This post explores the raku pottery history behind the process, tracing its journey from sixteenth-century Japan to contemporary British studio ceramics. Raku pottery occupies a distinctive place in the ceramic world. It is at once ancient and immediate, steeped in ritual yet dramatic in process. Few ceramic traditions have travelled so far from their point of origin, or evolved so visibly, while still retaining a recognisable spirit. To understand raku is to understand how c

Learning to wait through kiln-cast glass — a reflective look at time, patience and process in kiln-formed glass making.

Raku is a process that resists certainty. Part intention, part chance, it unfolds in real time — flame, smoke and heat leaving their mark on each piece. In this reflective piece, we explore what draws us back to raku time and again, and why its unpredictability remains such a quiet joy in the studio.

Discover how we combined two favourite crafts—ceramics and traditional bookbinding—by transforming a full year of Ceramics Monthly magazines into a beautifully bound studio reference book. From stitching the issues by hand to creating a custom Italian-paper cover, this project blends calm craftmanship with practical studio use.

A fiery orange ring design with dotted detailing, framed by soft crackle from the reduction. Some ideas arrive with a flourish. Others lounge around in the back of your mind for months, waving lazily whenever you walk past the studio shelves. This little collection of raku plaques definitely fell into the second category. Back in the summer, I had grand plans: a handful of small, perfectly imperfect plaques decorated in a mix of vaguely Aboriginal circles and loose abstract m

Over the last five years, we’ve explored everything from stoneware and porcelain to Parian and raku in search of the clay bodies that truly suit our sustainable pottery practice. After countless firings, experiments, and a fair few surprises, we discovered that earthenware and raku align perfectly with both our creative voice and our solar-powered studio. This is the story of how we found our way to the clays that now define Village Ceramics & Crafts.

When I first dipped my toes into the world of pottery, I thought firing ceramics was as simple as popping a piece into a kiln and waiting for magic to happen. Spoiler alert: it’s a bit more nuanced than that. The way a ceramic piece is fired can dramatically change its texture, colour, strength, and overall vibe. Today, I want to take you on a journey through the fascinating realm of ceramic kiln techniques and how they shape the beautiful pieces we cherish in our homes. Why

Earthy layers, intersecting lines, and a rich textured glaze — shown here with a wine glass and cork for scale. Another piece photographed in our new minimalist setup. 🍷✨ At Village Ceramics & Crafts, we’ve spent a lot of time refining how we present our pieces online. Photography is such an important part of selling handmade work — it needs to be clear, honest and atmospheric without overshadowing the ceramics themselves. Recently, we settled on a setup that finally feels l

A warm, festive pottery workshop in our Willoughton studio where five friends created mono-printed Christmas tree platters, inspired by Donna Bloye’s techniques.

In a world where almost anything can be ordered, printed, and delivered within 24 hours, it’s easy to forget what it means to make something slowly — to shape, refine, and finish it by hand. Yet, across the globe, people are rediscovering the quiet joy of craftsmanship. For us at Village Ceramics & Crafts , the handmade movement isn’t nostalgia — it’s a conscious choice to live and create differently. Beyond Convenience Mass production has its place, of course. It fills shelv

In an age of convenience and mass production, there’s something deeply grounding about creating by hand. Pottery has always been a slow, mindful art — a balance of patience, skill, and respect for the materials of the earth. At Village Ceramics & Crafts , sustainability isn’t a passing trend; it’s at the heart of how we work. From reclaiming clay to carefully timing our kiln firings, every decision is made with an eye on both artistry and environmental impact. Reclaiming and

Village Ceramics & Crafts reports on the results of its recent copper-green raku vessel giveaway, which attracted over 140 UK entrants. The post details the entry process, winner selection, and campaign outcomes.

Azure Wave” — A kiln-cast glass sculpture created from hand-cut Bullseye glass blocks, fused and annealed over two days in a stainless-steel mould. The deep ocean blue glass captures and reflects sunlight, projecting rippled shadows across the windowsill. There’s a quiet magic to working with glass — a material that is both fragile and eternal, fluid and solid, responsive yet unpredictable. Our sculpture “Azure Wave”  embodies that duality: a deep ocean blue crest frozen in m

Earthenware is one of the oldest and most accessible forms of pottery, beloved for its warm, rustic tones and versatility. Whether you’re creating tableware, sculptural pieces, or decorative tiles, mastering the art of glazing and firing earthenware can make the difference between a dull finish and a vibrant, professional result. Here are a few tried-and-tested tips from our own studio at Village Ceramics & Crafts  to help you get the best out of your next earthenware firing.

If you’ve ever admired a beautifully glazed mug or a delicately crafted vase, you might have wondered how those pieces achieve their final, durable form. The secret lies in the firing process, where raw clay transforms into sturdy ceramic art. Today, I’m inviting you to join me on a warm, slightly quirky journey through the world of ceramic kiln techniques. Whether you’re a home decorator looking to add a personal touch to your space, a gift-giver hunting for something truly

Behind every smooth, glossy bowl and perfectly poured mug lies a world of cracked pots, glaze mishaps, and kiln catastrophes. Pottery might look serene from the outside — all gentle wheel-spinning and rhythmic trimming — but those of us who live with the dust and the drama know better. At Village Ceramics & Crafts, we’ve had our fair share of triumphs and disasters, and we wouldn’t trade either for anything. A raku vessel fresh from the kiln — proof that even unpredictable gl

Every so often, a technique comes along that makes you look at clay in a completely new way. Our recent mono-printing session was one of those moments — an afternoon filled with colour, creativity, and laughter that brought a whole new perspective to surface decoration. A Masterclass with Donna Bloye Earlier in the year, we had the pleasure of attending a one-day masterclass in the transfer painting technique of mono-printing with none other than Donna Bloye , the 2024 winne

Two freshly finished Raku vases cooling on the studio shelf — their abstract glazes alive with rich greens, oranges, and coppery tones. There are some mornings that seem tailor-made for Raku — crisp air, low autumn sunlight glancing across the gravel, and that quiet sense of anticipation before the first firing of the day. At our Lincolnshire barn studio, the yard was already golden with light as we set up for what promised to be a perfect session: two newly glazed vessels wa

Discover how the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi inspires our handmade ceramics—celebrating imperfection, impermanence, and the art of natural beauty.

Discover how traditional pit firing transforms clay into smoke-marked ceramics. Village Ceramics & Crafts explores this ancient technique with modern precision.