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Thanks to Yasmin for giving me a wonderful undergl

Thanks to Yasmin for giving me a wonderful underglaze watercolour tutorial during @woodstokenz . I had these 2 tea bowls that didn’t make it into any of the kilns so experimented with some fun drawings and ended up with this rainbow bowl and a whānau bowl. I took them home, clear glazed just inside (as per Yasmin’s advice) and fired them in my electric kiln.

Part of my homework for my te reo course was to do a family tree so we have been learning the different words for family members. I think I messed up my brother (should be ‘tungāne’?) and yes W looks like a woman but I think they’re cute 🌈 I’m still trying to wrap my head around all the different words for family members depending on their sex and age but it’s a fun learning journey 🥳

It was really nice to have some free time at Woodstoke just to play and experiment and try out new techniques. Something I don’t normally get a lot of time for... but hopefully will do more colourful watercolour on clay drawings again in the future!

Fun fact: I used to do a lot of doodling and drawing of people and in university I made a zine that was a comic full of drawings about this guy in my physics course (when I was studying engineering before I decided I wanted to fuck off to France and drink wine and eventually be a librarian rather than do hard science) that I had a crush on and then I gave it to him. Once we made out a party but that was all that ever happened and I sometimes wonder where he is now but there’s like a million joey bakers on the internet so I guess I’ll never know 😂 I think that might have been the pinnacle of good looking men I kissed at university. Definitely of undergrad. Maybe if I had been better at drawing it would have worked out?

#watercolouronclay #tereomāori #rainbows #uenuku #uku #nzpottery #macsspeckledbuff

Warning: not pottery related content follows! It'

Warning: not pottery related content follows!
It's Privacy Week this week. Over the past 6 months or so I have been working with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and ID Care to help raise awareness around identity theft, as I had my identity stolen as a result of the negligence of an NZ govt department in 2019.
ID care is a registered charity that helps victims of identity theft by providing support and raising awareness about identity theft. They partnered with the NZ Herald to share my story in a recent article (with accompanying terrible photograph!)
This article is behind a paywall but you can read the 3 April NZ Herald free via Pressreader with your local library membership.
Most victims of identity theft prefer to remain anonymous but I really wanted some positive to come out of this overwhelmingly horrible experience in the form of prevention and education around privacy and identity theft.
The Privacy Commission will be publishing a blog I wrote sometime in the near future. In the meantime, request your credit report frequently and check the security of web forms before you upload any identity documents! All someone needs are the details from your driver's license or passport to get credit in your name.
And if you're responsible for collecting data, make sure you store it securely, and don't ask for details/documents you don't need!
You can read more about the 2019 Ministry of Culture & Heritage data breach if you do a web search. I thought I could trust a govt website but now I know 52% of NZ privacy breaches are actually public sector organisations. Stay safe online, you don't want to put yourself through the nightmare of identity theft.
xo Nicole

I was asked to be featured in this month’s Newto

I was asked to be featured in this month’s Newtown News as the May Notorious Newtowner 😎
You can read the full article at Newtowncommunitycentre.org.nz 💕
I love being a part of the Newtown community!! The article includes some shout outs to my favourite Newtown spots @mechanicaltempest and @veronicadesignlife 🌈

This month’s issue is the ‘Birth’ issue and there’s also an article by my pal @kikivannewtown of @giantessband - and coincidentally our current bedroom used to be hers 😂

#madeinnewtown #newtownnz #notoriousnewtowner

Lots of new work now available on niceassets.co.nz

Lots of new work now available on niceassets.co.nz!
Link in bio 💕
I hope you like what I’ve been working on...

#nzpottery #functionalart

Some mugs that reference the confidence gap will b

Some mugs that reference the confidence gap will be included in my next shop update - this week!

This is something I have been thinking about for a while after being passed over for a promotion in favour of a male colleague a few years ago. My manager (also male) told me I just needed to ‘be more confident’ and ‘make more opportunities for myself to show leadership’. My first reaction was that it was so much easier said (especially for a middle-class straight white man like my manager) than done.

