For ceramic artist Sabrina Ayling, Christmas in summer is a source of festive inspiration from which she draws bright colours, playful patterns, and profound joy. Emerging from the sleep deprived throes of early motherhood, Sabrina found in pottery a restorative creative journey that she has built into a thriving career learning, making, teaching, and immersed in the world of ceramics
Ōtautahi Christchurch potter Meg Roulston makes beautiful, practical, hand built and wheel thrown ceramic homewares with the aim of bringing warmth to daily rituals and make little moments special. The glazes she creates are inspired by the environment around her Southshore home, nestled between the estuary and sea.
When Emma Gillard sold her bookshop and took time out to recuperate after a breast cancer diagnosis, she discovered a passion for pottery that has taken over her North Canterbury garage and become Emma G Potteree. Beautiful textures are a feature of her hand built ceramic homewares, inspired by textiles and natural treasures she collects.
Clae is an innovative ceramics concept thought up by artistic sister-duo Tatyanna Meharry and Natasha English. Through Clae, budding creatives can try their hand at pottery and other arts with classes, kitsets, and beautiful tools and accessories. Tatyanna is currently at the helm of Clae, sharing her love of clay as a medium, the power of making as a healing balm, and the joy of a beautiful new studio space.
Christchurch potter Hilary Cowburn of Wellhandled Ceramics is inspired by nature, necessity, and the need to reduce waste. A lover of handmade New Zealand products, her journey into ceramics and becoming a full time maker started from an unexpected place – her fight with cancer.
Sylvia Sinel of StudioSinel Ltd says she has found her affinity in the forever fascinating world of clay and glazing. Exchanging a busy career life in Stockholm for a chance to follow her dreams of creativity and being close to nature here in New Zealand, she has recently taken the exciting step of becoming a full-time maker. She says “Ceramic art is the ultimate combination of all I cherish: sculpture, painting, physics, chemistry, poetry.”
Jane Mcculla’s Harbour Rim series reflects her love of nature, geology, archaeology and man’s mark on the landscape, and is strongly influenced by her surroundings in Te Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour. We think they’re just stunning – they’d make a fab Christmas gift, don’t you think?
Create a Graphic Studio Mug with Christchurch ceramic artist Emma Turner, as part of Share a Cuppa, a community event celebrating the ritual of a good cup of tea. Ka rawe!
Emma is currently finishing her diploma in ceramics. She works with colour and decoration to create narrative works, telling stories inspired by her everyday surroundings, and sells a selection of her work in her Felt shop, Emma Turner Ceramics.
Share a Cuppa is a community event celebrating the ritual of a good cup of tea, and at 2pm on Friday 28 August, we have 200 Share A Cuppa gift sets to give away!
Handcrafted by more than 40 studio potters from around Aotearoa, they are for you to gift to the person who has been your Covid-19 hero, giving you support, comfort, and love during this difficult year.
Make your own Vintage Porcelain Tea Cup with Christchurch potter Gwen Parsons, as part of Share a Cuppa, a community event celebrating the ritual of a good cup of tea.
Gwen has been working with clay for more than a decade and specialises in hand-building techniques. She teaches ceramics and runs General Pottery in Christchurch.