Cone 11 Ceramics + Design Studio

14/02/2025

03/02/2025

Entree plate made high fired PB103 in oxidation firing in an electric kiln.

30/01/2025

Materials change. Tastes evolve.

Kicking off the year by revisiting our archive of glaze tests—some long forgotten, now seen with fresh eyes. We’ve pulled out a few intriguing results and are re-testing them with our current materials to see what new surfaces emerge.

16/01/2025

Sunday in Review - offers 2-hour $65 casual throwing classes (usually on Sundays, though not always). These sessions are open to anyone seeking guidance to improve their throwing skills and are led by an experienced practicing maker.

Who can benefit from these classes?
- Students from other studios: If you’re already taking classes elsewhere but want a fresh perspective, “Sunday in Review” provides a unique opportunity to learn from another potter and refine your techniques.

- Home studio potters: Working in a home studio can often be a solitary experience. While the isolation allows for focus and creativity, it can also leave you feeling stuck when challenges arise. “Sunday in Review” offers a supportive environment at Melbourne Clay where you can connect with a skilled mentor and other potters to troubleshoot issues and spark inspiration.

How many classes do I need to book?
You can book as many or as few sessions as you like—whether it’s just one class or every available session. The flexible structure allows you to check in with a skilled teacher whenever you feel your skills have plateaued, you’re struggling with a particular technique, or you’re simply seeking fresh ideas.

Pro Tip:Consider pairing these casual classes with our studio access to maximize your practice and growth!

There are 4 session with Ilona Topolcsanyi .
Tuesday 11th Feb, 18th Feb, 4th March, 11th March

🏺✨ Link in Bio or go to Melbourneclay.com.au and click the workshops tab for our full schdule of workshops and classes. .

22/12/2024

Our Cone 11 studio practice has been a little quieter this year as we focused on establishing Melbourne Clay () as the Center for Small to Medium-Scale Ceramic Production & Professional Development.

Teaching has always been at the heart of what we do. However, after 15 years of weekly wheel-throwing hobby classes, we saw an opportunity to evolve. With hobby potters spoilt for choice, we embraced the chance to offer something unique—leveraging our experience as production potters to provide training in higher-level skills once taught at TAFE.

This year, we also prioritized bringing the production of The Good Plate back to our Melbourne studio after the sale of Bendigo Pottery. It’s been a journey of trial and error, but we’re incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made.

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the restaurants, chefs, and customers who’ve shown us patience and support as we balanced the demands of growing the studio with our work in the studio. Your understanding has meant the world to us.

A special thank you goes out to our studio members, who’ve stood by us, shared the space, and helped us shape this new direction. Managing a shared studio alongside a production facility hasn’t always been easy, but together, we’ve found our rhythm.

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re thrilled to share what’s next: a vibrant program of workshops, professional development opportunities, and inspiring guest artists—both local and international. The year ahead promises to be full of creativity, growth, and exciting possibilities, and we can’t wait to share it all with you.

Here’s to collaboration, inspiration, and continued success. We couldn’t do it without you. 🌟

Merry Christmas. Happy New Year!!

14/12/2024

The Abbotsford Pop Up Shop is back!

We’re so excited to be part of this fun event at , and we’ve made some cute little bud vases just for it. They’re perfect for those “hard-to-buy-for” work colleagues or anyone you want to give a little something special to.

You’ll also find an array of creations from other talented Convent tenants, making this the perfect spot to shop local and support our creative community.

📍 Where: Abbotsford Convent - The Salon (opposite the big church spire).
📅 When: 10 - 22 December
Tuesday - Sunday, 10am - 4pm

Late night shopping Friday and Saturday, open till 7pm

Come along, say hi, and find something special. We’d love to see you there!

05/12/2024

After 10 years today we said farewell to our most trusted friend Remus who left us at the age of 16. He was many things: keeper of the couch, warmer of the lap, sentinel of the toilet door, inspector of lunches, sitter of the kiln, patron of the arts and the guardian of the pack.

Remus inspired many of the tunes on the limited release dog walking album he co-wrote, including “Mr. Sill,” where he masterfully rhymed “famous” with “possum anus” and the title track, “Swinging the Poo Bag,”

A heartfelt thanks to all our friends who helped take care of Remus and his need to always be in someone’s company and to family, students, colleagues, studios, galleries, and customers that embraced Remus’ presence.

