Bring A Friend Open Pottery Experience

Pottery is a wonderfully rewarding craft, but it can also be unpredictable. By choosing to work with clay, you’re stepping into a creative process full of variables, many of which are beyond my control.

I want to be upfront: I cannot guarantee that your piece will return to you exactly as you left it. I handle every piece with care and treat your work as if it were my own. However, in ceramics, things do go wrong; pieces can crack, glazes may run, items can warp or even explode in the kiln. Sometimes your creation won’t turn out the way you imagined, and that’s part of the process too.

By choosing to book this workshop, you acknowledge and accept these risks as part of the learning experience. I do not offer refunds, credits, or replacements for any pieces that are damaged, or don’t make it through the drying and firing process.If any issues arise, I’ll keep you informed by email and share photos where possible.

What I can promise is a welcoming and encouraging environment where you can explore, create, and have fun. This is your opportunity to connect with clay, embrace the unexpected, and enjoy the unique experience of making something by hand.

Group Booking Responsibility
The person making the booking is responsible for informing all participants of these terms and conditions, including the inherent variability involved in pottery making.

Cancellation Policy

Bring a Friend Open Studio sessions are non-refundable and cannot be cancelled, transferred, or rescheduled due to limited studio availability and small session capacities.

Attendance
Missed classes or no-shows are non-refundable and non-transferable. Please arrive on time, as late arrivals may miss important instructions and may not be able to complete their work.

Health & Safety
By participating, you acknowledge that pottery involves the use of tools and equipment and agree to follow all safety instructions provided. Participation is at your own risk.

Kiln & Breakage Disclaimer
While all care is taken during drying and firing, pottery is an unpredictable process and breakages, cracks, or glaze variations can occur. We cannot guarantee final results and are not responsible for damage that occurs during firing.

Photos & Media
Photos and videos taken during classes, including images of student work, may be used for promotional purposes on my website and social media channels. By enrolling, you consent to this use. If you prefer not to be photographed, please inform me. You may request removal of any image at any time.

Materials Provided
All tools and materials are included in the workshop unless stated otherwise. Just bring your creativity and enthusiasm.

Cleaning & Equipment Policy
Students are required to clean their tools, workspace, and any equipment used after each class. Please allow 15 minutes for cleaning within your scheduled session time, with pack-down beginning before the end of class.

All tools and surfaces must be wiped down, and your workspace should be left clean and tidy for the next group. These shared studio practices help ensure the space runs smoothly and allows tutors sufficient time to finish and prepare the studio between sessions.

Collecting Your Work
Finished pieces will be available for pickup after the drying and firing process, which takes approximately 6–8 weeks. You will be notified when your work is ready for collection. Additional costs apply for individual shipping if required. Finished work must be collected within a reasonable timeframe after notification due to limited storage space.

Weekly Payment Plan
If Klarna which is Pottery Embassy's "Afterpay" isn’t suitable for you, you’re welcome to pay for workshops in weekly installments. You can deposit any amount that fits your budget each week, as long as the full balance is paid before the workshop date. Book as usual and select bank transfer as your payment method, then send a message to receive bank details so payments can be easily tracked.

Health, Safety & Participation

Pottery Embassy is committed to providing a safe and supportive studio environment. Participants acknowledge that working with pottery materials, tools, equipment, and glazes involves some inherent risks.

By attending workshops or classes, participants agree to follow studio instructions, safety guidelines, and reasonable directions provided by instructors at all times.

Participants are responsible for ensuring they are physically able to participate in studio activities. Please inform your instructor before class if you have any medical conditions, allergies, injuries, pregnancy considerations, or physical limitations that may affect your participation.

While every reasonable care is taken to maintain a safe studio environment, Pottery Embassy is not liable for personal injury, loss, or damage arising from participation in studio activities except where required by New Zealand law.

When working with clay, keeping your nails short makes a big difference. Long nails can unintentionally dig into the clay, leaving marks or tiny hairline cracks on the surface. While these cracks may look minor, they can weaken your piece and even cause it to break before or during the firing process in the kiln.

For the best results, I recommend trimming your nails before the workshop. This helps you shape and smooth your piece more easily and ensures it has the strength to make it safely through the drying and firing stages.

If you prefer to keep your nails long, please bring a pair of thin surgical or disposable gloves. Wearing gloves creates a barrier between your nails and the clay, reducing the risk of small cracks and keeping your pottery in better condition.

Pottery is all about enjoying the process and creating something you’ll be proud to take home. Having short nails or using gloves if your nails are long will give you the best chance of success with your piece.

Pottery is a slow, hands-on craft that takes time and patience. Once a piece is shaped, it must go through several important stages before it’s finished:

• Forming the piece – Often created on a pottery wheel/handbuilding for balanced, symmetrical shapes.

• Drying (Leather Hard to Bone Dry) – After shaping, the clay begins to dry.

  Leather hard is when the piece is firm but still slightly damp, this is the ideal stage for trimming the base, refining the shape, or adding details like handles or feet.

  Bone dry is when all moisture has completely left the clay. The piece becomes very fragile and lighter in color and must reach this stage before firing to prevent cracking or damage in the kiln. This drying process can take several days depending on thickness and conditions.

• Bisque Firing – The first firing hardens the clay, using slow heating and cooling to prepare the piece for glazing.Bisque pieces can also be painted using an underglaze.This takes about 30 hours.

• Glazing – Glaze is applied and left to dry completely, normally 24 hours.

• Glaze Firing – A second firing at higher temperatures, followed by gradual cooling to prevent cracks and strengthen the finished piece. This normally takes 48 hours

Because of this multi-step process, pottery isn’t ready to take home straight away. Depending on drying and firing schedules, it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks before your finished piece is ready. Sometimes the weather plays a role too regarding the drying process and slows it down.