We meet so many people on our classes and courses – all individuals and all with a tale to tell. In an attempt to document their stories and reasons for visiting Eastnor Pottery, we’re featuring some of them in an occasional blog entitled Star Potters.
To kick off, say hello to participants Leanne, Kian and Grace. All attended our longer potter’s wheel experiences on different weekends in January.
Leanne
Leanne purchased x2 places on our Day Potter’s Wheel Course as a surprise birthday gift for husband Anthony. Incredibly, she managed to keep the trip a secret until they were literally stood outside the Pottery door. Anthony knew they were going somewhere to do something, but that was all the info he was given – a proper magical mystery tour!
Although Anthony had a fabulous day and produced some very competent pots, it was Leanne’s skill and ability that took our breath away. Apparently, and we’re not sure we believe her, she’d never sat at a wheel before. The way she understood and shaped the spinning clay was phenomenal and by the end of the day had produced some seriously good pots.
Technical prowess aside, Leanne really enjoyed the therapeutic benefit of working on the wheel: “It shut my brain up for a few hours – mental health wise, this is right up there!”
When Leanne isn’t making amazing pottery on the potter’s wheel she makes and sells Potion Kits for kids – Fizzy Fun for Everyone!
Kian
Kian’s mum Hatty has x4 grown-up children. As a novel birthday gift idea, she challenged each of them to present her with x2 days of ‘undivided attention’ We reckon that’s x8 days of mother/son mother/daughter activities to be taken during 2025 – nice idea!
Kian was first off the blocks and purchased two places for mum and himself on our January Potter’s Wheel Weekend Course.
Both had done a little pottery before and had really enjoyed it. Spending a whole weekend immersed in the craft was an obvious choice.
The pair had a lovely weekend in Herefordshire, renting an AirBnB in Ledbury and driving the two miles through gorgeous Herefordshire countryside to reach the Pottery – perfect!.
When we asked Kian his favourite part of the whole weekend, he struggled at first to identify just one thing “that’s a tough one!” Apart from spending quality time with his mother (obviously) he’d been really taken by how the process of throwing on the wheel yielded results so quickly; “What was a lump can turn into a pot in about a minute!” he also acknowledged that parts of it were mindful and slow, particularly the painting and decorating of the green ware on Sunday….and what a creative job he made of it
Kian is a keen mycologist and grows all kinds of mushrooms and mycelium at home. he wasn’t stuck for inspiration when it came to the decorating.
Kian is currently on an Arts Foundation Course in London but will be heading off to Newcastle in the Autumn where he has secured a place on a Fine Art Degree at the University. He hopes to combine his duel interests of mycology and art and we wish him all the best.
Grace
Grace attended a one day course with her partner Krystian. He’d purchased the experience as a thoughtful and creative Christmas present.
There was something familiar about Grace when she entered the Pottery and we weren’t surprised when she announced she’d visited us before…on numerous occasions as it turned out. For years and years we used to run themed sessions for kids in the school holidays. The workshops were vibrant, fun and very busy – it wasn’t uncommon for us to pot with 60 children a day!
Grace and her brother were regulars on our children’s workshops and she still has a hedgehog in a flowerpot made in 2008…when she was 7 or 8 years old.
We were encouraged to see Grace hadn’t lost her touch and she made some wonderful shapes on the wheel…as well as having an absolutely fabulous time. “How can I choose a best bit!…. you guys were really great teachers, we felt really comfortable, great environment!”
Grace’s other hobbies include hiking, playing tennis, going to the gym and cooking.
