The Bee&Bottle Ceramics

30/01/2025

We’ve been enjoying our outings to Playhouse Bedford so much we’ve made it official, naturally this means we now have a special plate sign!

Sign up for painting tomorrow or one of our upcoming sessions. book your play space on the Playhouse website, then reserve a place with us for free or just decide on the day. Fun painting at soft play is pay-as-you paint, most items £12-16.

We welcome children and child accompanied adults of any age at these sessions, it’s great for getting a quick gift made or having a session with multi-age or interested children. What you paint can be collected from Playhouse within two weeks, or by request picked up directly from us at our Oakley Studio or elsewhere.

https://beeandbottle.com/products/painting-at-playhouse-bedford

Can’t wait to see you at the soft play!

27/01/2025

This week’s events! Check out our schedule and message for more info or to reserve a particular item.

We’re really looking forward to our new Thursday evening session in house where this week we’ll be trying some intricate designs. Link to book this and other sessions on our website now

https://beeandbottle.com/products/thursday-ceramic-skills-sessions

26/01/2025

We’re having a few enquiries about pottery making at our studio. It’s something we are loving supporting, and while we are predominantly experts in surface design it has been brilliant to have people along to make their own shapes to paint.

In the same way as we facilitate beginner and intermediate ceramics painting, we are able to instruct in the basic hand-building techniques and offer support for people practicing their pottery at the moment rather than regular set classes.

We do also do have external ceramicists running particular workshops (eg building a particular item) so watch out for more of these coming up!

We currently have the options of self-dry (take home that day) clay, or offer a firing service which you are welcome to return to paint. Just ask if you’d like a go, either as a separate session or as a little mini add on to your ceramic painting session, great for entertaining a small one that little bit longer while you finish painting your masterpiece 🤩

24/01/2025

What a fun evening at yesterday with the Off Duty Mama’s group. They certainly brought the creativity!

Bespoke group sessions are a beautiful way to connect and have some time out. Enjoy!

23/01/2025

🎨✨ We’ve had a blast hosting kids' ceramic painting parties for all ages, and now we're taking bookings for March & April! Whether you want it at our studio, your home, or a venue of your choice, we’ve got you covered. 🎉
Prices start at £140. With a fantastic selection of bisque shapes, we can even tailor the designs to your theme – from animals to princesses, a magical wizard world to dinosaurs, and more! 🦄🐉🌊

Book now and let’s make your party extra special! 🎨💫

21/01/2025

We’re excited to take part in the RSPB’s annual bird count! 🐦🌿 Join us this Saturday 10am to 2pm at our Oakley studio for a bird-filled day of fun! 🏺✨
We'll have ceramic birds, bird feeders, and clay to create your own bird-inspired pieces that can be fired in our kiln and painted later. 🎨🖌️
We’ll also have a bird spotter guide to help you with your count, plus you can make your own fat balls for the birds! 🐦❤️ And don’t miss Mike Interiors by Mike Hyden turning a gorgeous oak birdhouse on his lathe from 11am! 🏠🪵
Purchase ceramics to paint on the day, and for everything else, we’re collecting donations for the RSPB. 🌱

Link to book here

https://beeandbottle.com/products/rspb-birdwatch-weekend

See you there!

16/01/2025

Ah Faces of Joy, we meet again! 🥳

So fun bumping into our small business buddy at Friendly Nettle Cafe for a lovely party last weekend. Such a great combo, and some beautiful artwork to show for it. Highly recommend us all!

01/01/2025

Happy New Year!! We are looking forward to another year of creativity, discovering and making friends in Bedfordshire and beyond!

Thank you to all of our painters in 2024, your embracing of everything we have been doing has been incredible and has helped us develop our services and do more of the things we love ❤️

We will be sharing more about how we will be working this year in the coming days, please keep following and coming along with your artistic ideas.

