Candle Making Workshop in Vancouver

Turn your handmade pottery into a candle! In this hands-on candle making workshop in Vancouver, you’ll learn how to pour a scented soy candle into your own ceramic vessel.

Bring your own completed, glazed and fired pottery and learn the process of turning it into a functional candle. This workshop is perfect for potters who want to give their handmade pieces a new purpose or explore candle making with ceramic vessels.

What You'll Learn

During the workshop, you'll learn how to prepare your pottery for candle making, select a fragrance and wick, and pour soy candle wax into your vessel.

Please bring your own completed, glazed and fired pottery. Vessels with straight walls work best for candle making and must be completely clean and dry before the workshop.

Candle Making Materials

Candle-making materials are purchased separately at $1.75 per oz of vessel capacity and include:

• Soy candle wax

• Fragrance

• Wick

• Wick adhesive

• Other candle-making consumables needed during the workshop

Before attending, please measure the capacity of each pottery vessel you plan to bring and purchase the corresponding amount of candle-making materials.

How to measure your pottery: Fill your vessel with water to approximately where you would like the candle wax to finish. Pour the water into a measuring cup and note the volume in fluid ounces.

For example, if you are bringing two 8 oz vessels, you will need to purchase 16 oz of candle-making materials.

Purchase Candle-Making Materials here.

After the Workshop

Your handmade candles will need time to fully set after pouring. They will remain at Community Clay Studio and will be ready for pickup the following week.

Cancellation Policy

Classes and workshops are non-refundable. If you are no longer able to attend, you may email the studio and I will try to resell your spot. If your spot sells, you will receive a refund for the workshop price, less a $25 administration fee.

Before Purchasing

Please contact us to confirm scheduling availability prior to booking.

2-Hour Workshop

Please arrive promptly at your scheduled start time. The instructor will begin with a demonstration based on the item(s) your group will be making.

The last 20 minutes of the workshop are dedicated to clean-up.

Each participant is able to keep one small item. If you’d like to make larger or additional pieces, upgrade options are available during the workshop. 

3-Hour Workshop

When you arrive, you’ll start with a meet and greet for the first 30 minutes while everything is being set up. The instructor will then guide you through a series of demonstrations to get you started.

Each participant may keep up to two items.

Studio Notes

While we do our best to care for all work, please note there is no guarantee that every piece will survive the firings — sometimes it’s up to the kiln gods. 🙏 Items will be trimmed, glazed, and fired for you. Your finished pieces will be ready for pickup in approximately 6–8 weeks.

Please be aware that we may have dogs on the premises and use essential oil diffusers in the studio. If you have any allergies or sensitivities, kindly notify us before your class.

By attending classes and open studios you agree and understand that in connection with your participation in any event or activity, you may be exposed to a variety of hazards and risks, foreseen or unforeseen, which may or not be inherent to those activities and events. The risks include, but are not limited to the dangers of personal injury, property damage, property loss, and death. Community Clay has not tried to contradict or minimize your understanding of these risks. By entering into the studio, you and your party agree and understand that injuries and damages can occur by natural causes, or by the acts of other persons or third parties, either as an act of negligence or because of other reasons. You are personally responsible for all costs and/or risks associated with any public or private event or activity. Notwithstanding anything herein, to the fullest extent allowed by law, you agree to waive, discharge claims, release from all liability and indemnify and hold harmless Community Clay, its organizers, hosts, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers. agents, volunteers, and other partners and employees, from any and all liability on account of, or in any way resulting from injuries and damages in any way connected to events and activities. You agree and understand that this waiver and release will be binding upon your heirs, executors, agents, administrators, and assigns, and will include any minors accompanying users at the events. Your participation in this private event & affiliated activities is at your sole and exclusive risk. Community Clay may refuse admittance, may charge the admission fee, or ask you to leave at any time for any reason.

Tickets are non-refundable. Please note that Community Clay is under no obligation to refund part, or all of class price if you can not, or do not attend. 

