About Us
Located in the heart of Burleigh Heads, Firebird Studios is a privately owned teaching studio that offers numerous opportunities to nurture creative passions in pottery through workshops, courses, open studio programs, and more!
From beginner through to advanced, we offer all levels of pottery instruction and many of our students go on to become potters and artists in their own right.
After a course, you are welcome to use this studio as your own with our unique offering of Community Clay. This allows you to book open studio time, granting you the freedom to unleash your creativity within our well-equipped studio space.
Also, starting this term, we are excited to introduce our Creative Flow Program! This has been carefully designed for potters of varied skill levels to have the freedom to work on their own projects in an open studio environment, while still having the support of an experienced instructor.
Join our vibrant community of students, teachers, and staff, as you immerse yourself in the joys and challenges of working with clay and embrace every facet of this beautiful, unpredictable, heartbreaking, and satisfying medium.
And while you’re here, don’t forget to meet Dani and Mel, the driving force behind our studio.
Meet our Teachers
Nikki Brockett
Nicola Brocket has a talent for surface decoration and brings that into her teaching. Nicola’s journey with pottery started some time ago and over the years her passion with clay and having an outlet to channel her creative side, has grown to the extent that she has her own home studio and now teaches with care and dedication at Firebird Studios.
Rick Bower
Rick started making pots in 1980 – he dicovered early he was hooked on throwing on the potter’s wheel. He studied Ceramics at Monash University in 1987 and has since thrown 10’s of thousands of pots and been involved in exhibitions both in Australia and overseas. He has spent his life in and out of everything pottery… he believes he has clay running in his veins.
Dani Parkin
Dani fell in love with the pottery at high school, always knowing that it would re-emerge into her life. When she finally bought a wheel, she was initially self-taught, until a stint with a local potter, Cynthia Manietta, who taught her so much about clay, glazing, firing and throwing – enough to fully equip herself with a home studio. She loves making and trying new glazes, and has sold her work throughout Brisbane and Ipswich
Marcia Ghiggioli
Marcia is passionate about all things pottery and has been potting now for 34 years. She loves wheel work and hand building alike and adores teaching and sharing her knowledge while learning a few new things along the way.
Alanah Stone
After years of exploring various creative endeavours, Alanah rediscovered her connection to the unique medium of clay, earth, that busies her hands and in turn, calms her mind. Alanah specializes in crafting hand-built creations, each imbued with a sense of wonder and intention. Exploring ceramics with children and supporting their creative process is a passion she loves to share.
Megan Hughes
Megan embarked on her pottery journey right here at Firebird Studios a little over two years ago. She has since blossomed into a skilled ceramic hand builder and decorator, demonstrating a deep passion for her craft. Megan enjoys teaching our weekend hand building workshops.
Marnie Griffiths
Three years ago, Marnie embarked on her ceramic journey with a mug workshop at Firebird Studios and was instantly captivated by the art of hand building. Since then, her passion for crafting with clay has grown, and she has found immense joy in not only creating her own pieces but also in guiding others to discover their own blissful sanctuary in the world of ceramics.
FAQ
When is the studio open?
STUDIO & SHOP:
Tuesday: 12pm – 8pm (Open Studio)
Wednesday: Open for classes only
Thursday: Open for classes only
Friday: 9am – 5pm (Open Studio)
Saturday: Open for classes only
Sunday and Monday: Closed
How do I reschedule or cancel my class?
If more than seven day’s notice is given, you are more than welcome to reschedule your class. Please contact us by phone or email to request the rescheduling of your class.
What types of workshops do you provide?
Workshops are 2 to 3 hour classes in different techniques concerning clay. Anything from the Potters Wheel, to Hand Building (mugs, planters, plates) or a more advanced Hand Building class or decorating class. See all our workshops here.
When will my pottery be ready to be picked up or glazed?
After a one-off workshop, your completed pottery will be ready for you to collect in 2-3 weeks. We will contact you via text message when it is ready. You can come by the studio after this date to pick up your pottery. On days we are open for classes only, call us to make sure someone is there.
Do you have any private group workshops available?
Yes, private sessions for groups of 6 to 20 potters are available. If you contact us on 0402263227 or at info@firebirdstudios.com.au to send a request. We will need a date, approximate time, length of workshop required, and the number of people attending. We can normally accommodate.
Do you take AfterPay?
Yes! You can book all our workshops with AfterPay. Contact us if you need assistance.
Do you have a firing service?
Yes we do, dependant on the size, volume, and type of clay. It is our sole discretion if our service is suitable for your work.
We are a teaching studio, so student work will always need to be given priority in our kilns. Please read our firing service policy, terms and conditions.
Do you have term membership?
Yes we do. You can find more info about our community clay membership here.
Do you sell gift vouchers?
Yes we do. Check out this page here. We sell them in various amounts.
What should I wear?
You will most definitely get a little muddy. We suggest wearing something that you don’t mind getting a little dirty. Also trim your nails and remove arm and hand jewellery including watches.
What should I bring?
If you have signed up for one of our workshops or courses, please bring a bath-sized towel with you. We will provide you with the rest of the tools and materials required.
Where do I park?
We have parking at the front of our studio. Please be aware that only the carpark immediately in front of our building is to be used. We are respectful of our neighbouring businesses’ customer needs.