Birdhouse Workshop (No Pottery Wheel Needed)

CREATE A CERAMIC BIRDHOUSE WITH ME

From clay slabs to a finished handmade piece

A calm and detailed online workshop where I guide you through the complete process of building a ceramic birdhouse by hand. We work with templates, clay slabs, simple structures and small handmade details. Step by step, in your own pace. This is not about rushing. It’s about building something slowly and thoughtfully, layer by layer.

To celebrate the launch of my new Birdhouse Workshop, I’m offering an introductory price of €19 for a limited time.

What will I learn?

In this workshop you’ll learn to build a birdhouse using templates and simple slab-building techniques.

Who is this workshop for?

This workshop is suitable for beginners with some basic experience working with clay, and for makers who feel comfortable handling slabs. If you already know how to roll clay, join parts and work patiently with drying stages, you will be able to follow along step by step.

What’s included?

- Introduction video
- 10 video modules
- Step by step video guidance
- 2 printable PDFs with the templates we work with
- Printable PDFs for each module (so you can also follow the workshop step by step in text)
- BONUS video and PDF 'Clay & Glazes I use for my own Ceramics'
- Lifetime access
- Watch at your own pace

Which materials do I need?

- Clay suitable for handbuilding
- 2 printable PDF template sheets (included in the workshop)
- 7 mm wooden slats (rolling pin guides)
- Rolling pin or slab roller
- Cutting tools (craft knife, X-Acto knife or pottery knife)
- Wooden skewers, preferably in a small and slightly larger size (but a simple satay skewer will work perfectly too)
- Metal rib tool
- Rubber rib tool
- Water
- Small soft brush
- Scraper tool
- Wooden spatula or flat wooden stick (optional)

You don’t need a large professional setup. Just a simple workspace and a few basic handbuilding tools will be enough to complete the project.

Is the birdhouse suitable for outdoor use?

This birdhouse is mainly created as a decorative ceramic piece. Of course, you can try placing (or hanging) it outside, but I haven’t personally tested how it holds up over a longer period as an actual birdhouse.
If you would like to use it for birds outdoors, you may also want to adjust the size of the entrance hole depending on the type of birds you hope to attract.

Will I also learn how to glaze the birdhouse?

No, the glazing part is completely up to you and your own personal style. You can choose any glaze, finish or natural look you like for your birdhouse.
The workshop modules guide you through the entire clay-building process up to the moment the piece is ready for bisque firing. You will see exactly how I build and assemble everything from clay, but the bisque firing and glazing process are not included.

As a bonus, I’ll share a video and PDF guide showing the clay and glazes I personally use, along with information about my favorite clay bodies and glaze combinations.

About me

I’m Margriet, a ceramic maker working from my studio in the Netherlands. I’ve been working with clay for over 15 years, mostly in a very intuitive and hands-on way. Over the years I’ve sold my ceramics online and at local markets, always combining my love for handmade pottery with styling and interiors.
Through my ceramics and the way I style my work and home, I’ve been featured in several interior and lifestyle magazines in the Netherlands and abroad, including VTWonen, Seasons, Libelle Wonen, Country Style (AU) and Sweet Paul (USA).
Along the way, I’ve occasionally given ceramics workshops at home for a limited number of people because of the space in my studio. From there, the idea slowly grew to start sharing more online, especially as I started receiving more and more requests for workshops from people interested in my work.

I like slow processes, out of the box thinking and pieces that don’t feel too perfect or controlled. I often start with an idea in my head, and then I shape and refine it as I work.