When we think of pottery, our thoughts wander to Demi Moore in Ghost and OMG, we still get chills even after watching that scene at least 725 times. If you’re anything like us, finding a creative release to expel the mundanity of the 9 to 5 is up there on our to do list and holy arty farty Batman, we have found The.Place… Dirty Hands Art Studio in Burleigh.

This is the perfect spot to unwind, have fun channeling your inner Kreative Kween and whip up a sh*t hot pottery piece to display proudly on your sideboard or kitchen countertop. You should see the beautiful bowls, plates, pots, vessels etc that us mere mortals can whip up under their expert guidance, and this legit makes us want to start a side biz hustling our Dirty Hands masterpieces.

After being part of a co-working space for 4 years then finding a new home in the cool capital of the GC, founder Steve Morley has built a studio conducive to getting one’s creative on and connecting with others. You can sign up for a four-week Wheel Pottery Class ($400), which is ideal for beginners (#us). This is where you put pedal to the metal on the wheel and transform raw clay into something magical.

Or, you can get your hands dirty, clay-covered to be specific. with their four-week Handbuilding Pottery Course ($399), which is a sip and sculpt (eeeeee – SIP!) workshop. This is where you can run wild and freestyle your way to a piece that is uniquely you. The sipping part helps this process, no doubt! Wink wink, nudge nudge.

There are also other ways to get your zen fix at Dirty Hands. There’s Yoga with Soof for $15 per class, or Calisthenics movement classes with Dan and not even kidding when we say this guy will have you doing handstands in trees and well, just about anywhere after he’s trained you up.

If Devine Feminine Sound Healing is more your vibe, you can connect to your feminine energy through guided meditation with light breath-work, the sounds of crystal bowls and the red goddess drum, and the medicine of Cacao ($30 per class). You’ll leave feeling empowered and immediately start building a Women Are Awesome playlist because You Are Woman!!!!!

Or if you just want to swing in and find a unique piece made by a pro then hey, that’s cool. They also sell ready-to-buy pieces which are just waiting to find real estate in your abode.

So, whether you’re flying solo or looking for something fun and fulfilling to do with the crew, Dirty Hands Art dishes out an authentic sense of community and a good feed for the soul.

Where: Shop 5/19 Park Ave, Burleigh Heads
When: Monday to Saturday 10am to 7pm. Closed Sundays.

Words by Bianca Trathen.

Eddie Tyquin a primary school teacher, holistic life coach, trained youth mentor and a genuine ray of sunshine! She created Looking for Ladybird, a wellness and motivational program that aims to provide the young, old and everything in between with positive routines and tools that lead to a happy, healthy and self-confident life. We chatted to Eddie about her colourful workshops, her impending motherhood and her favourite Gold Coast restaurant (that knows her order by heart).

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I moved to the beautiful Gold Coast 3 years ago. I am originally from Brissy and spent a lot of time here growing up. I always knew that I wanted to move to the beach as soon as I finished university. I was in love with the surfing culture and the people that the beach lifestyle attracted.

What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
My favourite part about living on the Goldi is being able to surf every morning. I love seeing the Burleigh crew out, cheering each other on waves and referring to 0 waves as ‘donut’.  It’s a great energy out there and something that I love being a part of. The crew has a demographic of 9-year-old groms to 70-year-old men with ‘rash vests’ and bucket hats. The vibe is always great and the best way to start your day! The people that the Gold Coast draws in is truly something magical. Now that I can call myself a local, I feel that the slower pace, calmer people and surf culture has had a unique impact on me and I won’t ever be able to go back to being a city gal!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am 26, a teacher, soon to be mum (yay), a youth mentor and a holistic life coach! I like to have my hand in a few cookie jars because that’s how my mind works. I am always creating something or working on a new project. I love styling myself and my home and you probably only ever see me in rainbow or something colourful. Fashion has always been my outlet for expressing myself and something that has definitely helped me find my own personality and flare. I struggled as a teenager and since then I have always strived to be in a position where I can lead, inspire and educate young people on the tools for navigating life.

For those who don’t know tell us about Looking for Ladybird?
Looking for Ladybird is a wellness and motivational program. I believe that the key to a happy and successful life is to find the right daily routines that motivate you to get the most out of every day. I like to teach my formula and happiness recipes in the form of one-on-one coaching for teens and adults, community workshops, school workshops and through my new podcast, ‘Does it Come in Rainbow?’, which you can listen to on Spotify!

How did Looking for Ladybird come about?
The program first started as a blog, almost 8 years ago. I started sharing with my community all of the adjustments I was making in my life to help improve my own mental health. I started this because I felt as though there wasn’t a mental health platform that was relatable or had actionable steps for me to take. This has always been a core value of Looking for Ladybird, ‘being relatable and realistic for others.’ By sharing my struggles and then the actionable steps I took to move forward, it acted very quickly as my own personal therapy and in turn started really helping those people around me.

