April 2025 Newsletter
Club Notes and Updates
Cubby & Mezzanine Renewal Coming Up!
It's almost time for the annual cubby and mezzanine renewal! The current cubby rental period will end on 31 May, and invoices for next year’s rental will be issued through Hello Club during the week of 12 May. Be sure to look out for your invoice, and if you plan to renew, we’ll make the process easy and straightforward.
Cubbies
Do you have a cubby and want to keep it?
Easy peasy - all you need to do is pay your invoice before Saturday 31 May to keep your cubby. If your invoice is unpaid and we haven’t heard from you by Sunday 8 June, your cubby will be emptied.
Don’t want to renew your cubby?
No probs - email Kate at wellingtonpotters.cubbies@gmail.com advising you don’t wish to renew (so you don’t get invoiced and emailed). Empty and clean your cubby before 31 May so it’s ready for the next person.
On the waitlist?
Fingers crossed and keep an eye on your inbox and spam folders from late-May. You will receive an email when you reach the top of the list something becomes available.
Please note: quite a few people on the waitlist have requested a low height cubby. Please leave low cubbies for people with accessibility needs. If you’d simply prefer not to climb a ladder, please reconsider your request. Taking a high cubby also increases your chance of getting one sooner!
Mezzanine hire
If you are interested in a space on the mezzanine, please email wellingtonpotters.cubbies@gmail.com. Desks are $60 per month, rented for a 12 month period ($720 per year).
Storage unit available
We still have 1 lockable mocha storage unit in the main rooms. Rental is $160 for 6 months + a $30 key deposit (refunded at the end of your hire). If you are interested, please email wellingtonpotters.cubbies@gmail.com.
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Introducing Dark and Light Glaze Recycle Buckets
The new glaze recycle buckets in the Glaze Room.
Clean your bowls, ladels, pourers, sponges, etc. in the bucket first.
Conserve some water and create stronger recycled glazes!
Bella, our Studio Technician, has introduced a 'Dark Glaze' and a 'Light Glaze' recycle bucket to support water conservation in the studio. Similar to the clay recycling buckets, please use these when rinsing your mixing and pouring tools or the bases of your pots before using the sink. This helps conserve water while collecting glaze particles, which can be reused to create a strong recycled glaze. The light glazes often turn out particularly well.
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Calling All Tech-Savvy Potters! We Need Your Input!
We’ve gotten an error and don’t know how to fix it!
We’re looking to perfect some ChatGPT script (or find a free online solution) to better organize photos from our private firings and spray gun booth sessions. Right now, we use a Google Form that logs photos in a Google Sheet, but we need an automated way to:
Rename files with user details (Last Name, Kiln, Date, Pre/Post, etc.)
Sort them into folders by month (YYYY.MM format)
Move them to the right place automatically after upload
If you have experience with Google Apps Script, automation tools, or know a great free app that could streamline this process, please get in touch with Admin (wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com) or Ingrid (wellingtonpotters.membership@gmail.com). Your help would be greatly appreciated!
Welcome new members!
Adam P. ⠀|⠀ Annaleise C. ⠀|⠀ Arlene C. ⠀|⠀ Brad P. ⠀|⠀ Camille Y. ⠀|⠀ Eepeng C. ⠀|⠀ Eileen M. ⠀|⠀ Jacqui C. ⠀|⠀ Jo T. ⠀|⠀ Johanna O. ⠀|⠀ Kate M. ⠀|⠀ Kay H. ⠀|⠀ Leeanne M. ⠀|⠀ Nina I. ⠀|⠀ Patrick v. D. ⠀|⠀ Ruby S. ⠀|⠀ Sandy D. ⠀|⠀ Tamsin W. ⠀|⠀ Veronika M.
Adam P. ⠀|⠀ Annaleise C. ⠀|⠀ Arlene C. ⠀|⠀ Brad P. ⠀|⠀ Camille Y. ⠀|⠀ Eepeng C. ⠀|⠀ Eileen M. ⠀|⠀ Jacqui C. ⠀|⠀ Jo T. ⠀|⠀ Johanna O. ⠀|⠀ Kate M. ⠀|⠀ Kay H. ⠀|⠀ Leeanne M. ⠀|⠀ Nina I. ⠀|⠀ Patrick v. D. ⠀|⠀ Ruby S. ⠀|⠀ Sandy D. ⠀|⠀ Tamsin W. ⠀|⠀ Veronika M.
DID YOU KNOW…?
Don’t miss out on a class again!
CLASS/WORKSHOP SCHEDULING AT WPA
At WPA, we have a structured process for promoting our classes to ensure everyone has a chance to stay informed and register. Here’s how we promote each class, in order:
Class Scheduling: Classes are scheduled by the Education portfolio holder and then handed over to Admin for posting and promotion.
