The Welcome Project
Three Hour Project
@Studio Emaho!
Soquel, CA
No prior clay experience needed!
The Welcome Project is an invitation to pause at the threshold of your own life. Across cultures, people have created doorway charms, liminal keepers, and entry blessings to honor the passage between outside and inside, ordinary and sacred. These objects are not only decorative; they are reminders of what we hold dear and what we choose to carry with us when we cross into our homes and into ourselves.
In this one-session workshop, you’ll explore what welcome means to you. Through guided reflection, journaling, and creative exploration, we’ll consider:
What do I want to welcome when I cross my own doorway?
What am I ready to leave outside?
How does knowing myself more deeply help me connect more genuinely with others?
With those reflections as your guide, you’ll create your own threshold object; a homecoming piece that might take the form of a small wall plaque, charm, or guardian. Your finished work becomes a tangible reminder that true welcome begins within.
Clay practice:
No previous clay experience is needed. You’ll be introduced to foundational handbuilding techniques including slab building, scoring and slipping (joining), surface design, and texturing. We’ll also touch on simple carving, pressing, and designing for hanging or standing display. The emphasis is not on perfection but on creating an object that carries your intention and presence.
The flow of the project:
Begin with grounding and reflection, then move into design and forming with clay, decorating with underglazes. You’ll learn basic techniques and shape your threshold object.
If you need more time to work on your own, the studio will remain open for another hour.
After the workshop, your piece will be bisque fired, then glazed with clear glaze and fired at Studio Emaho! and will be ready for pick-up a few weeks later.
Dates available:
Monday, October 20, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Wednesday, November 5, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Wednesday, November 12, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Sliding scale cost $85-$125 per person.
To Register, Click the Register button below to send me an email with the amount you can afford and date you’d like to attend.