Goodbye Remix, R-Dog, Mr. Nippy, Mr. Sill, Silly McSillium, Big Dog, Biggus Dogus - Remus

X Ilona (bitch) & Colin (cake)

01/12/2024

I was gifted the most beautiful new water cup, crafted by the talented Sophie Harle and kissed by the flames of Sandra Bowkett’s woodfire kiln.

This gem came from a collection sitting outside Sophie’s sunny, north-facing studio, accompanied by a humble little sign that read “weird thing.” Weird? Not at all. Expertly thrown, skillfully manipulated, and finished with a peach-to-burgundy blush that only a woodfire kiln can create.

I arrived late to the party, and I still can’t believe these vessels had been overlooked. What a treasure!

Now, it has pride of place among my bedside objects collection—those meaningful pieces that bring me happiness and inspire the sweetest dreams.

Thank you, Sophie.

15/11/2024

🌟 Turbo Gallery | Rainbow, VIC 🌟

In the heart of the small country town of Rainbow lies a true gem: Turbo Gallery. This brilliant space is a testament to how regional galleries can rival the best of small city programs, bringing together diverse artists and bold ideas.

Tonight’s exhibition was particularly special, featuring our very own Colin Hopkins (potter), alongside the incredible Rae Talbot (timber artist) and Mayhla Howells (weaver). Together, their works explored a shared connection to the land, reinterpreting recognisable objects in fresh and evocative ways.

If you haven’t been to Turbo Gallery yet, it’s well worth the trip. A celebration of artistry, community, and the beauty of seeing the world through new perspectives.

05/11/2024

Yes, it’s a public holiday and the sun is shining, but I’m here in the studio, fully immersed. The thrill of finding that perfect creative design within all the practical demands of a restaurant plate—that’s what excites me. Today’s challenge? Incorporating the texture of seed pods native to in a way that feels intentional, as if it was always meant to be there. I avoid decoration for decoration’s sake; the texture has to serve a purpose.

01/11/2024

Another hard day at the office! Both the R&D and Marketing departments were in full swing. The CAD team had a work from home day today. Haha! In all seriousness, I feel incredibly lucky to have the support, kindness, and generosity of so many wonderful superbly talented people in my world.

28/10/2024

Don’t mistake this for another glorious team lunch in the gorgeous grounds of the , product testing is a critical part of our studio studio practice.

25/10/2024

✨ An unexpected twist! ✨ We ran out of rutile flour, so we reached for rutile sand instead. The result? A surprising, feathery surface that brings a whole new texture to life. Mmm… me likey! Sometimes the best discoveries come from little detours.

16/10/2024

This black glaze escaped us for a while. A new batch of black iron oxide meant we needed to retest and reformulate but it’s back and looking liquorice delicious on these textured side plates.

06/10/2024

Big thanks to everyone who came out today for our annual Smash n Grab Sale! We had a fantastic turnout, with some eager folks lining up over an hour early. Your support also helped raise crucial funds for ’s charity marathon happening next weekend.

While we were fortunate with sunny weather this morning, many artists have faced devastating losses recently, with entire studios destroyed by the floods caused by Hurricane Helen. We’re proud to announce that $300 from today’s sales will be donated to support clay workers impacted by the hurricane through and . Thank you for helping us make a difference!

Check out to see donation works for sale by other artists raising funds.

05/10/2024

We’re set up and ready for the Smash n Gab sale tomorrow Sunday 6th 11am.

03/10/2024

Square Plates: A Modern Classic

Square plates may not be everyone’s first choice, but when done right, they bring a unique charm to any table setting. Their clean lines and modern geometry offer a striking canvas for presenting food, elevating even the simplest dish into a visual statement. It’s all about balance—well-crafted square plates can offer the perfect harmony between function and aesthetic.
Repost . Dish

Plate by us.

01/10/2024

We’ve spent the day sorting the shelves and there is an absolute tone of work ready for the Smash n Grab sale this Sunday 6th.

Yes!The Smash n Grab Studio Sale is back,
and yes, we’re doing it EARLY this year.

Because Chef thought running a marathon was a good idea, we’re stepping up with a bake sale to raise funds for *Cure for Cancer*. . Naturally, we’ll be supporting the effort in the only way that makes sense: by stuffing ourselves with cake and delicious treats. Oh, and we’ll also have a charity keep cup for sale, so you can raise a toast to Brook as he jogs by while we sit on our arses full of admiration. The things we do for charity.

- **Bake Sale:** 10am - 11am (Cake is the only breakfast food that matters.)
- **Smash n Grab Sale:** 11am until we’re sold out or it’s 1pm—whichever comes first.

Ceramics, cakes, and questionable life choices—what more could you ask for?

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