What is the Clay Cafe?
The Clay Cafe is a single afternoon in our studio here in Delft. You sit down with a ball of clay and a warm drink, and Els shows you how to build something by hand. She has been teaching pottery for more than thirty years, so she has a good eye for where you're about to go wrong and a gentle way of nudging you back.
It's hand building, not the wheel, so there's nothing to wrestle with. You pinch, you coil, you smooth the clay until the shape feels right. Everything is laid out for you and nothing is rushed. That's why people book it for birthdays, for a day out with friends, for family afternoons and for taking the team somewhere that isn't a meeting room.
What's included
- 400g of clay to make your piece
- All the tools and underglazes you'll use
- Firing your finished work in our kiln
- Coffee, tea and treats Els bakes herself
- Help and guidance the whole way through
- Lunch if you'd like it, just ask ahead
Who it is for
Beginners, mostly. That's who the afternoon is built around, and most people who join have never made anything out of clay before. Groups and families fit right in. We cap each session at 12 so Els can actually get round to everyone and you're not left guessing what to do next.