June 2024
JUNE 2024 | ISSUE #045
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Hello Potters
From the President
Welcome to June! The year is flying by and at this rate it will be Xmas before we know it. Speaking of Xmas, I know it may seem way too early to be even thinking about it but the kiln team wants everyone to plan well ahead to avoid disappointment.
Speaking of disappointment, sadly we have had to close memberships for the year as we have reached capacity. Let’s hope that in the future we can accommodate every pottery lover.
Our next Cleaning Bee has been set for Saturday 22nd June at 1pm. Please do your bit for your club and join us for some cleaning and maintenance to keep your club running. If you have a shelf please clean it in June and if you have anything in the back room please label it to avoid confusion.
Our next event is Einbunpin on Sunday 28th July, closer to the time we will be calling for members to provide pieces they wish to sell and volunteers to promote the club and sell pieces. Mark the date in your calendars now 😊
The kiln team have started seeing some magnets coming through the room, so exciting to see. Don’t forget to finish your pieces in time for the judging on Thursday 25th July. All magnets will be sold with proceeds to help install our new kiln.
Happy potting
Suzanne
Being Respectful, Feeling Safe
The club’s Code of Conduct was written to guide the safety and respect of members. Developing friendships, being co-operative, sharing ideas and skills as well as being respectful to each other in words and actions is something in which the club takes great pride. When members are working in the studio or interacting with other members via electronic means, everyone has a right to feel safe and not harassed.
The Code of Conduct can be found in your membership documentation or you can request a copy from the Membership Officer here or read it here.
Cleaning Bee
Time to join us at the club for the next cleaning bee, Saturday 22nd June from 1pm
Jobs will include prepping and painting the tables
If you have anything out in the back room please ensure it’s clearly labeled to avoid confusion
When
Saturday 22 June 13:00 – 16:00
Where
Shorncliffe Pottery Club Inc
Celebrating 10 years of the Samford Art Trail
+ Open Studios
This year, 46 artists including our member Ann Gillespie, across 23 studios and art spaces are looking forward to welcoming you during the first 4 weekends in June. As one of the Moreton Bay region’s longest running Arts Trails, we know you’re in for an absolute treat.
Pottery and ceramics, felting, mixed media, journalling, painting, wood carving and more! Take this opportunity to explore your creativity under the guidance of experienced artists.
Visual artists, ceramicists, jewellery, wood, textile artists and photographers; our members practice in a diverse range of genres, medium and techniques. The Trail meanders through the Moreton Bay hinterland; from Samford Valley to Dayboro, Cashmere and Eatons Hill to Clear Mountain.
WHEN: the first 4 weekends in June 2024
(Saturdays & Sundays) from 10am - 4pm
Some Studios and Art Spaces are open weekdays as well, see the Studio Guide for details.
Hurry up. Get a go on…
Create a fridge magnet which celebrates pottery or the Shorncliffe / Sandgate / 4017 area. Magnets will be judged with 2 x $30 club vouchers to be won. They will then be sold at Einbunpin and Sandgate Arts Society Creative Trail with money raised going to the club. So get your creative ideas flowing. See poster above or in the studio.
Above is a promotional photo taken by member Amy Stevens showing the very talented Fiona throwing the most adorable mini pot off the hump for the magnet competition. I can’t wait to buy one myself 🤣 Thanks Amy and Fiona, love your work.
It’s almost that time again. Get your pottery ready for the fantastic Einbunpin Festival.
Sunday 28 July.
Learn + Natter
(workshop + socials)
Intro to Extruding
Friday 14 June 6-9pm
Learn how to use and clean the wall extruder and other handheld extruders.
Cost Includes some clay to use on the wall extruder. $25 each.
Where: Shorncliffe Pottery Club Inc
Intro to Slab Rolling
Sunday 16 June 10:00 – 13:00
Come along to learn techniques for slab building, including how to make a large cup, plate or vase.
