Meet the Maker: Abbey Mehrten

By Mimosa SchmidtAugust 09, 2024

Someone who has been here since the beginning, one of our OG inspirations and best friends: Abbey! She is a an incredible potter whose work is in homes across the SÜK team and on wish lists everywhere. We visited her studio to talk about personal reinvention, small biz hustle and the zen of ceramics.

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Hello Abbey, our great friend, obviously we know you and your work - but for those who don’t have the pleasure please tell us about yourself and what you do?

Hello Mimosa, my amazing SÜK mama and friend ❤️ Haha, well I guess the quickest summary would be that I am an ex-marketing girlie turned potter! I love to make functional ceramics with some sort of twist. I like to see how i can make something more functional and if not, just to have fun with it. For example... I've recently been experimenting with bold colours and textures. I also love to teach ceramics - there's nothing better than seeing someone create their first pot!

First of all, let’s get spicy - Tell us a guilty pleasure?

That's a difficult question because I don't think any pleasure should be guilty! But if I had to give you an answer it would probably be zoning out to a weird carpet cleaning video on YouTube. Or binging bulk YouTube memes.

Abbey behind the wheel in the Brumby Suit

We know you didn’t start in ceramics… tell us the story of how you got there?

I started taking pottery classes in 2019 while working in the media industry. I was burnt out and going through a lot in my person life at the time. A beautiful friend encouraged me to take some time for myself so we booked into a pottery term. I was immediately hooked and haven't stopped since. I had tried so many different crafts and activities... but pottery was the only thing that really slowed and calmed me down. I went from term classes, to doing studio access practice on weekends, buying my own wheel, quitting my job to work at a studio... and then expanding into my own current studio in North Fitzroy!

Tell us a bit about your work and your creative process?

Well I am not a big planner... so my process relies a lot on experimentation, instinct and feel. My work is my own personal outlet and I derive a lot of peace and pleasure from the process of making. I often don't realise what I was needing or trying to express until the pot or collection of pots has finished. It's almost like the ceramics are my personal meditation or journal and each carving or spike says something about my mood at the time! It's a bit of a risky process because you can end up with a few duds... but overall I think that has encouraged me to trust my instincts and go with what feels right. This applies to my designs, shapes and colours. It's all honestly a bit random but I can guarantee that there's a lot of love in every piece!

I just spent a little while cruising your website and saving things for future prezzies…. Do you do all of that (website photos/copy/integrating/updating) yourself? Was it a process to learn about websites and e-comm platforms?

Thanks for checking it out ❤️ Yes - I do all of that stuff myself! It's a whole side to having your own little business that can be quite consuming. I love making but I've also had to become an amateur photographer, editer, copywriter etc. There are so many amazing tools and resources available online that have made it easy... but it's taken time and a lot of trial and error. I still sometimes feel like I am falling behind and things aren't as up to date as I'd like.... but I've definitely learnt to relax and just do what I can. I'm also learning that outsourcing or asking for some help is ok as well!

What’s your favourite piece or project you’ve worked on?

That's a tough one! Probably my most recent CARVATURE collection. The carving is sooooo satisfying.

Abbey working on her CARVATURE collection in the Switch

Tell us about developing the Dino juicer? It’s such a unique piece (My mum, sister and I all have one in our kitchen and I use it at any excuse)

I'm so glad you love them!

Whenever I make a new piece I ask myself "how can I make it better than other ceramic items that already exist?".
I owned a ceramic juicer and honestly, it didn't work very well. I noticed that the dome was carved to create the ridges and wondered if it would work better if something came OUT of the dome. I tried a snake-like swirl design, and then one with small balls attached all over, and finally landed on one with spikes and it was perfect! It juiced so well and the spikes looked cool too haha. It's a fiddly piece of work and takes a lot of time to make, but I'm really proud of how well they work!

Is ceramics a full time gig? How do you find balance with everything going on in your life?

Almost! I am very fortunate to have another job that provides a lot of flexibility. This helps me make ends meet while I've been building my business. Pursuing larger ceramics markets and running classes means pottery is slowly taking up more of my time, but I've become good friends with my calendar and enjoy that no two weeks are ever the same! Sometimes when both jobs are busy it gets a bit crazy... but I also enjoy the times where things are slower. After experiencing burnout in my previous job I really do value the flexibility I have now!

I know you are a very social person - is this why you offer ceramic classes?

Haha I run classes because I love sharing the magic of pottery with people! It might sound dramatic, but pottery literally changed my life. If I can provide someone else with their own moment to slow down, or with a feeling of achievement... that makes me so happy.

I've recently been conducting private project-based terms with some students and it's been so cool to see their skills develop, to get creative together and to build relationships with them. My students are all so lovely!

Abbey prepping for a day in the studio in the Brumby

Tell us a bit about what it’s like being at the helm of a class …How do you shape your ethics/ideals into your work/creative thinking?

Ooo this is such a good question! I personally feel very relaxed when running a pottery class and I think it is because I believe you can't really lose. If there's one thing I have learnt through my time working with clay, it's that you must learn to accept and let go. Clay can be very fickle in that your piece can be destroyed at any point throughout the process, but it's also flexible and forgiving in that you can recycle your clay at any stage before firing. If you are outcome focussed the "failures" can be particularly challenging, but if you view them as "learnings" then you can just get up and start again! The worst thing that can happen is that you just spent 2 hours off your phone and out of your head, getting messy and having fun with some mud. There's a lot of problem solving, sometimes some consoling required... but overall a lot of encouragement going on! I feel like my ideals/ethics/life philosophies and this work naturally go hand in hand.

What does a dream future look like for you?

Right now it is to keep making pots and sharing my love of pottery with others. I'd love to get some more wheels and offer more classes... but honestly... who knows!? I am always open to whatever challenges and opportunities come my way next!

What was hard about creating your own creative studio?

Hmm... i'd have to say learning how to manage my time and be self-motivated. I have learnt that i NEED deadlines and bookings to keep myself accountable. Giving myself challenges and sticking to them has helped a lot. It's also been challenging to shift from a hobby to a business. Taking something you love and turning it into work can sometimes take the passion/sparkle out of it!

What’s been great about it?

It's been so great to follow my passion and have flexibility with my time and life in general, and the responses to my work and classes fill my heart so much! It's also been cool to see my skills grow as I've dedicated time to my practice. Oh and... I have the most amazing ceramics community and studio buddies. I've developed some great relationships that I'm very grateful for and it makes going to the studio each day a joy. I'm very lucky!

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Visit the Sono Studio Website and check out her amazing Instagram

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