NEWS from Lisa: February Forms
School’s back, so 2026 is in full form after a fairly relaxed January catching up with friends and farewelling our Canadian visitors. Last month I also started some new work and held the first totem workshop of the year. It never ceases to amaze me what interesting folk my workshops attract and I feel very fortunate to meet so many wonderful people at these sessions. My aim of course, is to share my obsession with clay so that they might cash it too.
With temperatures in the studio staying wonderfully low, it’s been a good time to experiment with new shapes and forms, making moulds and utilising the home-made slab roller by @scott_made_that for some much larger totem beads and free-standing sculptures. I’m learning a lot from trial and error and, just like baking cakes, doubling the size or the recipe isn’t always successful and requires a change in methodolgies. I am certainly not rushing the drying process on these big pieces, so the process is a slow one. Below is a work-in-progress image of pre-fired and bisque fired forms currently under way.
New works emerging for 2026.
2026 Workshops
If you’d like to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse, come along for one or more of the following creative ceramic experiences:
Totem Workshops: Next up is another wonderful 2-day workshop over one weekend in February at Winmark Wines. Enjoy beautiful views of the vineyards, a chardonnay and cheese lunch both days and making something inspired by the Hunter Valley Wine Country.
My next Totem Workshop at the Bakehouse Studio is scheduled for May 9, 16 & 23.
Flower Workshops: There are still a few places for the next flower workshop in February here at the Bakehouse Studio commencing on Saturday 14 with a meditative hand-building experience focussed this time on gum nuts, gum blossoms and Sturt Desert Peas. You can choose to make hero totem beads or a stand alone table flower sculpture. What a nice way to spend Valentine’s day. Then two weeks later on Saturday 28 we will use both underglazes and glazes to complete work for the final glaze firing.
I will also be returning as ‘artist-in-residence’ to the inspiring studio of ceramicist Sharron Mountain S.Mountain Ceramics in Springwood for another flower workshop on March 1st and 8th. Be stimulated by the Blue Mountains and book direct with Sharron for this one.
Hope to see you soon!
Lisa
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Totems
May 9, 16, 23
Totems at Winmark Wines, Hunter Valley
February 21 & 22
Australian Native Flower Sculpture
February 14 & 28
June 6 & 13
Birds
March 21 & 28
Monday Mornings
10am - 1pm
Thursday Evening
6pm - 9pm
Friday Afternoons
2pm - 5pm
BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE
Studio Induction / Orientation sessions:
2026 Studio inductions can be completed on-line for those who are new to the Studio.
Looking for a shared woodwork shed in Sydney?
You’ve found it!
The Bakehouse Shed in Marrickville is a space for people with a woodwork project but no space. Or machines, or tools.
It's even for people with no skills and only a vague idea about what end of a hammer to hold.
Perhaps you want to fix something.
Or restore something.
Or make something from scratch.
This is a relaxed, inclusive community space where you can work on your own project with the good humoured guidance of Scott - and YouTube.
Drop in for a visit and a chat.
For more information or to book a time to come and talk about your project, contact Scott on 0415 816 627 or
email thebakehouseshed@gmail.com
Follow Scott on Instagram @scott_made_that