Leaf Platters & Textures – Clay Handbuilding at Old Stables
As the seasons change and the forests around Mullalyup start to soften into autumn colours, we take inspiration from the beautiful shapes of fallen leaves.
Join us at Old Stables Pottery Studio for a relaxed handbuilding workshop where you will create your own leaf-inspired ceramic platter — a piece shaped by nature and formed by your hands.
There is something deeply grounding about working with clay — slowing down, feeling the material respond, and letting the quiet beauty of the forest guide your creativity.
Saturday 20 June 2026
3:30pm–5:30 pm📍 Old Stables Pottery & Gallery, 21063 Southwest Highway Mullalyup WA
$95 per person
The Ancient Art of Distilling Aromatic Plants & Herbs
During this hands-on workshop, you will learn the traditional process of transforming aromatic plants, herbs and flowers into exquisite hydrosols and essential oils. Witness the entire distillation journey, from plant preparation through to bottling the precious yield.
Whether you are passionate about herbs, natural wellness, gardening, aromatherapy or simply curious about traditional crafts, this workshop offers a rare opportunity to experience this fascinating process firsthand.
What You’ll Learn
* Distilling aromatic plants and herbs
* Essential botanical knowledge, harvesting and plant preparation
* Introduction to the copper alembic still and its components
* Setting up a safe and effective distillation workspace
* Creating a natural seal for the distillation process
* Sterilisation and preparation of equipment
* Loading and handling plant material
* Different distillation techniques for herbs, flowers and plant varieties
* Understanding temperature, water ratios and plant quantities
* Recognising sounds, measurements and adjustments during distillation
* Factors influencing hydrosol quality and composition
* Separating essential oils from hydrosols
* Bottling and labelling finished products
* Shelf life, maturation and uses of hydrosols
* Sustainable and ecological approaches to essential oil production
Weaving Stories by the Fire
A Community Weaving Workshop with Letitia
In regional communities, gathering matters.
For generations, people have come together around kitchen tables, campfires, shearing sheds, and verandahs to share stories, skills, laughter, and a warm cup in hand. In a world that often asks us to move faster, weaving invites us to slow down.
Historically, it is said that when we work with our hands, we heal. We reconnect with ourselves, with each other, and with the simple rhythm of making. The repetitive movement of weaving has a way of quietening the mind while opening space for conversation, reflection, and creativity.
Join Letitia for a gentle three-hour workshop where men, women, and children are invited to gather beside the warmth of the fire and explore the ancient art of weaving using natural fibres, twigs, grasses, and found materials. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced maker looking for fresh inspiration, this workshop offers a welcoming space to learn, create, and connect.
Facilitators Tribe
What does the Balingup Academy bring to the tutors?
It will reward tutors with the satisfying knowledge that their input is birthing resilient, strong, self-reliant communities able to productively & resourcefully confront the future challenges of a politically and environmentally challenging world.