Private Pottery Workshops in Vancouver

Looking for a unique and creative way to celebrate? Community Clay offers private handbuilding pottery workshops in Vancouver for birthdays, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, team building events, corporate groups, families, friends, and other special occasions.

Whether you're planning a celebration or simply looking for a memorable experience, I'll help your group create beautiful handmade ceramics in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

Please contact me before purchasing to confirm availability and arrange your workshop date and time.

What to Expect

Your private pottery workshop is approximately 3 hours and includes:

• 30 minutes to arrive, settle in, and socialize
• A guided handbuilding or wheel demonstration
• Approximately 2 hours of demo & creating your pottery
• Time to choose glaze colours, clean up, and wrap up the workshop

With 22 years of experience working with clay and teaching ceramics, I'll guide you through the process step by step in a relaxed and supportive environment. Whether you're completely new to pottery or have previous experience, I'll tailor the instruction to your group's comfort level so everyone leaves feeling accomplished and proud of what they've created.

The workshop is beginner friendly, experience focused, and designed to encourage creativity. No previous pottery experience is required.

I provide everything you need, including clay, tools, instruction, glazing, and kiln firings.

Each participant may keep up to two finished pieces, which I will professionally trim, glaze, and fire after the workshop.

After Your Workshop

Once your workshop is complete, your pieces will go through the full ceramic process:

• Drying
• Trimming
• Bisque firing
• Glazing
• Final glaze firing
• Organizing and packing up your items

Your pottery is typically ready for pickup in 6–8 weeks, although turnaround times may vary depending on item thickness and studio production schedules.

Ceramics is an unpredictable medium. While I take every reasonable precaution throughout the process, cracks, warping, glaze defects, and kiln losses can occur during drying or firing. Although these situations are uncommon, I cannot guarantee that every piece will successfully make it through the firing process.

Community Values

Community Clay is proudly female and neurodivergent owned and is committed to fostering a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment for everyone.

I strive to create a space where people of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and experience levels feel comfortable exploring creativity. I welcome and celebrate people of all races, cultures, religions, genders, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, ages, and abilities. Whether this is your first time working with clay or you've been creating for years, you are welcome here.

Community Clay has a zero tolerance policy for discrimination, harassment, or behaviour that compromises the safety and wellbeing of others.

Land Acknowledgement

Community Clay respectfully acknowledges that the studio operates on the unceded, traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

I am grateful to live, work, and create on these lands and recognize the ongoing stewardship of the Indigenous Peoples who have cared for them since time immemorial.

Accessibility & Studio Environment

Please let me know before your workshop if you have any accessibility needs, sensitivities, or allergies.

Please note that:

• Dogs may occasionally be on the premises.
• Essential oil diffusers may be in use throughout the studio.

Safety

A pottery studio contains equipment, tools, heavy materials, shelving, and kiln areas that require participants to exercise reasonable care while on site.

By attending a workshop, you acknowledge that participation involves inherent risks, including the possibility of personal injury or property damage. You voluntarily assume these risks and agree that Community Clay, its owner, instructors, employees, volunteers, and affiliates will not be liable for injuries, losses, or damages arising from your participation, except where required by applicable law.

Participants are expected to follow all instructor directions and studio safety procedures. I reserve the right to refuse service or remove any participant whose behaviour is unsafe, disruptive, or places others at risk.

Booking & Cancellation Policy

• Please contact me before purchasing to confirm availability.
• Your workshop is confirmed once payment has been received.
• Private workshop bookings are non-refundable.
• If you or members of your group are unable to attend, I am unable to offer refunds or partial refunds for missed attendance.
• Each participant may keep up to two finished pieces.
• Additional pieces may be created and purchased during your workshop.

The PƏˈSIFIK Collection is inspired by the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest we get to call our backyard.

This Bud Vase is handcrafted from start to finish: thrown on my potter's wheel. Because they are all handmade there may be slight differences in the shape and size of each vase.

Approximately 4" x 3"

As for all handmade items, I recommend that they are hand washed and not used in the dishwasher. However- as there are no metallics and the item is fully glazed it is possible to put in the dishwasher & microwave at your own risk. 

Ships in 2-5 business days.