March 2025 Newsletter
Club Notes and Updates
Anneke Boren’s set of three black-on-black 'whirling dervish' pots (1987) and the shape that inspired the cover of her new book.
Anneke Borren: Shaping Life Within Clay
WPA Life Member Anneke Borren’s new book launches 19 March!
If ever there was someone born to be a potter, it is Anneke Borren. And if ever there was someone born to tell a story, it is Anneke Borren. In her newly released book, Shaping Life Within Clay, Anneke shares her personal journey with a unique voice that resonates with authenticity and passion.
This beautiful book celebrates her ever-evolving career as a ceramist, offering a window into her artistic journey, her role as a mentor, and her profound impact on the world of clay and stone. Through her own un-imitable perspective, Anneke explores how clay has shaped her life and creative path, while inspiring others to embrace their own artistry and craftsmanship.
For anyone passionate about pottery, mentorship, or the artistry of clay, Anneke's book is an inspiring must-read that reflects her deep commitment to her craft and the community she has nurtured over the years.
The official invitation for the Wellington and Auckland events.
WPA Members: Join Anneke for the Official Launch & Book-Signing!
Anneke is excited to invite WPA members to the Wellington launch of Shaping Life Within Clay. Be part of this special event, enjoy an evening of celebration, and take home a signed copy of her book. Plus, every book purchased at the launch will include a limited edition Anneke piece – a truly unique treasure!
Date: 19th March
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Unity Bookstore, 57 Willis St, Wellington
Don't miss this opportunity to meet Anneke, hear about her journey, and connect with fellow pottery enthusiasts. See you there!
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Meet our new Treasurer!
RIGHT: Rosie Fresen, WPA’s new Treasurer.
We’re excited to announce that Rosie Fresen is stepping in as the new Treasurer for WPA, taking over from Kelly Y, who is heading abroad for new adventures. Rosie brings three years of experience in accounting, with a background in small and medium-sized business advisory, accounting, and larger government reporting.
“I’m thrilled to take on this new role and contribute to the fantastic work WPA is doing,” says Rosie. “Although I’m relatively new to pottery, I’ve really enjoyed hand-building and am currently learning how to throw on the wheel. My journey into pottery started as a creative DIYer, and now I’m excited to expand my skills to create beautiful pottery for my kitchen.”
Rosie is eager to meet more people in the club, adding, “I’d love to connect with fellow members, so please feel free to say hi if you see me!”
Welcome to the team, Rosie!
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New sign-in system for the spray booth
We’re introducing a new sign-in system for the spray booth to ensure it stays in great condition for everyone. Here’s how it works:
Before Use: Take a photo of the spray booth to document its condition before you start. Use the QR code below* to fill out a quick form and upload the photo. (*You may need to log into Google to complete this.)
After Use: Once you’ve finished and cleaned the booth, take a second photo to show its condition. Go back to the same QR code, fill out the form again, and upload the 'after-use' photo.
If the QR Code Doesn’t Work: If you're having trouble with the QR code, you can email your photos directly to wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com, indicating which is the ‘before’ and which is the ‘after’ photo. Two separate emails are fine.
If You Find the Booth in Poor Condition: If you go to use the spray booth and find it in a messy state, please follow the same steps. Your ‘before’ photo will show that it wasn’t you, and we can track down the culprit.
This new system helps keep the booth in good shape for all members. Thank you for your cooperation!
Welcome new members!
Adibah K. | Alexandra F. | Becky G. | Eliza B. | Gavin S. | Jessica D. | Laurence W. | Marci T. | Nicole L. | Philip B-W. | Thomas H.
Adibah K. | Alexandra F. | Becky G. | Eliza B. | Gavin S. | Jessica D. | Laurence W. | Marci T. | Nicole L. | Philip B-W. | Thomas H.
DID YOU KNOW…?
What to do with your stuff ?
LET’S HAVE A SWAP MEET!
We are excited to propose a Buy, Sell, and Swap event for WPA members for your pottery stuff, and we’re seeking expressions of interest to help us gauge participation. This event will likely be held on a Saturday morning (9 AM to noon) sometime in May. If you're interested, please fill out the survey linked here. The survey will be open until Monday, 10 March.
Please note that this will be a members-only event, and all Associate, Full, and Life members are invited to join. It is not for the sale of finished pottery. Instead, the focus will be on buying, selling, and swapping pottery tools, glazes, chemicals, and other pottery tools, glazes, and associated paraphernalia.
