As a kid I used to bash around with clay a fair bit. Mum was a wheel potter in her spare time and it was a great way to keep my siblings and I entertained.

Straight out of high school I worked for Qantas at the Perth airport as a “check-in chick”. I loved it, but knew I needed a qualification to fall back on if ever need be and I quit after two years to do an electrical apprenticeship. October 16, 2023 marks 10 years as a qualified Tradie.

I hadn’t thought about pottery in years, until in one day in 2018 I was walking through Fremantle and spotted some lovely handmade pottery plates for sale for $60 each. I thought that seemed expensive, I could make them myself and for less.

I bought my first bag of clay, some basic hand tools, and starting mucking around in the backyard. I soon realised why those plates were so expensive - there’s skill involved with nailing a great plate, and firing is expensive!

I tried my hand at wheel throwing, even joined the Potters Group in Mandurah while I lived down there before Covid changed that. So I continued my handbuilding journey in the backyard and fell in love with it.

At the beginning of 2023 I took a leap of faith and starting following my heart. I moved my little pottery business into the Carlisle Collective with no plan or expectations and, as you can imagine, have been learning a great deal since.

We created a workshop space with thrifted furniture from around Perth and I started teaching workshops and Pottery Club was born. I moved my gas kiln to the Collective and built a shed for it, raised it up, and had the kiln connected (it sounds easy but it wasn’t!). I also sourced an electric kiln which is a little beast.

In early 2024 I moved my gas kiln and shed home, and I moved out of the Collective. I have started working fifo again as an Electrician to finance building my dream workshop in my backyard. I am aiming to have it built by September 2024 for a grand opening and finally launch my Business.

Going forward I am teaching new and different workshops at the Vic Park Centre for Arts whilst Pottery Club grows organically, and I will soon have an online shop where you can purchase fine pottery hand made by me.

I have a few other tricks up my sleeve, but you’ll need to keep an eye out to see how I bring my love for warm, candescent lighting together with my love for pottery and interior design using my electrical trade.

Thanks for reading. I look forward to connecting with you soon.

Alex Rae x