My piece from the last exhibition got sold and I went with the buyer to pick it up on the weekend from the gallery. She's lending it to her sister temporarily and I got the chance to go with her to her sister's home. It was surreal to see my piece of work hanging on someone's home.

I love buying other people's ceramics work*. If you're looking for some ceramics to decorate your home or to give to people as presents, here are ways I go about:

• UNSW Pottery Studio at the main campus in Kensington, Sydney is having a Christmas sale until 16 December. You can get ceramics by Deb Taylor, Murray Topham and Hayden Youlley here - prices are much more affordable than if you buy from galleries (even without the Christmas sale). Prices starting from less than $10 (sorry I couldn't remember exactly what it was).
• Canning Arts Centre in Riverton, Perth is having a Christmas sale until 17 December
  http://www.canningartswa.org.au
  Very affordable ceramics, seriously. Quality homewares and crystalized vases. Prices starting from $5. (I would have bought stuff if I didn't take into consideration I still have to lug them over to Sydney)
• Contact the artist directly! COFA recently held its annual exhibition for graduating students, and there were some really good ceramics on display. Some students listed down contact details so if you're really interested in purchasing, you could probably drop them an email.  http://annual.cofa.unsw.edu.au/2011/graduates?category=ceramics
• Etsy. I lurk around Whitney Smith Pottery and Heather Knight, they make such fantastic work.

On the other hand, if you're interested in making your own ceramics, I do recommend the Eastern Suburbs Community College ceramics courses. They have night classes, it's fun, you learn a new skill and you end up with at least a few pieces to take home after.


Happy shopping!

*I love buying other people's ceramics work because I feel it's important that I support the industry. Plus, I since I make it a point NOT to give away my own work, I do have to buy other people's ceramics for presents. I don't have much space at home so I tend to only buy pieces I LOVE to keep. So far I've made two purchases and I'm banned from getting more for this year by the husband.