Katie Pettingill

Hi, I’m Katie, the hands behind Mish Mash Pottery.My path to clay wasn’t a straight line. I completed a diploma in science, and while I was at it I worked through a Cert IV in youth work. The more I did, the more I fell in love with the human side of it, the connection you build when you really show up for people. That led me to a diploma in community services and, in the end, to pottery, where I could bring it all together: something hands-on, something calming, and something that brings people together.I’ve now been working with clay for over four years, and my handmade pieces are stocked at Little Sister.That’s the heart of Mish Mash Pottery in Eudlo. My studio is a space to get out of your head and make something with your hands. Nobody walks in needing experience. They just need a willingness to get a little messy and pick up a new skill.Why I love teachingYouth work taught me that the best moments happen when people feel safe, unhurried and genuinely seen. Teaching pottery gives me that every day. I love the moment someone’s first wobbly bowl comes together and they look up grinning, and I love the conversations that happen while hands are busy in clay. I keep my wheel classes small, with 2 or 3 people per session, so everyone gets real attention and a relaxed pace. Hand building workshops, hens parties, birthdays and kids’ school holiday classes all have the same feel: calm, creative and a bit of fun.Something you might not knowMost people think pottery is about strong hands, but throwing on the wheel is as much about patience as technique. The clay responds to how you’re feeling. Rush it, grip too hard or fight it, and it wobbles, collapses or fights back. Slow your breathing and ease off, and it centres. I’ve watched people go from frustrated to calm in a single session, which is why I teach the way I do. It’s also why I dream of one day offering art therapy through pottery on the Sunshine Coast.A little backgroundOver 4 years of pottery experienceDiploma in scienceCert IV in youth workDiploma in community servicesMy handmade work is stocked at Little SisterCome and visit me at 13 Rosebed Street, Eudlo, and find us on Facebook (Mish Mash Pottery Eudlo) or Instagram (@MishMashPottery) to book your spot.