“We’ve had this business, Northern Rivers Pottery Supplies for 5 1/2 years. I had no pottery experience prior to buying the business but my husband Ove has a degree in Fine Arts from the National Arts School so he’s the creative one. He’a a Musician, a painter and can do pretty much anything to do with art. He had been working at St Johns Woodlawn for 10 years and he used to buy his clay here.
I had just had a baby and Ove came home and said ‘That business is up for sale, it would be so great to buy it.’ I said no as I knew nothing about it. He was getting a bit restless in his job so two years later he came home and said, It’s still on the market. I decided to come down and have a look and as soon as I stepped inside I could see it. It had a really nice energy and I wanted him to be happy.
We took a leap of faith and bought it. I had been a Naturopath and run my own clinic so I had admin knowledge. We jumped in, changed a lot of things and introduced classes , etc. At the time I was still working at TAFE as an admin assistant so I was juggling kids, TAFE and the business. It got too busy so I gave up TAFE and we’ve been concentrating on it full time since. We supply all the schools, the uni, the TAFE and preschools. We do firings and workshops and I love it.
A group of us Potters were all sitting having lunch and one of the girls suggested we do a calendar to fundraise. One of the girls said we should do it for The Great Barrier Reef and we all agreed as everyone wants to save the reef. It’s perfect because it has no moral dilemma for anyone. No-one would have any objection to saving the reef. We were all on the same page.
A few weeks later I was still thinking about it so I sent an email out to a dozen potters. I collect clothes and most of my wardrobe is 70’s inspired. I told everyone it would have a 70’s feel and they could use my clothes or bring their own outfit. I called Greg and asked if we could use Villa Rustica and he was on board. I asked Rebecca Rushbrook if she would donate her photography skills and she was on board. Bruce Mann donated his time on hair. Two make-up artists, Elvis and another girl from up the coast donated as well. It was such a brilliant day and was such a great shoot. Bruce brought his disco and we all had a ball. Julien from the French Bench also donated food for the shoot which was so generous.
I was left in the lurch for a while without a graphic designer and then Kylie Bridges came on board. What a special, gorgeous woman she is, so she’s also donating her time. The most expensive part is the printing. I ended up having to get a Gold Coast Printery as they were the best price and on beautiful paper. I would love to have kept it 100% local but that wasn’t possible due to cost. We also had to get the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s permission.
The goal is to have it for sale at peoples studios for the Australian Ceramics Open Studios this year which is the 18th and 19th of August. It’s nationwide. There are probably half a dozen people in the calendar who are doing the Mud Trail this year.
Potentially taking the printing out of it we could hand them a cheque for $13,500 which is so cool.”
I had just had a baby and Ove came home and said ‘That business is up for sale, it would be so great to buy it.’ I said no as I knew nothing about it. He was getting a bit restless in his job so two years later he came home and said, It’s still on the market. I decided to come down and have a look and as soon as I stepped inside I could see it. It had a really nice energy and I wanted him to be happy.
We took a leap of faith and bought it. I had been a Naturopath and run my own clinic so I had admin knowledge. We jumped in, changed a lot of things and introduced classes , etc. At the time I was still working at TAFE as an admin assistant so I was juggling kids, TAFE and the business. It got too busy so I gave up TAFE and we’ve been concentrating on it full time since. We supply all the schools, the uni, the TAFE and preschools. We do firings and workshops and I love it.
A group of us Potters were all sitting having lunch and one of the girls suggested we do a calendar to fundraise. One of the girls said we should do it for The Great Barrier Reef and we all agreed as everyone wants to save the reef. It’s perfect because it has no moral dilemma for anyone. No-one would have any objection to saving the reef. We were all on the same page.
A few weeks later I was still thinking about it so I sent an email out to a dozen potters. I collect clothes and most of my wardrobe is 70’s inspired. I told everyone it would have a 70’s feel and they could use my clothes or bring their own outfit. I called Greg and asked if we could use Villa Rustica and he was on board. I asked Rebecca Rushbrook if she would donate her photography skills and she was on board. Bruce Mann donated his time on hair. Two make-up artists, Elvis and another girl from up the coast donated as well. It was such a brilliant day and was such a great shoot. Bruce brought his disco and we all had a ball. Julien from the French Bench also donated food for the shoot which was so generous.
I was left in the lurch for a while without a graphic designer and then Kylie Bridges came on board. What a special, gorgeous woman she is, so she’s also donating her time. The most expensive part is the printing. I ended up having to get a Gold Coast Printery as they were the best price and on beautiful paper. I would love to have kept it 100% local but that wasn’t possible due to cost. We also had to get the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s permission.
The goal is to have it for sale at peoples studios for the Australian Ceramics Open Studios this year which is the 18th and 19th of August. It’s nationwide. There are probably half a dozen people in the calendar who are doing the Mud Trail this year.
Potentially taking the printing out of it we could hand them a cheque for $13,500 which is so cool.”