Another post in our occasional series of “What our customers get up to when they’re not on the wheel”

Dan and Steph spent the day with us on our one day potter’s wheel workshop 16-2-19, making some very respectable vessels and shapes.

There is no apparent end to their talents and as well as proving themselves competent potters, the couple have a multitude of other creative strings to their bow.

Steph posts penny whistle tutorials, twice a week, online as well as producing and staring in promotional videos for businesses and organisations. Dan is a freelance sports journalist commenting on football, rugby, cricket and darts.

In their ‘spare time’! the pair act and produce in a theatre group too – Phew!

A few weeks back we were contacted by a young videographer and photographer called George Nash. He asked if he could visit to shoot some footage to add to his burgeoning portfolio of photographs and moving image.

We were instantly struck by the professionalism of his approach and the initiative he’d demonstrated in doing so.

George spent a busy Saturday morning in March with us filming and photographing our customers and staff in action. He also brought along his drone to get a bird’s eye view of the Pottery and surrounding Herefordshire landscape.

George was very easy to work with, putting ourselves and more importantly our customers at ease as he moved around the studio, capturing large and small interactions. He demonstrated a really good eye for composition and worked very hard to capture the ‘right’ images.

We are so impressed not only with the results, but the speed in which he delivered the finished work. We think he’s captured the vibe and environment we strive for perfectly. Well done George!

George can be contacted on all the usual social media platforms:

George’s website.

George’s Instagram.

Georges other Instagram.

George’s YouTube.

George’s twitter.

George’s Face Book.

We love our returners – even if they haven’t visited us for 16 years!

Katie attended a friend’s birthday party here at Eastnor Pottery back in the day when she was just eight years old.

Fast forward to our potter’s wheel one day course earlier this month and Katie is all growed up and proving to us all that making pots on the wheel is not dissimilar to riding a bike – once you’ve done it you never forget.

Mum came along too and the day made for a brilliant mother/daughter activity. Well done both.

For current availability on our one day and weekend workshops, please call 01531 633886 or email admin@eastnorpottery.co.uk

This has to be one of our favourite photos of recent times

Jon and his family visited the Pottery to celebrate his 40^th birthday in creative style. Everybody took a turn on the wheel to make a pot and then paint it in a truly individual manner.

When it came to the obligatory team photo at the end of the session, Jon’s son Harry, quick as a flash, scooped mum’s iphone to photograph Jon the Potter photographing the family group. Love the movement as M&D lunge across the table to rescue the tech!

Hen party season appears to start earlier and earlier here at Eastnor Pottery & The Flying Potter. No sooner had the tinsel been stowed, Helen and her band of merry hens descended on the studio to make ceramic keepsakes and pottery artyfacts!

We love this boomerang of one of the party goers. She was immensely proud of her creation – and quite rightly so – we think its lovely!

Other members of the party made owls, penguins and pencil pots. Check out this little video of their creations on Instagram.

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A post shared by Eastnor Pottery (@eastnorpottery) on Jan 12, 2019 at 8:46am PST

If you fancy making clay models to commemorate your hen do, then please take a look at our page dedicated to pottery hen party activities. Projects include the potter’s wheel and prices start at just £20.

Pinch Pot Pig!

19 – 23 February 2019

We are delighted to announce details of our fun and creative themed sessions for families in the approaching February half term.

Pinch Pot Pig is the theme in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Participants will use proper clay to make and paint a little piggie to be left with us to be fired and glazed.

We’ve shaken things up in terms of what we offer our lovely customers. Traditionally our children’s sessions have taken place on the Wednesday of every school holiday and if families couldn’t make that date then they would miss out on all the clay fuelled fun – but not so anymore! – visitors can book Tuesday to Saturday and the best bit.… grown-ups can participate too!

The workshops are designed for children as young as 4 years and there is no upper age limit.

1.5 hr sessions commence at 10am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3pm and places cost £20. Telephone and email booking essential: Tel: 01531 633886 e: admin@eastnorpottery.co.uk

The trio’s positive outlook and good humour made for a brilliant, creative shared experience and a workshop session we’ll look back on with fondness.

If you’ve got something amazing to celebrate, then why not mark the occasion by making a piece of pottery. We have options for large groups and smaller gatherings and plenty of inspirational makes, including collaborative pieces where everybody contributes to a single thrown pot.

Sarah treated her mum Susan to a 1.5hr pottery experience as part of her birthday treat.

The pair made a pot each on the wheel and then spent some quality time together in the tranquility of the main studio painting their masterpieces with coloured slip.

Both agreed it was a wonderful, relaxing and creative thing to do for Susan’s special day.

More details of our fabulous range of drop-in projects can be found right here. We are open 10am – 4pm Tuesday to Saturday and have 1.5hr start times through-out the day. Please email admin@astnorpottery.co.uk or tel 01531 633886 to check availability.

There were only seven of them, but what they lacked in numbers they more than compensated with frivolity and laughter. We had so much fun!

They ladies appeared in Chesney Hawkes masks (a personal hero of bride to be George) and took to the wheels with enthusiasm, reveling in the comedic possibilities of centering the clay!

In amongst the hilarity the girls really got to grips with their technique with one of the more skeptical members at the start, thoroughly enjoyed herself commenting ‘That was great, I really really surprised myself”

The session concluded with the ladies treating us with a rousing rendition of Chesney Hawkes’ I am the one and only’ – a short clip can be found here. Everybody heralded the afternoon a resounding success.

If you are planning your wedding in 2019 and looking for a thoroughly creative and unique group activity, then why not book a session for your hen party. Take a look at our pottery hen party page and drop us a line admin@eastnorpottery.co.uk or tel 01531 633886 to check availability.

What do you get a loved one who has everything?

The experience market has positively blossomed in recent years as we all attempt to fill our leisure time with meaningful and very often creative activities.

It’s no surprise then we’ve seen more and more individuals and families gifting each other pottery experience vouchers for birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas.

Aspiring potters and visitors to our Herefordshire studio are not only creating a tangible object to be proud of, the process of making has therapeutic benefits too. Co-coordinating eye, hand and speed of the potter’s wheel leaves very little mental capacity to dwell on anything other than the task in hand – quite literally! All that other ‘stuff’ fizzing around participants heads fades away and a state of mindfulness ensues – just like meditating!

Workshop participants are also making memories. Our staff strive to create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, perfect for friends and family to catch-up and unwind and get their creative juices flowing. The expert guidance and positive facilitation enable visitors to thrive and create that ‘special’ piece or family heirloom. Once it has been fired and glazed, the artifact serves as a permanent reminder of time spent together doing something creative and ultimately rewarding.

We offer gift vouchers to whatever value you would like to spend. For instance, a £20 experience will enable the lucky maker to throw a pot on the wheel, decorate it with coloured slip and then leave it to be fired and glazed. A voucher to the value of £130 will enable the recipient to play with clay on the potter’s wheel for a whole day, inclusive of a delicious lunch.

All in all, making pottery is good for you and what better way to show your appreciation for a loved one than presenting them with an Eastnor Pottery Experience Voucher this Christmas.

You can purchase our vouchers online, right here.