Potting Mad, Sawyers Valley

We are a group of lady potters who live in the hills around or near Sawyers Valley just beyond Mundaring on the Great Eastern Highway. Sawyers Valley is in fact one of the oldest suburbs with one of the oldest schools. We meet every Tuesday night starting from 7 pm. until sometimes late, very late! We are certainly mad about potting whether its wheel thrown, sculpture or hand building. I think our families think us 3 parts mad as well) Only three of us had previous experience with clay, but once touched clay gets into your fingernails if not your blood. We all use Bennett’s Filtered Terracotta for both wheel and hand building and Cesco Glazes. We fire only once to 1080°C or 1100°C, which certainly keeps things simple. We have found Cesco glazes to be reliable, in as much the colour is guaranteed (providing you apply sufficient coats) and it stays on the pots, not dribbling onto the kiln shelf. We have been going for about 18 months and we don’t break for school holidays. Clay we have all agreed keeps us sane. Last year we produced some really interesting fish, not something you would ever like to meet in the sea. This year 3 of us have concentrated in wheel throwing one week and turning the bases the next. We all have lots of fun. If anybody is interested in coming we are actually only 15 minutes from Midland please ring Jane on 0417935711.
Reported by Jane Newton