Latest gifts from the Raku Kiln Goddess

Welcome to our team

I've been asked by the Breytenbach Cultural Centre to teach ceramics to a group of unemployed women - they've never worked with clay before and we started off making small pinch pots. Thami, Doreen, Lidihanna and Genevieve were very pleased to see what can be done with a lump of clay! I'll put images of their progress on this blog over the next 5 weeks. And yes - they will also be joining our team of dedicated beadmakers.

Raku beads

Raku firing is a very unpredictable process & the results are often not what I expected - maybe that's why I'm a Raku addict!

A selection of our glaze colours

From our rich african soil

Now this is what I call "earth butter" - from our rich african soil, unglazed, real and one-of-a-kind! These beads are 100% NOT MADE IN CHINA...

In the studio today

It is extremely hot in Wellington today - 40 degrees Celsius! Working with ceramic clay in such high temperatures is difficult - when the clay dries out too quickly, it cracks and goes straight to the recycle bin. But we have orders waiting and work must go on....hey, we're still smiling!

Bead colours

Earthbutter beads are either matt and unglazed or covered with a glossy glaze. We can even custom glaze for you in a glaze colour of your choice. As glazing takes place at high temperatures in the kiln - external factors such as power fluctuations and weather conditions may lead to variation in colour. This is one of the reasons why handmade ceramic beads are so unique and beautiful!

The photographs show a few of our glaze colours.

Design Indaba

Our beads were exhibited in the CCDI's Gift Shop at Design Indaba and sold like hot cakes! The stoneware decor beads were especially popular as were the turquoise raku and black beads. Interior decorators and decor shops take note: handmade ceramic beads adds a touch of authenticity to any decor setting. A leading home decor magazine has declared turquoise as the colour of 2010! Stoneware or biscuit seems to be as popular as ever - a classical colour which will never date.

The decor bead range consists of different lenghts (60cm, 80cm, 100cm and 120cm) with or without a pendant (heart, cross or round flat disk. The colours are matt black, terracotta or stoneware (biscuit).

To receive our wholesale pricelist for the decor bead range, send an e-mail to earthbutterbeads@gmail.com.

More about our beads

Most of our beads are made with local clay from Wellington as we wish to limit our carbon footprint. They are one-of-a-kind originals and the beadmaker's fingerprint can often be seen on the bead. No two beads are exactly the same size, style or colour which adds to their uniqueness.

If you are looking for original beads, you have come to the right place. Enjoy!