HelloClub: The class is posted on HelloClub, where it appears on the Calendar as soon as it goes live. Occasionally, classes may be posted as "TBC" while we await final confirmation.
Website: Shortly after, the class is listed on the "Upcoming Events" page of our website. While you can't register directly from here, there’ll be a link to HelloClub where you can sign up.
Facebook Members' Page: Initial promotion starts up to 1 month before the class, depending on the schedule, with a link to HelloClub.
Instagram (Post): Secondary promotion via Instagram posts begin up to 3 weeks before the class. Since Instagram doesn't allow live links on posts, you’ll need to visit HelloClub for details and to register.
Instagram (Story/Stories): Tertiary promotion or reminders are shared through Instagram Stories up to 2 weeks before the class, with a direct link to HelloClub.
Additionally, classes get promoted via:
MMCU: Links to classes that are scheduled within three weeks of the MMCU being published.
Newsletters: Classes are promoted in the newsletter of the month they’re scheduled to run.
Missed out on a class?
Sometimes it happens! If you find yourself in this position, simply register as "interested," and you'll be emailed first if spots open up. This list functions as a waitlist, and as the full list gets emailed in bulk, sign-ups for open spots are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Questions? Contact Admin for more details! wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com
Member’s Gallery: How Do You Raku?
This season, the Raku Club has been exploring new glazes and techniques, and pushing creative boundaries! Along with three regular raku sessions, Paola Nigris introduced members to the intriguing world of 'naked' raku, demonstrating how to achieve a variety of finishes—including one- and two-step naked raku, horsehair, and terra sigillata—in the already unpredictable realm of raku firing.
Not a member of Raku Club yet? To participate in future firings or submit a piece for firing, you must first sign up as an “observer” so that you can understand what goes into the elaborate dance that is raku. Signing up also entitles you to submit one bisque-fired piece (like a small bowl or vase) for glazing and firing by the Raku Club. The $5 entry fee covers glazes, materials, and firing costs (refundable up to 7 days before the event).
Observers will need to stay for about 3 hours, from the firing start at 9:30am, to experience the full process. It’s a unique and thrilling opportunity to witness the art of raku firing firsthand!
With a few firings still to come, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved! Check out HelloClub for the upcoming observer sessions on 5 April, 12 April, as well as 3 May. If you are already a Raku Club member, email Ingrid at wellingtonpotters.membership@gmail.com to see what spaces are left!
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Thanks to Mel W. Baden V. and Heather B. for their photos of the raku firings!
Is there something you’ve made that you are particularly proud of? If so, please email your photos (and descriptions, if you’d like) to wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
PSAs from the Club Admin
Polybox dates are changing
Starting 1 April, general-use polyboxes will have a 7-day maximum usage. If you need more time, please bring your own polyboxes—Moore Wilson (inside the grocery section exit) often has them for free—and use the Pay-per-Period shelves instead.
Why the change? Our goal in adjusting the damp box system was to free up space for all members. However, instead of improving access, many have simply shifted all their work to the damp boxes. If your pieces need more time, the Pay-per-Period shelves are an affordable and much safer option than the general club areas. Thanks for your cooperation!
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Interested in a group exhibition?
Karley Skinner is organising an animal-themed group show at Ninjaflower for the end of the year. Interested in participating? Contact Karley directly: karleyskinner@gmail.com
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Slab roller cloth or tea towel?
A quick clarification—because it’s happening again! If you use a slab roller cloth, please wash it in the sluice room and hang it to dry. We want to keep clay and dust out of the kitchen and away from our hardworking “tea towel fairy”!
If you use a tea towel and it gets dirty, place it in the “to be washed” bin in the kitchen. If the bin is full, feel free to take the towels home to wash—earning yourself a bonus +1 karma point in the process! 😊
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Ngā mihi!
Suggestion Box Updates
Thanks for your suggestions in the suggestion box! Believe it or not, the suggestion box is NOT a black void of notes from you all. Suggestions get read, discussed, and logged at the Committee Meetings. Below are the suggestions and outcomes from February’s meeting (click the “+” to expand).
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The manual scales are stored on the “public” tools shelves next to the ‘Pay Per Period’ shelves. We’ve checked them and they are in working order. Please make a note in the maintenance log if one needs repair?
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Chris Dunn is already on this, but anyone is welcome to make some not-wire-wires with fishing line and washers and donate to the club!
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No, unfortunately we can’t sell glazes.
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We don’t have space to sample every clay sold by the club, but the three most common clays have been made and are on the board!
Soup for April
Recipe from “The Big Book of Soups and Stews”, photos from saltandlavender.com
Soups are my favorite and this one is goooooood. It’s from my favourite cookbook (literally, ‘The Big Book of Soups and Stews’). It can be made with fresh, frozen, or canned corn – if you use fresh, cut the kernels off the cobs early and throw the naked cobs in with the stock to simmer.
