Hi, I’m Natalie and I have recently started my journey to pottery .. the utterly lovely tactile, hand made, non production craft I’m exploring.

NFW (me, aka .. Natalie Florence Willis) grew up by the ocean and for many years lived close to one in Australia, Europe and the Cook Islands. The ocean and I are entwined and I still walk the sandy beaches in winter and swim for months over summer.

In early 2022 I came to Queenstown for the very first time and with plenty of time to explore, I drove and drove. And the landscapes almost bought me to tears. Up to Glenorchy and Paradise, through to Clyde and Tarras, over the Crown Range to the lovely wee alpine village of Cardrona and onto Wanaka and Lake Hawea. I was captivated by the clear blue skies, the snow covered mountains the tussock high country, and crystal clear (alpine melt) lakes of the Southern Alps. I secretly dreamt of relocating.

As often happens with me, the universe leaned in and some months later an opportunity evolved for me to relocate from Raglan, to settle out at Lake Hawea nestled at the foothills of the Grandview mountain range.

I’ve always been drawn to craft and tactile experiences .. photography, wood work, architecture, textiles, nature and real food. And in looking for an creative endeavour to balance a new job, I found potter Joy Patterson in her Dublin Bay barn studio, and started attending her Saturday morning classes.

Many months later and a relocate into Central Otago, I joined an Oamaru based pottery club (Pottery on Tyne) and once again felt the crush, this time for wheel work and tableware.

I hope you enjoy my pieces showcased on my collection page. Reach out, I’d love to hear from you.

x Natalie