NOVEMBER 2026 | ISSUE #074
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Hello Potters
From the President
We received 16 wonderfully creative and diverse entries for the Mud to Masterpiece challenge. Ann Gillespie bravely took on the job of judging and, after much careful deliberation, chose the winners. The People’s Choice vote on the first day of the Creative Trail was a nail-biter too! A huge thank you to Ann, and congratulations to our winners and everyone who joined in. We hope you had fun—and we can’t wait to see what next year’s challenge brings.
Another fabulous year of SAS Creative Trail open studios and workshops is almost wrapped up, and the feedback from visitors and participants has been glowing. A big thank you to everyone who helped make the magic happen—including our hardy cleaning bee team, who battled the rain to get the studio sparkling for visitors.
Next up, the club is joining Artists Alley at the Jingle by the Bay Festival on Saturday 5 December, with a marquee outside Et al Gallery. It promises to be a merry evening full of festive cheer—and another great chance for members to sell their work, lend a hand or simply soak up the atmosphere.
After such a busy and brilliant year, it’s time to swap clay tools for bowling balls and celebrate together! Join us at the Sands Bowlo on 28th November for barefoot bowls, drinks and a bite to eat. Please RSVP through HelloClub, and feel free to bring your partner along for the fun.
The final day to book firing in is 3rd December. The kiln team will try and complete as much as possible before the club closes on 17th December, but firing cannot be guaranteed—so please book early. We reopen on 18th January. A limited number of sessions will run during the break (check the studio for details), but no firing will be accepted, giving our hardworking kiln team a well-earned rest.
Happy potting
Suzanne
NOVEMBER
1st – Studio open for Creative Trail (sales and volunteering opportunities)
7th and 8th – Creating your Goddess workshop
28th – End of year celebration Sands Bowlo
DECEMBER
3rd – last day for firing
5th – Jingle by the Bay (sales and volunteering opportunities)
12th – Raffle drawn
17th – Last session for the year
31st – Membership renewals due for eligible members
JANUARY
17th – Supervisors meeting
18th – Studio reopens
FEBRUARY
1st – Memberships reopen (link will be added to our website when they . . open)
Come join in the festive spirit and sell some ceramics at the annual festival. Join local artists outside Et al Gallery on Saturday 5 December.
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
Blackwattle Pottery Natural Speckle
Blackwattle Pottery White SW Ppaperclay
Keane’s Ceramics Midfire 33
Keane’s Stoneware 33 KC575
Clayworks Yellow Stoneware YG
Chris’ Light Speckle
Walkers Stoneware 10
Feeneys Clay FFB
Feeneys BRT
Feeneys BRS
feeneys BRG
Clayworks RGH
Keane’s Red Earth
Keane’s Toast KC582
Keane’s. White Raku
Feeney’s Red Raku
Walkers White Handbuilding
And don’t forget, we now stock
a large range of Amaco and Mayco glazes.
Plus a comprehensive range of Kiwi underglazes to try.
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We have popped all of the published tips, hacks and techniques onto the ‘Tips’ page on our club website so that you can search easily.
What are glaze pustules ?
Glaze pustules (often referred to as glaze blisters, bumps, or boils) are small, raised bumps, domes, or sharp-edged craters that form on the surface of pottery when trapped gases burst or freeze near the end of a kiln firing.
What causes Glaze Pustules?
Trapped Gases: Gaseous carbon, organics, carbonates, or sulphates from the clay body or raw glaze materials decompose and try to escape as the glaze melts.
Early Surface Sealing: If the glaze melts and seals the surface too quickly, expanding gases get trapped underneath, forming bubbles.
Thick Application: Applying the glaze too thickly makes it harder for subsurface gases to break through and heal before the kiln starts cooling.
High Viscosity: A stiff, high-surface-tension glaze cannot flow or "heal" over the broken bubble crater once the gas pops.
Overfiring or Rapid Firing: Pushing the kiln to too high a temperature or ramping up/down too fast can cause severe gas evolution or leave unhealed pits.
How to fix pustules
Add a Peak Soak: Program your kiln with a 15- to 30-minute drop-and-hold (soak) at or near peak temperature to give the molten glaze time to fluidize and heal over escaping gas
Thin Your Glaze: Apply a thinner, more even coat of glaze to prevent sealing gas pockets inside.
Adjust Bisque Firing: Fire your bisque ware to a slightly higher temperature to burn off organic materials and carbon before the glaze is ever applied
Slow the Cooling: Slow down the initial cooling phase of the kiln so bubbles have time to settle out smoothly
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
