Introducing Sandy Winkle’s Sheila Shack Studio: Where Clay Meets Weaving, and Creativity Finds Community

By Japneet Kaur Keith

Tucked quietly into the bushland beauty of Quindalup in Western Australia’s Southwest, a rustic wooden studio has become a vibrant hub of creativity and connection. This is Sheila Shack, the heart-made studio of Sandy Winkle — an artist, storyteller, and community weaver in every sense of the word.

For years, Sandy has immersed herself in a wide-ranging exploration of artistic expression — from photography to dyeing, from clay to basket weaving. But it's not just her range that sets her apart — it's her ability to bring it all together. With a deep respect for material, environment, and people, Sandy has woven her own path — one that blends mediums as fluidly as it gathers people.

At Sheila Shack, visitors find more than an art studio. They find a soul space. Its timber frame and forest surrounds reflect Sandy's ethos: art that is natural, nurturing, and profoundly connected to place.

Inside, the space hums with energy — light filters through recycled windows, handmade baskets hang beside drying textiles, and tables are covered in cloth, clay, and stories. Here, creativity is not just taught — it’s shared, explored, and expanded.

Over recent years, Sandy has been developing a unique practice that intertwines ceramics and weaving — creating vessels that are half earthen, half fibre; structured yet soft; grounded and wild all at once. These pieces speak to duality, to balance, and to the timeless dialogue between hand and material.

In 2025, Sandy opened up her second studio not only for her own making but for community learning. The weaving and eco-dyeing workshops she hosts have become a cherished meeting point for locals and visitors alike. The second studio is for Clay & exploring handbuilding. And in a beautiful act of generosity, she’s extended Sheila Shack to become a place where others can learn clay. The current series of five clay sessions, designed by local creative Japneet Keith, are rich with conversation, laughter, and earthy hands — embodying the community spirit Sandy quietly cultivates.

Sandy is also a participating artist in this year’s Margaret River Region Open Studios (MRROS). Her exhibition is sure to reflect the eclectic wonder of Sheila Shack: blending clay & weaving, vibrant handwoven baskets, eco-dyed fabrics, miniature oil paintings, and adventure photography, all coexisting in the warmth of her timber-wrapped world.

Sandy’s practice reminds us that creativity isn’t linear — it loops, bends, folds and stretches, just like the fibres she weaves and the clay she shapes. And more importantly, it’s meant to be shared. Sheila Shack is a living testament to that — a place where art and heart meet under one roof.

If you're in the region during MRROS in September 2025 or simply passing through Quindalup, drop by Sheila Shack. You might find yourself making something with your hands — or simply sitting in good company, letting the bush and the creative energy wash over you.

In a world that’s often too fast and too digital, Sandy Winkle’s studio is a breath of slow, soulful air. Come for the art. Stay for the feeling.