This Pottery Studio in Cubao is Your New Weekend Activity Spot

Up for learning something new? Need a little productive alone time during a stressful week?  Or just looking for a fun date idea? Whether you’re with a special someone or friends, make Bumi and Ashe your next Saturday afternoon destination. This women-run pottery studio was set up by friends Marita, Naina, and Buffy, and it’s two vast floors of a creative space where you can learn how to hand build, throw at a wheel or even just have a cup of good coffee at the cafe upstairs while your friends do the work. We spent an afternoon learning how to make ceramic pieces on the wheel, and you can, too. Keep reading to find out what to expect and how to book your own session.

I’ve been enjoying hand-building ceramics for a while now, so when the opportunity came up to try wheel throwing (yup like in the film Ghost), I went for it right away. Along with my partner, we trooped to Cubao Expo one afternoon with our aprons and towels and we were taught how to create plates and mugs on the spinning pottery wheel. 

First, the teacher will brief you on the basics. How clay behaves, how it transforms with water, air, and temperature. Ceramic pieces take weeks to create because it takes several days to polish, paint, and completely dry the clay before you fire it in the kiln, which is how it becomes the final, sturdy cups and mugs you see on sale in their first-floor shop. We also learned that clay, when built or thrown improperly—with air bubbles in the clay, cracks, not left to dry enough—can burst and crack inside the kiln. But we also learned that this is not uncommon with ceramic work, which teaches you detachment and that “it just be like that sometimes.”

Then you’ll learn how to “wedge” which is a method similar to kneading bread that makes sure your clay doesn’t have air bubbles in it. After which, you head to the wheel where you’re taken through wheel throwing 101—how to use water, your tools, how to handle the wheel. In just 4 hours, you’ll learn how to create a mug, a plate, and the last piece is up for you. We didn’t have time to paint, but if there’s enough time you can also work on that on the same day. Another option which is the one we chose, is having your works glazed by the studio before firing. You can choose among their premium glazes which color you prefer, and which work you want to apply it onto. (A premium glaze is 100 per piece). 

What to bring 

You’ll spend 4-5 hours in the studio, so get ready to get messy, bring your own aprons and hand towels, and water too. With wheel throwing, you’ll need to use a lot of your body weight and force, so prepare to use your back body and core a lot—it’s deceptively physical but deeply fulfilling. And of course, fun!