Festive Creativity in Full Flow: A Christmas Tree Platter Workshop

A whimsical retro-inspired tree platter — playful stars, bright pops of colour, and a soft green background that captures the joy of festive hand-painting.

There’s something rather special about a pottery session on a crisp November morning — especially when the wood-burning stove is crackling happily in the corner and the studio holds that gentle 21-degree warmth that makes clay feel perfectly supple beneath the hands. This week, our Willoughton pottery studio was filled with laughter, chatter, and creative energy as five friends joined us for a festive workshop making Christmas tree–shaped platters.

From Flat Slabs to Festive Forms

The session began with the familiar rhythm of rolling out clay slabs — that soothing, almost meditative process where the raw material transforms from a lump into a smooth, workable canvas. Each participant laid their slab onto fabric-covered boards (our trusty butterfly cloths made a welcome return) ready for the next stage: mono-printing.

Earlier in the year, we’d been lucky enough to spend a day learning this technique from Donna Bloye, the 2024 Great Pottery Throwdown winner. Donna’s generous, experimental spirit had clearly stayed with us; her influence shone through as the group revisited the process with us with confidence and flair.

Mono-print magic – the reveal moment as colour and pattern meet clay.

Mono-printing is a wonderful way to transfer designs onto clay — part printmaking, part surprise. Coloured slips or underglazes are painted or rolled onto a smooth sheet of paper, patterns are drawn or dabbed into the colour, and then the sheet is pressed face-down onto the clay surface. The magic moment comes when the paper is peeled away, revealing a unique and often slightly unpredictable image beneath.

Designs that Dance

The five friends quickly settled into a rhythm of experimentation — some layering soft greens and reds, others tracing delicate swirls or floral motifs. The studio buzzed with that lovely combination of concentration and gentle conversation; the kind of creative hum that feels like the sound of happiness itself.

Smooth slabs and butterfly cloths — the calm before the festive fun begins.

Once the surface designs were transferred, it was time to press the slabs into tree-shaped moulds. The transformation from flat form to festive platter is always delightful. Each piece took on a character of its own — some bold and graphic, others soft and painterly.

Revisiting the mono-printing technique first learned from Donna Bloye earlier this year.

A Warm and Welcoming Studio

By now, the scent of clay and the faint smokiness of the wood stove had blended into a comforting background perfume. There was a general sense of camaraderie as everyone compared their results and swapped ideas for future projects. A good pottery session always seems to bring out the best in people — patience, humour, and curiosity in equal measure.

The finished platters were left to dry slowly, ready for bisque firing before glazing. Each one promises to emerge as a unique celebration of the maker’s hand and imagination.

The Joy of Making

Once glazed and fired, these Christmas tree platters will be perfect for festive nibbles, mince pies, or even as centrepieces on the Christmas table. More than that, though, they carry something intangible — the memory of a joyful day spent together, the warmth of shared laughter, and the satisfaction of making something beautiful by hand.

A forest of creativity – each tree platter showing its maker’s distinctive style.

It’s easy to forget how restorative creative play can be. Working with clay engages all the senses — the earthy scent, the tactile satisfaction, the visual reward of colour and form. Add good company, gentle background music, and the comforting crackle of a stove, and you have the makings of a perfect winter’s day.