Last year, I decided that I wanted to transition Looking for Ladybird into more than just a blog so I trained to become a youth mentor with Shine from Within and studied to become a holistic life coach through Mind Body Food Institute. I had a dream of hosting colourful and happy workshops for tweens, teens and adults as well as being able to add more mental health exercises into my classroom. There are so many things that I wish I was taught when I was a teenager. At the end of the day, that is my biggest goal; to make a difference to the mental health of our young people.

What is Looking for Ladybird known for and what do you specialise in?
Looking for Ladybird is known for hosting colourful and creative mental health workshops and life-skills classes. I specialise in helping young people create positive routines to help them get the most out of life! Some of the topics we cover are, goal setting, creating a strong morning routine, getting to know your core values, leadership skills, fostering positive friendships, gratitude, nutrition and exercise, building self-confidence and using your brain to your advantage.

The things that I teach tweens and teens are very similar to the things that I teach adults. Learning about mental health and how to care for our brains and bodies is for everyone! The earlier people can install positive routines into their life, the better off they will be! I also love working one-on-one with people because that way we can really work out what is currently blocking them from being the best version of themselves!

What do you love most about running Looking for Ladybird?
What I love most about running Looking for Ladybird is when my clients send me pictures of their morning routine or goals up on their wall. It makes me so happy to see them installing their routines and my teachings into their life straight away.

What should customers expect from Looking for a Ladybird workshops?
Looking for Ladybird workshops are always colourful; the energy is always high and the activities are very hands on. Each individual in my workshops is seen and heard. I like to help each individual personalise their routines to suit their life, their brains and their interests. There is no set formula that will work for everyone so it is really important that I get to know everyone on a personal level so that I can help them individually.

I also don’t like to overcomplicate things so I like to teach my happiness formulas in a way that is fun, creative and memorable. I do however, love data and find people are more trusting when there is scientific-based evidence behind a method (particularly adults). Fortunately, because I am so passionate about mental health, I retain this knowledge very easily and therefore, can share current research with my clients. I believe it is really important to give people the tools but also educate them about their brains and bodies.

The one-on-one coaching works a little differently and is more client driven. Together we unpack any personal blockages and from there we figure out the best methods for moving forward. If you are interested in one-on-one coaching or any of my workshops, please send me an email at [email protected].

What is on the horizon for Looking for Ladybird?
I am having a baby in March which is so exciting! I have already learnt so much from the pregnancy which of course I have been sharing my lessons so far in my podcast… because that’s what I do. I am excited for Looking for Ladybird to transition into things that I have learnt while being a mother and I believe this will bring a whole new audience and network of people for me. I feel a strong connection to the teachings of Rudolf Steiner and Maria Montessori so I am doing a lot of learning myself at the moment. I am excited to share these lessons with my community and be able to help a whole new network of people.

What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café/Coffee spot: Tarte, Burleigh. Their brown sugar, choc chip cookies! I actually went through a phase last week where at 3pm, I NEEDED one of their cookies with my cup of tea. They are perfect.

The Wholefood Pantry- Palm Beach. This is my favourite café to sit at solo and do some work. I order the banana smoothie and toasted banana bread. All of their stuff is made from beautiful, organic ingredients and I don’t know about you but I really feel like I’m kicking life when I sit at an organic café and eat wholesome banana bread.

Borough Café- Burleigh – their acai bowls! I love the Acai Bowls from Borough Café. They put this funky vegan vanilla ice-cream on top which makes breakfast so much more fun!

Restaurant: Montezumas, Burleigh. Me and my partner Drew love Montezuma’s. We get the same thing every time, the lady doesn’t even bother giving us the menu haha! My partner is from California so it is the closest thing to authentic Mexican that you can get! It is SO GOOD.

Rick Shores … you may have heard of it. This year, Drew proposed to me at Rick Shores which makes this place even more special to us now. It’s always a special time when we go there.

Light Years – This one is my fav!!! The eggplant bao buns are my go-to and the vibe is so funky! This is always the spot I choose to have my B’day dinner at.

Bar or place for a drink: Rosella’s in Burleigh has started to become a little tradition of ours. The staff are so lovely and it reminds me of the bars in New York.

Palm Beach Surf Club – if we are catching up with a group of people, the Palm Beach Surf Club is our spot. Prime location and good times!

Beach: Fortunately, I live right next to Burleigh beach so convivence-wise, this is my spot. If I want something a little less hectic, I like finding a quiet zone in Palm Beach.

How do you choose to spend your days off?
If I have a full day off, I like to spend it with myself and take myself on a little date! To be honest, I am always working on something. Even on my days off, I write a to-do list that I like to check off.  I just love projects and ticking boxes! These range from writing (I am working on a number of different books), creating these funky personalised jeans, podcasting, surfing, painting, journaling, cooking and I actually enjoy cleaning and giving my spaces a freshen up (koo-koo).