Google ‘Atlantic confidence gap men women’ and you will find an article looking at research around this phenomenon. Numerous studies have found that men routinely overestimate their abilities while women underestimate theirs. Why? And what can we do about it? I think by starting to raise awareness around these issues we can begin to achieve more equity and address this gap.

After an experience taking steroids that were essentially synthetic testosterone for my chronic illness and the unreal ego and confidence boost (and libidinal boost!) it gave me I gained a lot of perspective into the biological aspects of confidence.

However, scientists in these studies have also suggested that confidence can be acquired. So, with that in mind I have been trying to do a sort of confidence training for myself. It’s still not easy for me, despite having a PhD I feel like an imposter and fraud a lot of the time, but I’m trying to just speak up and be more confident in myself and my work more.

I don’t know if I will ever recapture that irrational Prendisone-induced confidence again (or if I’d even want to!) but at least I can help start some conversations about this shit. I’m not trying to say any one way is better, just that there is a gap we should be aware of. Confidence ≠ competence!

I know there are dudes out there who struggle with confidence too. So those are some of my goals with this work, and I appreciate and value the opportunity to share it and this story with you. 🌈

I’ve also got some work coming in this update that references reading, space, domestic chores, and energy all with their own stories and goals.

Finally! A shop update coming this week! I’m thi

Finally! A shop update coming this week! I’m thinking tomorrow at midday. I just need to get everything on the website!
I have lots of great things, including these cute salt pigs, I just just didn’t have the patience to spend ages photographing them. So forgive the crummy photos. The actual pots all look amazing, trust me.
#nzpottery #ceramics #functionalart #shopsmallnz

I made some phone holder thingies so hopefully it’s easier to do throwing videos on a decent angle.
Should I make more? You could also use them to FaceTime your mom. Or masturbate. Whatever you’re into! I’m not judging 😉
#phoneholder #wankstand #ceramics #judgementfreezone

I made a wall! And a @shopwiksten #wikstenhaori A

I made a wall!
And a @shopwiksten #wikstenhaori
And a quilted @flesh_dozer @johnsoncyn tote bag!

The jacket and bag I made myself. I helped make the wall.

This was my first time quilting and first time building a wall. They are surprisingly similar. Both require maths and geometry and precision... none of which are really my strengths. But I’m learning!

#makingeverything #newtownnz #quilting #sewing #building #shedlife #lifelonglearning

✨✨MASSIVE THANK YOU ✨✨ To everyone who cam

✨✨MASSIVE THANK YOU ✨✨
To everyone who came to visit me this weekend!
It was so great getting to welcome people to my space and share my work with you 😎

Huge thank you to my amazing helpers @hmettner and @charlottefdarling for tireless smile action 💕 and Achille and Ya-wen for their awesome support! The bunting was 👌🏼

Also to my beloved W for putting on a great mini-festival and all the bands that played on Saturday. I didn’t get to enjoy the music much with all the visitors but it felt like such a great vibe! I’ve wanted to put on a neighbours day musical bbq and open studios for literally years so was so happy it all finally came together and with perfect weather ☀️🌈
Thanks Jon Terry for bbq management - only 1 thing got burnt!

It was also so great to finally take a peek into my neighbours’ workshops and see what @joeharlow_art @ciara.j.ohare @llyr_w_studio and Greg get up to in there! And to see the awesome group show and gorgeous frames @jwframing put together. Thanks also to @veronicadesignlife for stocking my work and sending visitors my way 😎

I didn’t get a chance to see any of the other artists studios but it’s been great getting to know the work of @miremoschella and @dhyana__artist through this event. I would really have loved to check out @nativesistar and @handsewnatelier — next time!

And huge thanks to everybody who came by! Especially the National Librarian!! It was also so nice to see some old faces from WPA who dared visit (@karlamarie_ceramics @philippa_clements @dennymarieford @sandy_connon ) and my pals from @mechanicaltempest along with meeting loads of new people including some I have been following on Instagram for a while!

The saying ‘it takes a village’ is really true — and I have the best village! It’s so great being a part of this awesome community of creative and wonderful people all doing cool shit and being amazing despite the capitalist neoliberal world we live in.

It’s like I’m in some kind of fantasy historical drama where I’m surrounded by poets and musicians and artists and writers BUT ITS MY REAL LIFE 💕 💕

Thanks to @newtownopenstudios for organising.

SECONDS SALE! M/305a Mansfield St Sat & Sun 2-7/

SECONDS SALE!
M/305a Mansfield St
Sat & Sun 2-7/Mon 5-7

Take all of these pieces away for a koha that will go to the bands playing at our neighbour’s day musical extravaganza!
There are lots of beautiful pieces here that need new homes. Most of them have glaze flaws, some have cracks, others I just think are ugly and don’t want to look at anymore. There are bowls, teapots, vases, mugs, cups, platters and more. Please take them away so I have room to make more and I can thank the lovely musicians who have volunteered to play at our mini-festival 😎

I was thinking of calling it ‘Assgrown’ in a nod to Homegrown (which I have had to annoyingly ride my bike around on the waterfront every day this week) + Nice ASSets but I went with ‘Neighbours Day musical extravaganza’ instead.

Sorry no holds and I am not shipping any of this so get in quick if you want to score some slightly flawed pottery 😘

There will be EFTPOS available too!

@newtownopenstudios @solo_ono_nz @yolkohno @k_m_paterson @flakeycat @watsonafied @newtownfestnz @erika_grant31 @neighboursdaynz
#newtown #newtownopenstudios2021 #newtownopenstudios #nzpottery #ceramicsnz

Giveaway now closed! Congrats to @ginell_sim !! 👏

⚡️G I V E A W A Y ⚡️

Kia ora e hoa mā! I thought now would be a good time to have another giveaway to celebrate the upcoming Newtown Open Studios 20-21-22 March!

Win a $50 voucher to spend on anything you like from the studio sale! The only catch is you have to come in person to use your voucher on one of the 3 days it’s on. More details at @newtownopenstudios

Just follow me and comment below on what you’d use your voucher for (real or imaginary!) to be in to win!

I will draw a winner next Thursday 18 March.

Good luck and hope to see you whether you win or not! Please feel free to visit even if you aren’t shopping. It’s a community event not a capitalist one!

If you aren’t in a position to buy but are keep get you hands on some of my pots please get in touch, I’m always happy to talk swaps!

🌈Art is for everybody 🌈

#giveaway #newtownopenstudios2021 #nzpottery #artisforeveryone

Happy International Women’s Day my friends! Lo

Happy International Women’s Day my friends!

Look at this beautiful rainbow of boob mugs created by amazing women in my most recent workshop.

I was really apprehensive about teaching after having such an awful experience trying to be an academic and full-time lecturer for 3 years. It’s been so wonderful and healing to be able to run these workshops that are actually fun 💕

The best part is meeting all the amazing ladies. Can you believe people came from as far as Feilding and Palmerston North just to spend a few hours sculpting breasts and smooshing clay with me for this workshop? I feel so special!!

Not just because my studio is also my home I get really nervous about having new people over and what they will think of our junk filled shed and will I be a good teacher and will it be too fast/not fast enough... etc

But everyone has been so awesome!

Not to mention how impressive it is that given the same set of instructions and tools people come up with their own interpretations and expressions and they’re all beautiful!

So thanks to @kerrynpollock @rebecca_celeste @georgeagius27 @_emmasnotsilly @ameliaetc and @caitlingggggg for hanging out with me and talking tits and bringing such great energy to these mugs and the world more generally 🌈💕 Thanks also to Anna of @veronicadesignlife for encouraging me to dip my toes back into the education space again after a long hiatus.

Despite being something many of us see everyday, breasts aren’t something you really think about or examine in close detail that regularly. These workshops are an opportunity to do that — and we should all show breasts more love and appreciation. They are important, beautiful, and powerful!

Who doesn’t love tits?

I’m hoping to run another workshop in April and I’d really be happy to welcome some men into this space so hmu if you’re keen!

Also; check out my new pink glaze 👌🏼

#internationalwomensday #titsup #boobmug #nzpottery #potteryispolitical

New mugs in this half & half turquoise colour way.

New mugs in this half & half turquoise colour way.

Excited to have these and heaps of other work for sale at Newtown Open Studios 20-22 March at my workshop 🥳

305a Mansfield St, Unit M, Newtown 🌈

I have been busy making since January in preparation! 🐝

Put it in your diary and make sure to come by and see where the magic happens! 😎

Also hopefully if we are at Level 1 and the weather is good we will be hosting a Building M Recording Studios showcase featuring music by @solo_ono_nz @yolkohno Psychic Paywalls, Erdington and more on Saturday 20 March 🤞

@newtownopenstudios #nzpottery #stoneware #ceramicmugs #newtownopenstudios2021

Big beautiful bowls in any colour as long as it’

Big beautiful bowls in any colour as long as it’s green 💚

#nzpottery #ceramicsnz #stoneware #wheelthrown #ceramicbowl #servingbowl

My first attempts at #nerikomi have me feeling lik

My first attempts at #nerikomi have me feeling like the smiley I created — 🥴

This was a huge effort and uses expensive materials and every single piece has cracked.

However trying and failing is the way we learn so I am taking this in stride and already planning next attempts. It took me years of practicing on the wheel to get any good, so I can’t expect learning a new technique to be instantly successful.

These attempts are 100% inspired by @ceramicism and @hellopaigejarman — 2 incredible artists I admire!

Thanks everyone for your comments and advice! I am thinking I will sell these as seconds since I do need to buy more stain now that I have used it all up 💸

The mug, cylinder and small plate are totally functional, just slightly cracked as pictured. The bowl has a big hole in it so would only be useful as a fruit bowl. Get in touch if you are keen to take any of these pieces off my hands!

#ceramiccasualties #neriage #slabbuilt #stainedclay #stoneware #nzceramics #functionalart #popart #ceramicsnz #nzpottery

First attempts at salt pigs and already have desig

First attempts at salt pigs and already have design issues that need refining... but not bad!
We normally keep our salt in a jar. A few weeks ago W said to me ‘why don’t we have a salt pig?’ And I said ‘if you put salt in a salt pig it just gets wet and gross.’ And he said ‘where were you using it, the shower?’.
What a barrel of laughs that man is.
So anyway I decided to attempt to make some salt pigs, none of which passed his approval because apparently they need a snout and a tail. But I did get him to show me some photos of what he meant by ‘snout’ and ‘tail’ because I had no idea what he was talking about, so I will try again 🐷
But these are perfectly fine even if they don’t meet W’s exacting standards. Though they do need matching spoons obv so those will be coming shortly.
I also tested out some new glazes on these, including the #lucyrie flat white that I found courtesy of #anchorglazes 😍
Will definitely be using that more!
Also discovered that the turquoise and my new zinc blue do NOT work together - crazing! So back to the wheel for me 😎
#ceramicsaltpig #saltpig #nzpottery #stoneware #glazetesting #functionalpottery

I finally got around to making another pair of #ta

I finally got around to making another pair of #taniaculottes from @megannielsenpatterns since they updated the pattern and expanded the size range in 2018 ☺️
I made the midi length with less volume (version D). I cut a size 18 waist and graded to 20 at the hips but I probably could have cut a straight 18 and maybe even a 16 waistband as there is a lot of volume at the hips. I also shortened them by 7 cm and also have a 4 or 5 cm hem but I think they are a good length for me now. I used a cotton and ??something blend from deep stash. If I made this length version again I would use something a bit drapier.

Also check out my cute zip!
They passed the bike-friendly test today as well! 🥳🚲
I managed to chop my head off in every photo but here they are with a self-drafted top and a @shopwiksten #wikstenhaori after cycling 5km to the office, a 9 hour day, and then cycling home, but before I get myself covered in clay (but after I got myself covered in chippie crumbs... hey it’s been a long short week)

#bikefriendlysewing #tgif

✨D R A M A✨ This bowl has a tiny crack in it s

✨D R A M A✨
This bowl has a tiny crack in it so I get to keep it 😎
I think it was 4kgs of clay. I’m not sure when I made it but it was sitting around as greenware for a while and then bisqueware for a while. It’s so big it was hard to find space to fit it in the kiln!
The clay is @macs.mud Speckled buff. The glaze is a combo of turquoise from @glazyorg and magic green from @wellingtonpottersassociation shown with a matching mug for scale 👌🏼
I don’t know what I’m going to do with another giant bowl. Soon my bench will just be covered in giant bowls and I won’t have any space left for chopping vegetables 😮
#nzceramics #stoneware #wheelthrown #handmadebowl #nzpottery

Apologies for this delayed post. I have been refl

Apologies for this delayed post. I have been reflecting on what it means to ‘celebrate’ Waitangi Day all weekend and while it’s nice to have a long weekend to do it, does anyone else struggle with how to acknowledge the day?
Maybe it’s because I work in the same building as Te Tiriti and He Whakaputanga and a lot of my day job relates to these documents and their implications... I still have a lot more to learn but I just keep coming back to equity and empathy.
Does capitalism underpin systems of oppression that leave people and the planet fucked? Probably. How do we fix it? Idk. Everybody just be excellent unto each other and don’t be racist (or sexist, ableist, classist, etc) or exploit anyone or anything for your own profit (I’m looking at you colonialism) maybe is an ok first step? 👍 ☮️
And I will keep making anti-racist anti-capitalist pottery in my spare time 😎
#potteryispolitical #waitangiday #kotahitanga #aroha #peaceandlove

✨First glaze firing of 2021!!✨ 2021 marks 10

✨First glaze firing of 2021!!✨

2021 marks 10 years since I first attempted working with clay! Here is a comparison of some of my first pots from 2011 and one from my most recent firing.

In 2011 I did an 8-week course at @wellingtonpottersassociation with @rosemary_ohara_pottery having never touched clay before! 🌱

I really struggled with centring and throwing but managed to make a few small pots. I remember around week 6 or 7 I asked Rosie if I could attempt a bowl, and her saying to me “I think you should just stick with cylinders for now” 😂 I always have liked a challenge!

After I finished my PhD I joined the club and made myself go every Wednesday and Sunday night to practice throwing. I watched YouTube videos and just kept practicing. I became the workshop coordinator to get more learning opportunities 😎

After about a year of regular practice I got the hang of centring and throwing larger amounts of clay and different shapes. It took me a really long time and a lot of work. I was not a natural! Some people seem to just have magic drip off their fingertips from the first time they sit down at a wheel but for me, this was hours and hours of practising, building muscle memory, and many many failed pots & recycled clay before I could get to this 3+ kg 2-piece beauty on the left.

What began as a hobby to get me away from the computer and an intimidating PhD thesis 10 years ago has turned into a passion and a side-hustle that even earns me a bit of money now!!

Creating with my hands and clay takes me to a mental and physical space where I feel relaxed & at peace, and simultaneously full of joy, in connection with Papatūanuku 🌏

What’s even better is the reception my little pots have gotten and sending them off into the world and into people’s homes to be used and cherished. 💕

It’s easy to take inspiration (aka ‘copy’ 😂) other people’s work, but I think I’ve finally found the right balance between making things that are useful, beautiful, fun and humorously radical in my own activist voice 💪

So I’m going to keep on putting the ‘fun’ in ‘functional ceramics’ for a long time to come! 🌈

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