SHELLHARBOUR WORKSHOP FIELD GUIDE
Mishima Vase — Two Days to Carve the Leatherhard Moment in Shellharbour
A focused two-day workshop where you shape clay one day, return the next to carve the leatherhard surface—this guide explains what to expect and how to prepare.
Mishima Vase — Two Days to Carve the Leatherhard Moment in Shellharbour.
Set in Shellharbour’s Clay @ the Village series, the Mishima Vase workshop is a hands-on, two-day studio session that stages the most satisfying moment of hand-building: the leatherhard phase. Participants make their piece on day one, allow it to partially dry overnight, then return on day two to carve and refine the work before it goes on to finishing.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Make, Wait, Carve — The Leatherhard Focus
The workshop is built around the leatherhard stage: create your form on day one, let it partially dry overnight, then return to carve and reveal texture and detail when the clay is firm but still workable.
Two Short Sessions, One Satisfying Outcome
Structured as two focused sessions across consecutive days, the format captures both the making and the precise moment for carving—an approach designed to maximize hands-on satisfaction in a compact time frame.
A Finished, Carved Piece Sized by Volume
Participants work within the studio’s volume-based sizing; a LARGE allocation gives volume for a meaningful vase, plate or mug while keeping the process accessible in the two-session format.
What the day feels like
What the Workshop Feels Like
The flow is deliberate and tactile: a session devoted to shaping and building clay, a pause as the work moves toward leatherhard, then a return to carve and reveal details. That overnight pause is the core of the experience—what you make and what you reveal are separated by time, which heightens the satisfaction of carving into a surface that responds like leather.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who gets the most from this two-day clay workshop.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The workshop is delivered as two short sessions on consecutive days; each session is listed as 2hrs in duration.
Wear comfortable clothing and leave jewellery in a safe space. Aprons are available at the studio; clay and glaze used are washable if you get any on clothing.
The workshop meets at 80b Towradgi Rd Towradgi.
Pricing and piece size are based on volume (see FAQs). The studio provides the clay and glazing materials used in the sessions.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is each session?
Each workshop session is 2 hours in duration.
Where do attendees meet?
Meet at 80b Towradgi Rd Towradgi.
What should I wear or bring?
Wear comfortable clothing and leave jewellery in a safe space; aprons are available at the studio and clay/glaze are washable.
How big can I make my piece?
Sessions include a LARGE sized piece. Pricing is based on volume—LARGE is a total of 2000 cm³ (for example, a vase roughly 14 × 14 × 10 cm, a plate 25 × 25 × 3 cm, or a mug 12 × 15 × 10 cm).
Are aprons provided?
Yes—aprons are available at the studio and all clay and glaze used are washable if you get any on your clothing.