Where: Shorncliffe Pottery Club Inc
We are trying to cater for all members of our club, therefore providing workshops on other days, not just weekends. Same with the themed socials. So ensure to check availability on Helloclub. If you're not sure how to do this, please speak with a supervisor at the shed.
We are looking for ideas for what other skills you would like to learn or further develop, so please reach out and provide some feedback.
shorncliffepotteryclubinc.helloclub.com
If you would be interested in hosting a workshop or Sunday (or other day) Social, please contact me and I'd be happy to discuss this further or alternatively, if you would like to suggest a workshop or instructor for a possible workshop, please also contact me.
happy potting
Rebecca Mason
5 Week
Handbuilding Course
Come along to learn pinching, coiling, slab work and decorating techniques, including carving and impressions and underglaze transfers.
Each week will focus on a specific technique, with you working on a project to take home.
Great value and the cost includes your clay, each week.
Starts Wednesday 26th June, 6-9pm.
Spots limited to 6 people for more individualised focus.
$330
Book on HelloClub or speak to a club supervisor.
Starts
Wednesday 26 June 18:00 – 21:00
Where
Shorncliffe Pottery Club Inc
Now On YouTube
Have you seen the spoof of The Great Pottery Throwdown. It really is quite funny. Click the link or the image to watch it on YouTube.
BVAC Pop Up
Come along to the BVAC Winter Wonderland Pop-Up at the
Toowong Arboretum Botanical Gardens
A fabulous weekend of browsing through all the BVAC goodies for that personalised hand crafted treasure.
Pop Up Shop: 7 - 9 June 2024
Trading will be from 10am - 4pm Friday - Sunday
Why don’t you send in some photos and text
for inclusion in the club’s newsletter?
Include your name, the title of your work (if any), and a short description
of what it is or why you made it.
One of our newest members Lily, with her first sculptural piece - a humpback whale.
Excellent work!
Here’s a mug by Crystal made during the wheel throwing workshop with Amy recently.
Beautiful!
We have popped all the published tips, hacks and techniques onto the ‘Tips’ page on our club website so that you can refer to them easily.
Tips to Help Your Wheel Throwing
Don’t expect too much to begin with. As with any new hobby or skill, you need to expect it to be difficult to start with. Take your time to get used to how the clay feels as you move it around on the pottery wheel.
Practise, practise, practise. Then practise some some! There aren’t any shortcuts with throwing unfortunately, but the good news is that practise really does make perfect! Be prepared to make a lot of wonky pots before you start producing some that you’re happy with.
Wedge your clay. Centering is much easier with homogenous clay. Wedge it or put it through a pug mill before you start throwing.
Weigh your clay. Try practising using the same amount of clay each time you throw for greater consistency.
Put your clay in the centre of the wheel head. Start as you mean to go on! If you begin to throw with the clay in the middle of the wheel, it’ll be a lot easier to get it centred later.
Remember to add water. When the clay starts to feel hot in your hands, this is a tell tale sign that you need to lubricate your hands with more water.
Anchor your arms into your sides/hips. This will stop the clay from throwing you around so that you can move it into the centre of the wheel.
Cone up. If your clay isn’t centered, try slowly coning it back up and down again to bring it back into the middle of the wheel head.
Repetition. Stick to the same simple forms to begin with, eg cylinders and bowls, before you start trying new shapes and techniques. Nail the basics first!
Pay attention to speed. Although the wheel should be spinning quickly when centering, every move your hands make should be steady and deliberate - from coning the clay up and down, to taking your hands away from the clay to add more water. The pottery wheel speed may be fast, but your movements don’t have to be.
Courtesy Victoria & Finch UK
Our Committee
President: Suzanne Bell
Vice President: Rose Kelly
Treasurer: David Grugeon
Secretary: Amy Stevens
Committee Members:
Ken Bull, Barbara Fletcher, Clare Houston, Melina Wales
Newsletter Editor: Ed Trost
edtrost1961@gmail.com
email: shorncliffepotteryclubinc@gmail.com
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