We’re champions of craft and handiwork, so we love singing the praises of talented creatives we encounter - including Gold Coast ceramicist and mother-of-two, Kelly Bignell.

Kelly’s much-loved moon vase featured in our Mosh Home launch competition and we’ve been coveting one ever since. After playing with several side hustles over the years, Kelly developed her hands-on hobby into a thriving small business, working out of her home studio in Currumbin.

We chatted with Kelly about her journey from hobbyist to professional potter, and her tips for turning a passion project into a fulfilling creative career.

Kelly, we’d love to know about your creative journey.

I’ve been doing ceramics for about eight years now. I started out with a hand-building course which I enjoyed and then I bought a pottery wheel off an online marketplace.

My partner Ash ended up buying me a few classes with a local ceramicist which helped me develop some techniques, and then I kept playing around with the wheel until I really worked out how to do it.

I played around with it for about six years, but when I had my second son, Sonny, I wanted to take it a bit more seriously.

I knew I wanted to stay at home with him but I also wanted to be able to work, so I had to start treating the hobby like a job and became a bit more structured in what I was doing.

You make the learning journey sound relatively straightforward - but I imagine it’s anything but! How did you master the skill?

I am definitely not a master - there is so much to learn! But I’m a hands-on learner, so I’ve spent a lot of time and energy and have consistently practised throwing to get to where I am today.

I highly recommend testing everything and I still do test tiles to make sure I’ve got the glaze just right. Now I’ve got my own kiln, I’ve started to do reduction firings, which allows me to experiment with these beautiful Japanese Shino glazes you’ll see across my range.

Given your success as a self-taught ceramicist, have you always worked creatively?

I’ve always had small side hustles and businesses in the creative space. Before I had kids, I was making beautiful kimonos with a friend. We’d hand-knot the tassels on each piece, so there was still that creative, handcrafted element.

Whilst I love fashion, it’s very technical and fast. I am very hands-on and love the pace of pottery. Everything I make is very much considered, understated, minimal and luxe and that vibe carries through my home and sense of style too.

With your studio at home and toddler in tow, how do you stay organised and ‘on task’?

I am lucky I have a chilled toddler, so he will hang and play whilst I work.

I try to plan and structure my work in a month block, with the first few weeks spent working hard to stock up my kiln, and then after that, I’ll focus on drying and firing, and finally, photography!

I love that you can make anything with clay - it’s so adaptable. And I love that it’s so unexpected - you never know what’s going to come out of the kiln.

You grew up near the beach in Nambucca Heads and now live with your young family on the southern Gold Coast. How does this coastal lifestyle influence your work?

That coastal, earthy aesthetic definitely plays a part in my work.

When I first started out I was using natural, textured glazes, which almost have an oceanic, coral look and feel. And lately, I’ve been using my signature shell motifs across my plate range too.

A lot of my clients are local Gold Coast residents so inevitably that aesthetic speaks to them too.

I’m a real homebody, so having a beautiful space to be in and relax with family is so important to me.

What are your favourite pieces in your collection?

I’ve been doing moon vases for a while now and I still adore them. It’s based on a traditional Korean vase - they all look so different and timeless, and they’re technically difficult to create too.

I’m hoping to experiment with furniture in the near future too - so watch this space!

Doing work you love is a dream for many. Do you have any advice for women trying to turn their passion project into a fully-fledged business?

I think saying ‘yes’ to opportunities and being open to collaborate with other creatives.

Also, it sounds cliche, but don’t give up. If you love it, invest the time and energy and keep going.

I’ve found it only takes one person to notice your stuff and then my growth has been pretty organic from there.

How do you live your best home life?

I’m a real homebody, so having a beautiful space to be in and relax with family is so important to me.

I’ve always invested in furniture and homewares and have always wanted people to walk into my home and see that I take care of it. There’s a pride in having a beautiful space - a space that makes me feel good - and my ceramics are very much part of that.

To browse Kelly’s work, head to her website or visit Gold Coast boutique, Kind Curations.

Meet the maker - Kelly Bignell

We’re champions of craft and handiwork, so we love singing the praises of talented creatives we encounter - including Gold Coast ceramicist and mother-of-two, Kelly Bignell.

Kelly, we’d love to know about your creative journey.

You make the learning journey sound relatively straightforward - but I imagine it’s anything but! How did you master the skill?

Given your success as a self-taught ceramicist, have you always worked creatively?

With your studio at home and toddler in tow, how do you stay organised and ‘on task’?

You grew up near the beach in Nambucca Heads and now live with your young family on the southern Gold Coast. How does this coastal lifestyle influence your work?

I’m a real homebody, so having a beautiful space to be in and relax with family is so important to me.

What are your favourite pieces in your collection?

Doing work you love is a dream for many. Do you have any advice for women trying to turn their passion project into a fully-fledged business?

How do you live your best home life?

Bianca Gemmill of BCG Building Design