Pottery Classes Come and join us for pottery classes from now until the middle of December. Up at Hoults Yard.
Description:
If you want to boost your home’s curb appeal (or give the ultimate personalized housewarming gift), this one is for you. Come join us for a relaxed workshop where we’ll be hand-building, painting, and etching custom ceramic house numbers—the perfect handmade touch to welcome visitors to your front door.
No pottery experience? None needed at all. We’re going to focus on slab-building to construct a sturdy plaque, then dive into surface design using vibrant coloured slips and etching techniques. It’s a completely judgment-free space to try something new and unwind.
What to expect:
The playbook: We’ll demonstrate each stage of the process before you dive in. You’ll learn how to roll and cut durable clay slabs, prep fixing holes, apply smooth coats of coloured liquid clay (slips), and etch away design layers to reveal your digits.
Make it yours: Once your plaque shape is set, the fun begins. Paint your background with bold slips, then use tracing patterns or freehand etching to carve out your house numbers, street names, or botanical borders. We’re right there to help you bring your ideas to life.
The final bake: After you’ve finished etching, leave it with us. We will dry, weather-proof glaze, and kiln-fire your piece. It takes about 2 to 6 weeks to do our part, and we’ll shout the second it’s ready to sit proudly by your front door.
Come on in, learn a new skill, and leave with a durable piece of functional art for your home.
If you need to cancel or change the date of your booking, we require 48 hours notice. If you do not provide 48 hours notice we will not be able to offer to reschedule or refund your session.
1. The Welcome & Intro
We’ll kick things off by settling in with some refreshments. We’ll show you a few finished ceramic plaques to help you picture your layout, and quickly run through the boring-but-important logistics of how weather-resistant glazes and firing work.
2. The Demo
Before you touch a piece of clay, we’ll show you exactly how it’s done. We’ll demonstrate rolling flat, sturdy slabs; applying even coats of coloured slip; and using fine carving tools for sgraffito (etching through the paint layer to create crisp lines and numbers).
3. The Making Part
This is where you take over. You’ll roll and cut your plaque, paint your chosen slip colours, and carve out your numbers and decorative patterns, while we wander around to help, offer design tips, or fix any slipped cuts. Once you’ve added your finishing touches, we’ll double-check your hanging holes, stamp your details, snap a photo for our records, and text you when it’s ready.
Time: 1.5 hours of relaxed making, designing, and chatting.
Group Size: Small groups of up to 8. A bit of focus goes a long way with these techniques, making it perfect for grown-ups and older teens looking to build their clay skills.
Cost: £25 per person (postage of fired item extra if wanted).
Got questions? Drop us a line at workshop@kiln.cafe, we’re happy to chat.
