During our visit to Wildflower Farms Resort in Hudson Valley, NY, I took a pressed flower pottery class. I’d never worked with pottery or clay before, but despite this, the instructor was so helpful, the course was very informative, and had a great deal of fun! Led by Demetria Chappo of Demetria Chappo Ceramics, I was in excellent hands. I hope this post inspires you to try a new class, learn a new skill, explore your creativity, and do something new!
First, we were welcomed with light bites and drinks and invited to find a seat at a long communal-style table inside the Maplehouse at the resort. Then, our instructor Demetria gave us a quick rundown of what we’d be doing. Using freshly cut clay, we’d begin shaping our pottery. We were free to create anything we wanted, and we could make as many things as we wanted within the two-hour class timeframe, but only one would be fired.
To make our pieces shine, we also used freshly picked wildflowers from around the property to add depth and interest. Going into this class, I wanted to make something perfect and beautiful, but she encouraged us to have fun. My first try at pottery wasn’t going to be perfect, so after accepting that not everything in life needs to be exact and precise, I enjoyed the process much more.
I decided to create a rectangular dish that could be used as a small plant potter or as a jewelry dish. I also really loved the process of pressing the flowers into the clay and pulling them away to reveal a relief design. Rather than making multiple pieces, I decided to dedicate my time in the class to pressing flowers and ferns into every side of the dish so that nothing was left smooth. I’m thrilled with how much my very first pottery piece turned out!
Robin also made something different than most people’s pots or mugs. He made a really cool basket with a fern motif. He’d never worked with clay either, and seeing how different our ideas were was exciting.
After we finished everything, we filled out forms to return them to us after Demetria brought the pieces back to her studio. There, she will fire them, add a clear glaze, then fire them again before mailing the finished products to us. So, we will have our finished pieces in four to six weeks! I’m excited to see how mine turns out.
This pressed flower pottery class was such a fun way to tap into our creative sides. I had so much fun, and the two hours flew by. I want to take more classes like this when I travel because it rounded out our trip, and I left feeling accomplished, relaxed, and inspired. Check out Demetria’s stunning work, and pick up your favorite pieces here. If you book a stay at Wildflower Farms, be sure to join in on as many classes, excursions, and experiences as possible – they’re all amazing!
Explore more of my adventures in Hudson Valley, New York, and the United States.
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