July 2026
JULY 2026 | ISSUE #070
Is this email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser
Hello Potters
From the President
Thanks to our amazing members, some fabulous Australiana-themed magnets are making their way through the kilns. Keep an eye on our Facebook page to vote for the People’s Choice Award, and visit the Einbunpin Festival on the 26th to purchase your favourite.
The first Mud to Masterpiece animal sculptures will soon be making their way through the kilns, and we can’t wait to see this little clay menagerie take shape. A huge thank you to the kiln team for handling every creature with such care. Keep an eye on the members-only Facebook page for ideas and inspiration for creating your own.
If you still need to complete your volunteering hours, check the cleaning task box during studio time. We’re also looking for a volunteer to make some half-spherical moulds, so please email the club if you’re interested.
Happy potting
Suzanne
JULY
1st – Upgrade to Helloclub V2
11th – Club Magnets due
11th – PCYC open day
25th – Magnet’s People’s Choice award announced
26th – Einbunpin Festival (sales and volunteering opportunities)
AUGUST
2nd – Sunday Social Flower Making
2nd – Sunday Social Photographing your work
20th – Applications for Et al Showcase due
23rd – Backyard Bonanza at Bracken Ridge (sales and volunteering opportunities)
SEPTEMBER
21st – Et al Showcase bump in
22nd – Et al Showcase opens
26th – Et al Showcase event night
OCTOBER
4th – Et al Showcase closes
16th – Decorated drape bowl workshop (open to the public)
18th – Decorate a ceramic plate workshop (open to the public)
22nd – Mud to masterpiece pieces due
23rd and 31st – Making and painting a fairy workshop (open to the public)
23rd – Decorate teacup and textured plate workshop (open to the public)
24th and 25th – Studio open for Creative Trail (sales and volunteering opportunities)
24th – Prize giving and people’s choice for Mud to masterpiece challenge
25th – Decorated drape bowl workshop (open to the public)
30th – Studio open for Creative trail, twilight (sales and volunteering opportunities)
30th – Cup and plate workshops (open to the public)
31st and 1st – Studio open for Creative Trail (sales and volunteering opportunities)
6 WEEK INTRO TO CLAY
& HAND-BUILDING continues
For further info and to book - head over to helloClub.
Dates and Times:
JULY 12, 19 and 26
9:30am - 1:30pm
Where
Shorncliffe Pottery Club Inc
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Expressions of Interest -
Wheel Workshop Tutor Wanted
We are looking for expressions of interest from any experienced throwers who are keen to run workshops at out studio for beginners and intermediate students. Email shorncliffepotteryclubinc@gmail.com for more details.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Club Magnets Competition
Hurry Up
Entries close 11 July.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Unused Clay For Sale
Come down to the shed if you want to pick up a clay bargain. One of our longterm members, Gayle, is moving to Melbourne to be closer to her daughters and has a lot of unused clay at bargain prices for sale. Including:
Northcote’s Cool Ice mid fire porcelain, 10kg $30
Keane’s Iron stone, 10kg $30
White Raku, 2.2kg $5
Buff Raku [BRT], 9.1kg $10
Walkers 10, 7.45kg $12
Walkers 10, 6.44kg $10
PB103, 3.58kg $8
Northcote Cone 6, 3.64kg $5
Keane’s Dark Matter, 10kg $30
Shorncliffe Pottery Club Inc. and Ceramic Arts Queensland extend their congratulations to Suncoast Clayworkers Association president Jackie Gasson, who was awarded the Order of Australia (General Division) in the King’s Birthday Honours List for services to the arts as a ceramicist.
Some of you will remember Jackie from the incredible workshops she conducted at SPC a couple of years ago.
This is well-deserved recognition for over 50 years of dedicated work in her chosen craft, her commitment to sharing her expertise and her enthusiastic support for all aspects of Australian ceramic arts locally, nationally and internationally.
From all who love ceramics join us in congratulating Jackie for this honour and thank you Jackie for all you do for ceramics in the arts.