This is a great opportunity to find new supplies, offload any extra equipment, or connect with fellow members to share resources. So, if you’re interested in taking part, please complete the survey by 10 March. We’re looking forward to hearing from you and making this event a great success!
Having difficulties with the survey? Email Admin at wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
Member’s Gallery: Around the Studio
This month we have some members’ work as well as some photos of Mal and our Potter-in-Residence, Jenny Shearer, doing demos at “Cake Club”. Keep up the good work, everyone!
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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
The magazines have been found!
The missing ‘Ceramic Review’ magazines have been found! Thanks for the leads—the issues had been misplaced in some ‘Ceramics Monthly’ boxes which made it challenging to track them down.
They are labeled now and in their correct place.
This also brings up an important reminder: when using our library collection, please take a moment to return items to their proper place. For books, this just means returning them to the shelf you pulled them from. For magazines, please ensure they’re placed back in the correct box and in the proper order. It only takes a minute but helps keep our collection organized. Thank you!
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Label your clay … and everything else.
Don't forget to put your name on clay left out to dry! We've had some clay go missing and we assume it was a well-meaning member cleaning up the clay reclaim table.
And it's not a bad idea to label EVERYTHING you have in the studio. Items get misplaced all the time and it's easier to return it to you if you have an identifying mark on your items.
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Glaze room messes
Please remember to clean up ALL glaze from surfaces, including floor drips! Always wash the table twice and be aware of future users. Leave the glaze room (or any room at the studio) better than you found it.
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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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Yes! Heather/Bella are on it!
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Great idea! We've reached out and Marilyn would like to create something special for the club.
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The toilet paper fairy (aka Admin) didn't realise they were buying single ply, as Moore Wilsons changes around their inventory frequently. They will keep this in mind for future purchases.
Fun fact: the current club toilet paper doubles as a great paper clay medium.
Additional fun fact: Most people fold, with only 15% choosing to scrunch, but those stats also depend on the group being considered. Older people fold more often than they scrunch, and women tend to fold more than men, who tend to be scrunchers. Source here.
Guacamole for March
Photo Credit loveandlemons.com
I spent a few summers in Colorado working in landscaping with a group of women from Chihuahua, MX. The greatest thing they taught me was to sneak a dollop of sour cream into the guacamole–they swore that it helps keep the avocado from oxidizing as quickly. They also taught me to lay a bit of cling film directly on the surface of the guac to seal out as much air as possible.
There are ENDLESS versions of guacamole out there, but this is my go-to. Note that I just estimate amounts when I make this myself but thought you all would appreciate specifics.
Recipe (sort of) by Heather Baltzley.
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INGREDIENTS
• 2 tbsp finely chopped onion (any color, I usually just use 1/4 of whatever I have around)
• 1/2 to 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp finely chopped jalapeño or bird’s eye (the seeds and pith have most of the spice, so taste a bit of the flesh of your chili and judge from there)
• 1/2 tsp salt , plus more to taste
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped coriander
• 2 medium avocados
• Lime juice, to taste (1/4 – 1/2 lime or equivalent)
• pinch of ground cumin, dollop of sour cream (optional)DIRECTIONS
1) OPTIONAL: Place the onion, jalapeño, garlic, salt and half the coriander on a cutting board and use a fork to mash until juicy. OR do this in a mortar and pestle – grind into a paste.
2) Add all into a bowl, add avocado and remaining coriander, and mash to desired consistency. Add cumin and sour cream (if using) and mix.
3) Taste and adjust salt/lime juice/chilli until you are happy.
4) Serve immediately or cover with a bit of cling film and refrigerate.
Upcoming WPA Classes & Events
Glazing Basics
Monday, 10 March 6:30 - 9:00PM
The perfect 1-night course for club members who aren't yet confident with glazing.
Join Heidi (Hedy) Ankers for one evening to learn the basics of glazing at WPA.
WPA subsidises this course to ensure members have a good grounding in glaze basics. It helps you to avoid making glaze mistakes that could ruin your pieces and/or cost you in damage to kiln or kiln shelves.
The course provides an overview of glaze room protocol, stirring, dipping, pouring, with some layering and oxide decoration depending on time. Spray booth/glazing is not included. It will be limited to four participants per class.
Community News
For more information one each event, click the image below.
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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.
Gear Homestead Woolshed Potters’ Newsletter can be found here.
The Kilns at Te Horo Newsletter can be found here.
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 21 March.