We are of the belief that there’s an artist inside all of us, just waiting to be let loose on the world. As it turns out, there are plenty of Gold Coasters who feel the same way and have actually done something about it.

If you’re keen to try your hand at life drawing, weave a little macramé magic or maybe learn a thing or two about the art of photography, you’re in luck. We’ve compiled a list of places on the Coast where you can try your hand at something creative. You might discover your inner Picasso or, at the very least, have a laugh-filled time giving it a go with the girls.

The HIVE Art Gallery
The newest creative space on the Coast can be found in Burleigh Heads and not only are they showing stunning pieces you can take home with you, but fun classes you can take part in. For example, Fresco painting of seashells, flowers and succulents and good times like Sips, Records and Fresco Painting so you can enjoy wine, listen to music and make some art.
Where: Shop 5/3 Park Avenue, Burleigh Heads

Dust Temple
The beautiful building at the back of Currumbin is home to many an artistic endeavor and lately they’ve been hosting Life Drawing workshops for those keen to put pencil to paper and try their hand at capturing the human form. It’s two and a half hours of untutored drawing with a life model and live music, the perfect combo. The workshop is $25 and includes basic materials.
Where: 54 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin

The Craft Parlour
Found on the Gold Coast Highway in Palm Beach, The Craft Parlour is one of the most stunning spaces around AND home to more creative workshops than you can poke a knitting needle at. From watercolour painting to resin art, macramé and ceramics, you will certainly find a delightful way to spend some time. Prices vary and you also get to hang out amongst the greenery with some of the best local makers around.
Where: 27 Lemana Lane, Miami

Brush and Barrel
Painting a masterpiece while drinking wine is an idea we wish we had but we’re also happy to simply be involved. The clever kids at Brush and Barrel have it sorted with their Sip and Paint classes where, you guessed it, you get to drink all the wine while also attempting to paint a masterpiece. Last time they painted a cute little cactus. Fun. Classes are $60 and run for three hours. Also BYO.
Where: Shop 1, 3290 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise

Clean Beauty Market
Learn how to apply your makeup from the best in the biz, the gals at Clean Beauty Market. They are also a great way to discover natural products and makeup application techniques based on your skin type, needs and concerns. How good.
Where: 1/53 James Street, Burleigh Heads

The Sweet Fine Artist Studio
Another newish creative space on the Gold Coast, The Sweet Fine Artist Studio is many lovely things including a space for hire and home to many a creative workshop. Think Paint and Sip, Life Drawing and Make your own Ginger Beer style situations, it’s the perfect place for a mid-week burst of creativity or why not plan an event around one of their offerings? Hens party life drawing anyone? Always a good time.
Where: 2/3 Karen Avenue, Mermaid Beach

POT Studios
A bit of a newbie on the local ceramics scene, POT Studios was created by Cindy Hamrey, who simply wanted a space to create. Offering everything from a four week hand building course to Sunday Pottery workshops, you’re absolutely going to love learning from someone as knowledgeable as Cindy (and you’ll make something super pretty too). Suitable for beginners (yay). Prices vary.
Where: 30 Kaleena Street, Tugun

Thurtell Photography
Andrew Thurtell is the man behind one of the Coast’s most successful photography businesses and lucky for us, he’s willing to teach anyone who’s interested the tricks of the trade. From beginners classes to travel photography and landscape to portraiture, there’s nothing you can’t learn about taking the perfect snap. Classes are usually around $195 per person and all you need to do is have a basic understanding of how a camera works.
Where: 45 Nerang Street, Southport

Artable Studio
These guys have all your artistic needs covered with various styles of classes held all across the Coast. From Impressionist Landscapes to Floral Painting in Acrylic, you’re sure to find something that tickles your fancy. Classes are held in the loveliest of spaces, from The Borrowed Nursery to Burleigh Brewing and no doubt you’ll make a new friend or two amongst all the paint and good vibes. Classes are upwards of $49.50.
Where: Various Gold Coast locations

The Jewellery Studio
The little girl in all of us is begging to be taken along to a local jewellery making workshop and it’s about time we indulge her don’t you think? At The Jewellery Studio you get to make everything from jewelled rings to DIY wedding bands in silver or gold and absolutely wow yourself with your new skills while you’re at it. The workshops really are a beautiful thing to do and we highly recommend taking along a girlfriend or two.
Where: 5/26 James Street, Burleigh Heads

HOTA
Everyone’s fave cultural centre, Home of the Arts (HOTA), of course has plenty of creative classes to take part in. From making your own comic with a local artist to even more life drawing, your inner muse is sure to be inspired. There are classes for both adults and kids and new ones added all the time so why not get the whole fam involved in something new and different. Keep up to date on what’s happening via their website.
Where: 135 Bundall Rd, Bundall

Words by Kirra Smith