Mud to Masterpiece Challenge 2026
Shorncliffe Pottery Club Inc
The Mud to Masterpiece challenge details are confirmed, so it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start creating!
This year’s theme is animal sculpture, with prizes for realistic and abstract interpretations across beginner and experienced categories—so whether your creature is lifelike or wonderfully weird, there’s room for it. For full details, see the poster or the copy displayed in the studio.
Please deliver sculptures to the studio by Thursday 22 October for judging the following day. The works will be displayed at the studio during Saturday’s creative trail, when votes will be collected for the People’s Choice Award and prizes will be presented. From Sunday, pieces may be taken home or, at the member’s choice, made available for sale during the creative trail.
Returning 9–14th October 2026, Recovered Futures will be presented during Queensland Mental Health Week and proudly delivered by Richmond Fellowship Queensland (RFQ).
The exhibition showcases works by artists with lived experience of mental health challenges, creating a platform for shared stories that invite reflection, connection, and meaningful conversation.
Celebrating its 35th year in 2026, Recovered Futures carries a rich and evolving history. Since proudly hosting the exhibition in 2018, RFQ has remained committed to creating space for artists to share their stories.
Exhibition 8th – 14th October 2026
Current Clay in Stock
We have a large range of clay in stock, all at great prices. Just ask your supervisor next time you are at the pottery shed.
Blackwattle Earthenware Paper White
SES
White Raku
Blackwattle Pottery Natural Speckle
Keane’s Ceramics Midfire 33
Keane’s Stoneware 33 KC575
Sculptural Fine
Cone 6 White
Clayworks Yellow Stoneware YG
Chris’ Light Speckle
Walkers Stoneware 10
Feeneys Clay FFB
Feeneys BRT
Feeneys BRS
Clayworks RGH
Keane’s Red Earth
Clayworks Granite
Keane’s Toast KC582
Feeney’s Red Raku
Blackwattle Terracotta
Keane’s Dark Matter
And don’t forget, we now stock
a large range of Amaco and Mayco glazes.
Plus a comprehensive range of Kiwi underglazes to try.
We have popped all of the published tips, hacks and techniques onto the ‘Tips’ page on our club website so that you can search for them easily.
What is Firing?
Pottery firing generally requires two stages in a kiln: a bisque fire to harden the clay and then a glaze fire to melt the glaze and vitrify the clay. Below are the firing ranges in Celsius and Cone numbers of each of the main firing types:
Bisque Fire: 960C to 1,030C / Cone 06–04.
Low-Fire (Earthenware): 900C to 1,150C / Cone 04–06.
Mid-Range (Stoneware): 1,150C to 1,260C / Cone 5–6.
High-Fire (Stoneware/Porcelain): 1,260C to 1,480C / Cone 9–10.
The firing process in pottery serves the essential purpose of transforming raw, workable clay into a strong, durable ceramic object. This transformation is achieved through high temperatures that cause the clay particles to harden and bond together. Firing also plays a crucial role in setting glazes, ensuring they adhere properly to the clay and develop their intended colours and textures.
There are generally two main stages in the firing process: bisque firing and glaze firing. Bisque firing is the first stage, where the clay piece is heated at a moderate temperature to drive out physical water and organic matter, making it easier to handle and less likely to break when applying glaze. During this stage, the clay remains porous, which allows it to absorb the glaze more effectively. The second stage, Glaze firing, involves heating the bisque-fired piece to a higher temperature, enabling the glaze to melt and form a glassy surface. This final stage locks the glaze in place and completes the transformation from a clay object to a vitrified finished ceramic piece.
Our Committee
President: Suzanne Bell
Vice President: Melina Wales
Treasurer: Sandra Roveda
Secretary: Laura Ogden
Committee Members:
Rebecca Mason, Steve McConnell, Jen and Taylor
Newsletter Editor: Ed Trost
edtrost1961@gmail.com
email: shorncliffepotteryclubinc@gmail.com
follow us on
website + instagram + facebook
…Until next month…
HAPPY POTTING!
© Shorncliffe Pottery Club Inc
