceramic was magical. It was equally wonderful to see everyone else's accomplishments lined up together, seeing how different glazes reacted and turned out brought some truly lovely surprises.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of holding a finished piece that started as just a lump of clay. I have so far completed two sets of classes and am currently on my third. I’m officially hooked.

Some photos of what I made:

 

The art of slip casting

This is where things get interesting!

Liquid clay, known as casting slip, is poured into specially made plaster moulds. The plaster gradually absorbs moisture from the clay, allowing a layer of clay to build up against the inside of the mould.

Once the clay has reached the desired thickness, the excess slip is poured away and the mould is left to rest.

It might look like a fairly straightforward process, but there's a real skill involved in knowing when the clay is ready and how to handle each stage.

The big reveal

One of our favourite parts was returning the following day to see the moulds being opened.

Carefully separating the plaster sections reveals the newly formed clay pieces, still delicate at this stage and needing a gentle touch. It's such a lovely moment – seeing a design emerge from its mould, with all those little details finally taking shape.

From the original sculpture to the first reveal, it's fascinating to see how much thought and craftsmanship goes into each creation.

And this is only the beginning! The pieces still have drying, finishing and firing ahead of them before they're ready for their next chapter.

There's something rather special about seeing the making process up close. It gives you a whole new appreciation for the creativity and hands-on work behind every ceramic piece.