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INGREDIENTS
• 3 slices bacon, diced
• 1 cup chopped yellow/brown onion
• .5 green capiscum, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups chicken stock (or veggie stock) or broth
• 1.5 cups unpeeled cubed red potatoes (about 2 medium)
• 1.5 cups corn kernels, fresh, canned, or frozen
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 2 cups cubed cooked chicken
• 1 cup peeled, seeded, and chopped tomato
• .5 cup grated cheddar cheese
• .75 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper to tasteDIRECTIONS
1) In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp. Transfer bacon to a plate, leaving 1 tablespoon drippings in Dutch oven. Add onion, capisum, and garlic and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add stock and potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in corn. (*if using canned corn, throw in the canning liquid, too!)
2) In a bowl, blend flour and milk. Stir into soup. Increase heat to medium-high and stir until thickened, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and add chicken, reserved bacon, tomato, cheese, salt, and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, until flavours are blended and cheese is melted, about 15 minutes longer.
Upcoming WPA Classes & Events
Friday Demo Nights
Fridays* starting 4 April | 6:30PM
The WPA welcomes you to Friday DEMO Night, a FREE evening *every Friday at 6:30 pm where you can BYO [optional] to watch another member demonstrate one of their Ways Of Working. Starts 6:30 SHARP to watch the Demo which will last from 20 minutes to an hour.
You will learn great BASICS and have QUESTIONS answered. e.g cutting clay edges, making thrown slabs, tile-making, decorating slip, colouring slip, reclaim tips, tool sharpening, etc.
If you also are INTERESTED in demonstrating one of your Ways of Working please contact Paige Jarman, Education portfolio holder, at wellingtonpotters.education@gmail.com.
4 April: Paige Jarman - Pulling Handles
11 April: Heidi Ankers - Basic Reclaim Methods (TBC)
25 April: Priti Patel - Trimming and Turning, Two Ways (TBC)
N.b *Every Friday except for allocated events e.g Friends and Family.
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Club Working Bee
Sunday 13 April | 9AM - 3PM
It's been six months since the last bee, so it's time to pitch in again!
Every season, we take one day to get the membership together to make necessary repairs / deep clean the studio. This is for the good of the membership – we'll fix stuff, make space for your new creations, and make sure the tools you need are there and in good order.
We need ALL hands on deck to get this job done, as volunteering your time and expertise is an expectation of being a Full member of WPA. When you arrive, you'll be given a task and have the opportunity to bond with fellow members while making a positive impact. Let's work together to achieve great things.
Some tasks can be completed beforehand and will be displayed on the whiteboard for those unable to attend on Sunday.
NOTE: The rooms will be closed during the bee.
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Bring Your Child/ren
Tuesday 15 April | 2-5PM
Only 5 spaces left--grab yours now.
The club rooms will be open for 3 hours during the school holidays for you to bring your child/ren along to play with clay. No tutors are provided by WPA though so you are to be responsible for your child's behaviour and safety while in the rooms.
You must provide all materials and fully supervise their activities, cleaning up thoroughly at the end of the session. Finished art may be fired at WPA - for this event only.
Please SIGN UP for this one-off event. Max of 10 WPA members (with no more than TWO accompanying children, all ages welcome).
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Friends and Family Night*
Friday 18 April | 5-9PM
This is your chance to bring ONE friend or family member and dive into the world of ceramics and pottery! Hosted by Christine Winbush, you and your guest get to explore your creative sides while having fun together. You’ll need to bring your own clay, keep an eye on your person, and make sure everything is tidied up before you leave. Snacks and drinks are welcome, so feel free to bring along something to enjoy while you work on your masterpieces. The event runs from 5 PM to 9 PM.
This event is free to attend, but please SIGN UP so we can prepare for the number of guests. We can’t wait to see you there and get creative together!
*this event is regularly scheduled for every third Friday of the month!
Community News
Looking for volunteer repairers
Repair Cafes Wellington
Vogelmorn Bowling Club and Wellington Timebank are excited to welcome the community for two more repair cafes in 2025. We've had some requests for ceramics repair and would love a volunteer who can assess and/or repair ceramics to join our awesome team of repairers. We cover all materials needed and provide food, drink and a fun day for everyone involved. If you're interested please get in touch with Bronwyn at VBCrepaircafe@gmail.com.
When and where: Sunday 27 April and/or Sunday 6 July, 10am-1pm; Vogelmorn Bowling Club, 93 Mornington Road, Wellington.
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Links to other clubs’ current newsletters:
Ceramics New Zealand national news can be found here, with the Wellington / regional news here.
The latest Gear Homestead Woolshed Potters’ Newsletter can be found here.
The latest The Kilns at Te Horo Newsletter can be found here.
The latest Ōtaki Potter’s Newsletter can be found here.
Have some content for the newsletter? Email it to wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
The deadline for the next newsletter is 22 April.
