about grakay
‘grakay’ is Grahame and Kaye.
Grahame is partner, farmer, mechanic, builder, ‘person who can do anything’ (including make prize-winning beef jerky), assistant kiln firer, moral support and best friend to Kaye. Kaye is the maker of pots.
We have three wonderful children, who, with their partners, are frequent visitors and provide emotional and all important technical support.
In 2003 we underwent a ‘tree-change’ – we moved to the Queensland Sunshine Coast hinterland from our sheep/cattle property near Glen Innes on the Northern Tablelands of NSW. We had established a successful pottery business there which we called ‘grakay pottery’.
Our new home is located approximately 20 kms from Maleny, 15 kms from Conondale and 5 kms from Crystal Waters Permaculture Village – we call it ‘grakay’. It is a forty-acre working property that we share with numerous ducks, geese, silkie chooks, guinea fowl, peacocks, cattle, our faithful rottie Nuela, and retired sheep dog Bob. We have a large sub-tropical garden and orchard in which we have planted over 100 fruit trees, including bush-tucker trees. Also 400 banana plants and about 3,000 pineapples. We farm bio-dynamically and produce most of our own food including meat, milk, yoghurt and cheese. Anything we can’t produce ourself we source from local organic or bio-dynamic farmers.
There is a remnant rainforest creek on our property, which is a delightful area for escaping to when daily life becomes a bit hectic. It is a wonderful source of inspiration for my work. I am particularly intrigued with the abundant fungi forms.
Seven years have passed and there have been changes at 'grakay'. There has been sadness and joy; deaths, births and marriage breakups. Grahame and Kaye are still best friends and still share the property with a myriad of animals, including carpet snakes!
Our eldest daughter and her nineteen month old son now live on the property. It is an absolute delight to be able to share the daily life of our grandson.
Sadly, Bob, our faithful old sheepdog has gone.
Our lives have become much busier as we meet new friends, grow more food and (try to) make more pots. The orchard and garden continue to thrive and this year we had an abundance of fruit which kept me in the kitchen and out of the workshop!
I am still intrigued with fungi and am currently exploring new directions with handbuilding, using soft tiles as 'patchwork' to make different forms.
‘grakay’ is still a place of peace and tranquility, a place to inspire and create.
firing the kiln
firing the kiln
‘The beast’ was first built in 2002 on our property in NSW. Our subsequent move to Queensland, in April 2003, made it necessary to dismantle, transport and rebuild the kiln at our new home. The rebuilt kiln was finished and fired for the first time by June 2003.
It is a long-throat bourry box type kiln.
After packing with raw pots, the kiln is candled with gas for 10 - 12 hours. Temperature is usually around 300°C by then and I start a small fire in the bottom of the firebox at this stage.
The 'beast' is a temperamental creature and firing can take as little as 18 hours or as long as 36-plus hours.
Firing conditions at our new location are quite different in many ways. The wood, the weather, the altitude and attitude, the stack, the stokers – all are variable and all affect the firing!
Always a challenge!