Sarah Drake Ceramics

Hand made functional ceramics

As a longtime crafter and former book conservator, I’ve always loved working with my hands. Pottery felt like a natural next step: a slow, thoughtful process that blends function and beauty.

Now, I make hand-built functional ceramics from a small desk in a shared studio, using pinching, coiling, and slab-building techniques. I decorate each piece with underglazes, drawing inspiration from textiles, bold colour, and the natural world.

My work is carefully made, with a colourful and playful feel—I hope it brings a bit of charm and joy to everyday life.

Being a member of the South Coast Collective connects me with like-minded creatives who share a collaborative shop space. That sense of community keeps me connected and inspired. I’m also passionate about sustainability, keeping waste and water use low, and reusing clay as much as possible. Every piece reflects a thoughtful, hands-on approach to making.

"Pottery felt like a natural next step: a slow, thoughtful process that blends function and beauty."

My journey into pottery began in late 2022, when my teenager and I took a handbuilding class at an inner-city pottery studio. I was instantly hooked. I loved the slow, thoughtful pace and the deeply satisfying process of creating something useful entirely with my hands.

As a longtime crafter and (now former) book conservator, I’ve always been drawn to working with materials and making things that blend function and beauty. I don’t have any formal arts training, but pottery has given me a space to explore creativity in a new way. I've enjoyed slowly building my skills and discovering my own niche within the craft.

These days, I create hand-built functional ceramics from a small desk in a shared studio. My workspace is tucked away in a quiet corner, giving me the space to fully focus on each piece—but I still get to enjoy the creative energy and company of other makers when I want to. It’s the best of both worlds.

I work using traditional handbuilding techniques—pinching, coiling, and slab-building—to form each piece by hand. I then decorate the surfaces with underglazes (a mix of liquid clay and coloured stains), using a range of methods and influenced by my love of textiles, bold colours, and the natural world.

My work is thoughtfully designed and carefully made, with a colourful and playful vibe. I love exploring new techniques and surface decoration, always aiming to bring a bit of charm and whimsy into everyday life. I mostly make cups, vases, soap dishes, and bowls—pieces meant to be used, loved, and lived with, and bring a small spark of joy to daily routines.

My love of snorkelling and exploring Wellington’s South Coast is starting to sneak into my work, and I’m excited about leaning into that more.

There’s so much quiet beauty beneath the surface—textures, colours, and forms that excite and inspire me. That connection to place and to the natural world is something I’m beginning to explore more intentionally in my ceramics, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it leads.

I’ve tried to build sustainability into my practice as much as possible. One of the advantages of handbuilding is how easy it is to minimise waste—any offcuts or scrapings are saved, dried out, and reconstituted with water into a slurry. Once it’s dried to a workable consistency, I wedge it (kneading the clay to remove air pockets and unify the texture) and use it again.

Water use in my process is minimal. All my tools and brushes are rinsed in a bucket rather than under running water, and the clay particles left behind are eventually added to the studio’s recycled clay. I also make sure to only fire pieces I’m happy with—since once a piece is fully fired, it's permanent. These small decisions help me stay mindful of resources and keep my making process as low-impact as possible.

Being part of the South Coast Collective co-op is liberating. The shared shop space means I get to be part of a supportive community of like-minded, creative, and independent makers. It’s a joy to work with people who value craft, collaboration, and doing things a little differently. Having that shared space not only helps us reach more people, but also brings a real sense of connection to what can often be quite solitary studio work.