MEET THE MAKER: Nicole Michels

Who are you and what do you make?

My name is Nicole Michels, of NM Homewares, and I am a ceramicist and high school teacher. I fell in love with hand-building whilst at uni, and now have the honour of teaching my passion for ceramics to teenagers in Western Sydney. I spend my time making functional, ‘forever’ pieces that are built to have multiple purposes and be completely unique in nature.

What do you enjoy making the most?

My favourite forms are those that have been crafted from intuition, rather than from meticulous planning. I enjoy the process of making the most, so anything that is organic in nature, and most importantly, functional, is what I gravitate towards. Namely, vases, milk jugs and pitchers.

What do the Blue Mountains mean to you?

The Blue Mountains are where I found a community. Until I moved here 2 years ago, I had not experienced what it was like to belong to a community- meeting like-minded people, exploring our natural landscape, attending markets, discovering co-ops- the list goes on. It also gave me the courage to begin sharing my ceramics, wanting to connect to my local small businesses, and push myself as a ceramicist. 

Who is your maker of the minute?

I met photographer Adam Wolnicki at the last makers market in Springwood and completely fell for his character. His photographs are simple, yet he had a story for every detail included within his still life’s. I particularly admired that he spoke about how the narratives he formulated for each work changed every time he viewed his images- and that he did not take himself too seriously in the slightest.

Nicole will have a large selection of her works for sale at our co-op in March. Come and see her incredible pieces in person. She will also be sharing her love of ceramics in a ‘Kids Mug Making Ceramic Workshop’ on Friday 14th April.