about
Hello!
I’m Libbi the artisan behind baked stone pottery. I live in a little flint cottage in the Suffolk countryside with my husband Mark, our dog Dylan and Buster our cat.
My Journey -Twenty years ago, I embarked on a journey into the world of pottery, a hobby that began when I relocated from Essex to Suffolk. After completing my education, I found myself in traditional 9-5 office roles, but they left me feeling unfulfilled as I yearned for a creative outlet. The local college provided a variety of evening classes, and I decided to enrol in a pottery course. This decision marked the beginning of my deep-rooted passion for pottery. The serenity it provided me, coupled with the sense of accomplishment in crafting something both aesthetically pleasing and practical from a mere lump of ‘mud’, was utterly captivating (and still is). In 2019, I decided to take a leap of faith, leaving my day job behind to pursue my dream. I established my own studio, turning my hobby into my profession.
My work -
My pottery is crafted from stoneware clay, adorned with simple glazes that let the shapes take centre stage. I also enjoy creating pieces decorated with graphic shapes using coloured slips and underglazes. Each piece is personally handcrafted on the potter’s wheel, glazed by hand, and fired at temperatures reaching 1200 degrees centigrade. The art of pottery has taught me the virtue of patience, as the entire creation process can span up to six weeks.
taught clay techniques
1-1 teaching, special occasion celebrations, small group activities, or pairs and individuals looking to explore new experiences are all welcome at my studio, located at Bramley Cottage in Culford, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
Tuition is tailored to individual needs and covers the following areas:
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Wheel work: I have two potter’s wheels available for one-on-one teaching or for couples.
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Hand-building techniques: This includes various methods of shaping and constructing pottery by hand.
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Surface decoration: Techniques for embellishing and enhancing the surface of pottery pieces.
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Glaze mixing and application: This involves the preparation and application of glazes to pottery pieces.
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I can tailor a lesson plan based on our discussion and your specific goals. The rates begin at £30 per person per hour, which includes the cost of firing the work. The lessons cater to a range of skill levels, from absolute beginners to more advanced learners.
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For more details or to schedule a session, please reach out to me through my contact page.
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During the summer, I offer raku sessions (stay tuned for dates).
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Gift vouchers are also available - a perfect gift for someone special who’s keen to learn something new or hone their skills.
potter's wheel
A potter's wheel is a machine used in shaping the clay into a vessel, this is known at 'throwing a pot'.
The wheel may also be used during the process of trimming the excess body from partially dried ware, this is known as 'turning'.
coiling
This is a hand-building method using coils (sausages of clay) rolled by the potter to make the walls of the vessel.
Large vessels can be achieved with this method and items can both bulge out and narrow inwards depending on where the coil is placed.
pinching by hand
A very simple form of hand-building with clay. This method has been used since ancient times. Simple clay vessels such as bowls and cups can be formed and shaped by hand. The method is a pinching process in which the clay walls are thinned by pinching them between the thumb and forefinger. This method is also known as a thumb pot.
slab making
Slab making is another hand-building technique which involves rolling clay out to an even thickness.
This can then be manipulated into many different projects.
