Cate O’Neill Ceramics
@cateoneillceramics.bsky.social
I love making ceramics, my garden, roses, historical fiction, good chocolate and of course there’s Daphne the Dachshund and her mini friend Twiggy.
Such a lovely sound!
November 3, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Such a lovely sound!
I don’t think much pottery is going to be happening for a while. Meet Twiggy, the tiddliest puppy I have ever seen, with my elderly standard Daphne. We have had her two days and she kept going back to sleep on my gardening shoes so now has them in bed with her.
July 1, 2025 at 7:35 PM
I don’t think much pottery is going to be happening for a while. Meet Twiggy, the tiddliest puppy I have ever seen, with my elderly standard Daphne. We have had her two days and she kept going back to sleep on my gardening shoes so now has them in bed with her.
In my happy place again tonight, working out what can be done with my underglazes.
June 25, 2025 at 9:33 PM
In my happy place again tonight, working out what can be done with my underglazes.
This was such fun! I’ve never been confident with painting or drawing, probably because my artistic mother had certain standards I had to adhere to or it just wasn’t art or good enough.
June 25, 2025 at 10:55 AM
This was such fun! I’ve never been confident with painting or drawing, probably because my artistic mother had certain standards I had to adhere to or it just wasn’t art or good enough.
I’m so pleased with this wonky pot, a carved and curvy coil pot with a handle and foot ring, glazed with a pretty coppery glaze that breaks on the texture. With all the beautiful flowers in my garden I plan to make vases galore.
June 23, 2025 at 12:51 AM
I’m so pleased with this wonky pot, a carved and curvy coil pot with a handle and foot ring, glazed with a pretty coppery glaze that breaks on the texture. With all the beautiful flowers in my garden I plan to make vases galore.
Fresh out of the kiln is this earthenware hand built vase made from coils before being carved and later glazed with a deep grey glossy glaze that breaks on the texture beneath.
June 20, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Fresh out of the kiln is this earthenware hand built vase made from coils before being carved and later glazed with a deep grey glossy glaze that breaks on the texture beneath.
An enormous bumble bee enjoying a rose called You’re Beautiful.
June 19, 2025 at 7:48 PM
An enormous bumble bee enjoying a rose called You’re Beautiful.
Two of my favourite roses next to my shady lunch spot, Sceptre’d Isle on the left and Princess Alexandra of Kent on the right.
June 18, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Two of my favourite roses next to my shady lunch spot, Sceptre’d Isle on the left and Princess Alexandra of Kent on the right.
Needed a relaxing hour and this coil pot was sitting wrapped in plastic waiting for decoration. I love carving.
June 5, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Needed a relaxing hour and this coil pot was sitting wrapped in plastic waiting for decoration. I love carving.
My latest Substack post is out. It’s all about how I finally managed to use my dilapidated old kiln to work and produce some water tight pieces, at last! If you’d like a newbie’s perspective on kilns, firing, stilts, cones, heat work and ramp speeds, you might enjoy the read.
May 31, 2025 at 8:54 PM
My latest Substack post is out. It’s all about how I finally managed to use my dilapidated old kiln to work and produce some water tight pieces, at last! If you’d like a newbie’s perspective on kilns, firing, stilts, cones, heat work and ramp speeds, you might enjoy the read.
Loved making this yesterday, something I’ve not tried before. It started as a large slab and I pushed in leaves and flowers then added abstract paper shapes. Then used underglaze and pulled plants and shapes away. Then carved and stamped. Then cut out the vase and stuck it all together!
May 17, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Loved making this yesterday, something I’ve not tried before. It started as a large slab and I pushed in leaves and flowers then added abstract paper shapes. Then used underglaze and pulled plants and shapes away. Then carved and stamped. Then cut out the vase and stuck it all together!
How happy am I? I think I’ve cracked cylinders, finally. No more unintended bowls for me. These were all made from 400g so next step, go larger. I honestly had no idea throwing was so hard.
