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Turn midfire clay into a custom serving platter in a two-hour workshop in Shellharbour. Learn slab-building, glazing, and kiln logistics while you make a functional keepsake that carries the pace of place.
Turn midfire clay into a custom serving platter in a two-hour workshop in Shellharbour. Learn slab-building, glazing, and kiln logistics while you make a functional keepsake that carries the pace of place.
Book with Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd
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Operated by Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd · Shellharbour, New South Wales
Make a Serving Platter is a hands-on pottery workshop held as part of the SHELLHARBOUR - CLAY@THE VILLAGE SERIES, located in Shellharbour, New South Wales. The studio meets at 80b Towradgi Rd Towradgi with the venue also listed at Wentworth St, Shellharbour NSW 2529, Australia, placing a creative studio within reach of the Illawarra coastline. This two-hour class walks you through a simple slab technique to hand-build a serving platter with soft, natural curves and small ledges for dips and crudités. Midfire clay is supplied along with templates, tools, aprons, and an instructor who guides glazing and shaping decisions. Students choose from three size brackets—Large, Extra Large, and Extra Extra Large—each with kiln-volume limits; finished pieces dry for five days, are fired, dip-glazed and fired again to cone 5, and are ready for pickup about four to five weeks later. What makes this workshop special for visitors is its intersection of craft and place. Shellharbour's coastal communities are known for weekend markets, surfers, and a hands-on creative scene; this class is a practical way to take home a functional souvenir that carries the slow, tactile rhythm of clay rather than a postcard. The slab design trending on social feeds becomes a personal object: every edge, ledge, and dip records a maker's decision, and the studio's kiln and glazing process give each piece the resilience to live in a kitchen. The session suits beginners and makers who want a mindful two-hour break from screens. Expect an intuitive, low-stress atmosphere where variations are encouraged—the instructor will help you keep within kiln-size rules so your piece survives the packing process, and you'll be notified by email when it's ready. Note the event requires a minimum of ten tickets to run; organizers will offer refunds or credits if the workshop does not meet that threshold. Practicalities: bring comfortable clothes and leave jewelry behind; aprons are available and clay washes out. The class does not include delivery or colored glazes, and platter length is capped by kiln space at 35cm. For travelers staying nearby, combine the workshop with a beach walk along the Illawarra coast or a visit to local markets to make a full day of place-based craft. Whether you're a visiting maker or a curious local, Make a Serving Platter offers a concentrated, creative experience that turns raw clay into a durable, everyday object shaped by your own hands. Bring sunscreen and a water bottle if you plan to explore nearby beaches before or after class, and allow extra time to park around town. The studio's friendly pace makes the workshop suitable for teenagers and adults, and the resulting platter is both functional and a tangible reminder of making things slowly and local.
easy.
2 hours.
Light: minimal physical exertion, standing and some hand-strength work; suitable for most adults and teenagers.
The scheduled class runs about 2 hours; additional drying and firing takes 4–5 weeks before pickup.
Minimum age is 12; younger children may need close supervision depending on ability.
Midfire clay, templates, tools, aprons, instruction, hand-building techniques, painting colors, firing and dip-glazing—excluding delivery and coloured glazes.
Size brackets are based on maximum dimensions; if one dimension exceeds the limit, you'll be charged the next size bracket to account for kiln packing.
The event requires at least ten tickets to run; if the minimum isn't met you'll be contacted within one week and offered a refund or a gift-card credit.
Delivery is not included; you'll receive an email when your piece is ready for pickup at the studio.
Shellharbour sits on the Illawarra coast south of Wollongong and has long supported weekend markets and coastal craft traditions that feed its small-studio pottery scene.
Choose low-toxicity glazes and avoid over-ordering packaged materials; pick up finished work in person to reduce shipping and packaging waste.
Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd operates a hands-on ceramics studio offering classes, workshops and a local firing service. The studio runs after-school and homeschool clay clubs, term-based kids programs, multi-week handbuilding courses, one-off open hand-building sessions, and school holiday workshops. Many classes accept deposits to secure places, including Term 1, 2026 bookings with limited availability; if a preferred day is full the studio offers alternatives or refunds deposits. Programs include dedicated kids courses for ages eight to teens with materials provided, 10-week after-school terms, and casual homeschool sessions. Adult learners can join an 8-week handbuilding and glazing course with expert guidance, or participate in open workshops designed for experienced potters wanting 90 minutes of clay work plus a painting session. The studio also runs themed workshops such as make-a-mug, make-a-dish, make-a-platter, and seasonal Christmas activities. Black Duck Studio accommodates NDIS clients with two-hour workshops offering hand-building or glazing and complimentary beverages. A firing service supports local artists and crafters from drop-off through firing with pick-up updates. Event inquiries include private parties, donut tower involvement, and bespoke bookings for celebrations. Bookings, deposits, and workshop details are published for each offering, and all class descriptions list included materials, session lengths, and post-firing pickup times where applicable. Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd presents practical, activity-based ceramics experiences aimed at learning, creativity, and accessible studio access for students, hobbyists, and community participants. Finished pieces are typically fired and available for pickup within two weeks when specified in the class description. Bookings are required online.
Book with Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd