Located just outside the picturesque village of Millthorpe in Central West NSW, Shinglewood Cottage offers a serene autumnal setting perfect for indulging in the meditative art of hand-building with clay.
Designed and built by Ainsley Sullivan, Shinglewood Cottage is nestled within a 120-hectare property. This newly constructed modern farmhouse boasts breath-taking rural vistas.
Ainsley, an accomplished interiors and events stylist, works regularly with Steve Cordony at Rosedale Farm and caters to her own clientele. Her distinctive style, as featured in Country Style magazine, showcases her exceptional talent and eye for design. Custom-built as a venue for photo shoots and events, Shinglewood Cottage also provides boutique accommodation in the heart of the esteemed Orange wine region.
In celebration of the area's autumnal landscape, Ainsley and I partnered to host 'Clay in the Country' - a workshop in handmade ceramics where I introduced participants to a range of hand-building techniques, offering demonstrations and guidance to create unique, handmade ceramic pieces.
Ainsley and I began planning this workshop soon after she started construction of the cottage. It was thrilling to finally meet her in person and see our vision come to life! Despite the forecast of clouds and rain, we were blessed with a sunny and warm autumn day. As participants arrived, they were greeted with the scent of freshly baked scones. Ainsley shared the charming story of her grandmother's vintage scone cutter - a cherished piece she used to bake the delicious scones that day.
Ainsley beautifully decorated the table with a mix of my handmade ceramics and some of her own clay creations, making everything look effortlessly dreamy. Exquisite handwritten place cards and nametags were crafted by the very talented Tanya of Wells Ink Lettering (@wellsinklettering), adding a lovely touch with metal brads and ribbons.
Custom pottery stamps were made for each participant to personalise their handmade pieces. Sharing my passion for pottery whilst witnessing participants embrace their creativity brought me immense joy.
Ainsley proved to be an incredible host, treating attendees to a delicious lunch of homemade pumpkin soup and sourdough bread.
At the conclusion of the workshop, each handmade piece was carefully transported back to my pottery studio for drying, double firing and glazing. These pieces will be posted to participants to enjoy in their daily rituals.
We were also fortunate to have Bathurst-based photographer, Lauren Hespe (@laurenhespe1) join us to capture the day's special moments.
Working with Ainsley on this workshop, and meeting and teaching the lovely participants was an absolute delight - and I cherished every moment. The experience is something I will remember for a long time.
Here's what some of the participants had to say:
"Cannot be improved - already perfect. What a great day"
"Enjoyed the items we made and the relaxing atmosphere! What a beautiful spot!"
"Had a wonderful day, loved every minute and what a talented potter. Learned so much, great coffee and afternoon tea. Thank you so much"
"Catering and venue were amazing. Nicole was so patient and caring and the workshop was very fun"
"I loved the whole workshop. The location, the teaching, the food! Loved it all!"
"Everything was wonderful! Chicken soup for the soul!"
"I loved that I could learn new techniques, but also create an individual piece that was my own style. So many beautiful inspirations in the styling and the food was amazing!"
Going forward, I plan to teach 1-2 location-based workshops per year. If you'd like to stay informed about upcoming dates and locations, please sign up for my newsletter.
Shinglewood Cottage is available for photo shoots, events and boutique accommodation - you can find more information here.
Lauren Hespe, a photographer based in Bathurst, creates professional images that beautifully capture the warmth and character of any space. For more details, visit her instagram (@laurenhespe1).
Image Credit: Lauren Hespe Photography
Photographer: Lauren Hespe