May 13, 2025 at 9:45 PM
How happy am I? I think I’ve cracked cylinders, finally. No more unintended bowls for me. These were all made from 400g so next step, go larger. I honestly had no idea throwing was so hard.
Twiggy at 5 weeks. I think there’s going to be more puppy than pottery for a while.
May 12, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Twiggy at 5 weeks. I think there’s going to be more puppy than pottery for a while.
This little cherub is coming to live with me. So excited!!
May 7, 2025 at 5:55 PM
This little cherub is coming to live with me. So excited!!
Mugs mugs mugs, or is it cups cups cups?
May 6, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Mugs mugs mugs, or is it cups cups cups?
Bisque firing done and it was too hot this time. Sighs. Anyway, nothing failed as a result and my pots still came out looking good. I love how the underglaze colours of this one changed in the kiln becoming more intense and translucent.
April 5, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Bisque firing done and it was too hot this time. Sighs. Anyway, nothing failed as a result and my pots still came out looking good. I love how the underglaze colours of this one changed in the kiln becoming more intense and translucent.
It’s always such a long wait to find out if you’ve messed up or not.
April 4, 2025 at 7:27 PM
It’s always such a long wait to find out if you’ve messed up or not.
I just love these Narcissi with the hellebores.
April 3, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I just love these Narcissi with the hellebores.
So grateful to Ailsa Brown who has been incredibly generous in her course The Art of Underglaze. I had purchased underglazes right at the beginning of my pottery journey knowing that I wanted to use colour, but it’s only really now I’m enjoying using them freely. I hope they fire well 🤞🙏🤞
April 1, 2025 at 9:40 PM
So grateful to Ailsa Brown who has been incredibly generous in her course The Art of Underglaze. I had purchased underglazes right at the beginning of my pottery journey knowing that I wanted to use colour, but it’s only really now I’m enjoying using them freely. I hope they fire well 🤞🙏🤞
More fun with underglaze. A smaller bowl so trickier to paint inside. Tried to match up the outside with the inside. And I didn’t chip the foot of this one!
March 20, 2025 at 5:26 PM
More fun with underglaze. A smaller bowl so trickier to paint inside. Tried to match up the outside with the inside. And I didn’t chip the foot of this one!
This afternoon was very well spent with good friends whilst I passed on my love of pottery. They used underglaze to decorate bisqued pieces and tried sgraffito and carving. The sun was shining so the doors were open and we listened to the birds. Tea and cake mandatory of course. Heaven.
March 20, 2025 at 5:22 PM
This afternoon was very well spent with good friends whilst I passed on my love of pottery. They used underglaze to decorate bisqued pieces and tried sgraffito and carving. The sun was shining so the doors were open and we listened to the birds. Tea and cake mandatory of course. Heaven.
I’ve been enjoying experimenting with watered down underglaze tonight on bone dry green bowls. Can’t wait to see the results!
March 18, 2025 at 10:29 PM
I’ve been enjoying experimenting with watered down underglaze tonight on bone dry green bowls. Can’t wait to see the results!
I’m jolly pleased with the finish of these. I use a tile system from Hartley and Noble so I can leave wet items on the boards. They dried perfectly and once the boards popped off they were lovely and buttery to trim.
March 15, 2025 at 10:11 PM
I’m jolly pleased with the finish of these. I use a tile system from Hartley and Noble so I can leave wet items on the boards. They dried perfectly and once the boards popped off they were lovely and buttery to trim.
I’m having lots of fun coming up with some designs for bowls. I just hope that underglazes will be as bright as watercolour.
March 15, 2025 at 9:58 PM
I’m having lots of fun coming up with some designs for bowls. I just hope that underglazes will be as bright as watercolour.
Introducing the Wonky Pot Diaries on Substack.
March 13, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Introducing the Wonky Pot Diaries on Substack.