Thank you so much to all of our partner venues and small businesses, groups and individuals. We can’t wait to keep working with you in 2025! ⭐️

#2025

29/12/2024

It’s nearly the end of the year! Join us on New Years Eve 10am-1pm for a fun family friendly pottery painting session at our Shortstown hangout Friendly Nettle Cafe. You can book individuals for free, or a private table for up to 6 people for £6.

Shape requests welcome and full guidance given. Christmas shapes still available if you haven’t made your memory piece yet this year ☺️ Can’t wait to paint with you!

Link to book here
https://beeandbottle.com/products/new-year-s-eve-am-painting-at-friendly-nettle-31-dec-24

17/12/2024

We’ve been having an ice time this evening! ❄️ Always brilliant to see ideas come to life and waddle around!

Tomorrow come and join for a casual paint at Friendly Nettle Cafe from 7.30. All necessaries provided and good choice of items will be available for a pre-Christmas relaxing adult only paint

16/12/2024

It’s time! Come and have a paint with us this week. We are going to be adults only for three evenings this week. Come and have a moment for yourself to feel Christmassy and get a chance for a casual Christmas pottery paint.

Tuesday 17 December from 7pm - Oakley
Wednesday 18 December from 7.30pm - Shortstown
Thursday 19 December from 7pm - Oakley

Casual and relaxed paint. No session fee, pay for what you paint. Pre Christmas pick up possible

*Featured tree available! - limited numbers, please message if you’d like one! Plenty of decs, baubles, plates, cups etc available. Message or call Katrina on 07908987959 if you’d like to join us or for further details. New painters welcome but you might want to get in touch to check what to expect. Shape requests welcome!

13/12/2024

Some beautiful trees for our tiny gift shop collection! Available to browse at our Open Studio, Saturday 10-2pm. These make lovely gifts 🌲

Wow, the Christmas trees are nearly sold out so I've delved into the 'rainy day' section of the garage.

Left to right, Tulipwood, padauk, padauk, steamed pear and beech. The padauk is one piece of wood, the blond bit is the sapwood and the red bit is the heartwood.

They'll be available at The Bee&Bottle Ceramics studio this week, check Katrina's page for opening times (it's next open tomorrow 10am-2pm)

12/12/2024

Back at Playhouse Bedford tomorrow morning. We will have guided decoration and Christmas gift making and be on hand for all our tips and tricks. My Little Feet baby printing also available. Come and say hello!

12/12/2024

We will excitingly be back at the Pavilion At The Park this coming Sunday for one of our popular Christmas plate and decoration sessions. Join us for a 2pm or 3pm start (choose 2 if you’d like longer to paint) Booking is through our website. Can’t wait to see you there!

https://beeandbottle.com/products/christmas-plate-session

05/12/2024

We’ve been having a busy lovely time getting ready for Christmas! Closed today Thurs 5 only, we will respond to messages when the office is back open.

Lots of chances still coming up to paint with us, including fun painting at Playhouse Bedford 6 and 13 December, our Open Studio & Pottery Cafe sessions on Saturday 7 and 14 at Oakley, a Santa Plate and decoration session at Pavilion At The Park on Sunday 15 2-4pm (this will be open to bookings tomorrow) and studio appointments are also bookable for private or group painting until 23 Dec. Home sessions and home kits thereafter until our amazing New Years Eve fun paint at Friendly Nettle Cafe. Please get in touch to find out more!

For prints head to My Little Feet - Baby and Toddler Sessions from the Bee&Bottle Ceramics where Trina still has a little availability for her sessions at Shortstown next Tuesday

Have a lovely day and look forward to catching up tomorrow! ⭐️

29/11/2024

We’re back open tomorrow at our Oakley studio! Come and make or choose a gift. Pottery cafe in the hall open for action from 10.00. Refreshments available. Look forward to seeing you then!

22/11/2024

Come and join us at the studio and at Oakley Methodist Church Fair tomorrow and meet the maker of these gorgeous Christmas trees! 10am onwards

Last night's creations.

I'll be at The Bee&Bottle Ceramics this Saturday 10am-2pm with the lathe for a demo - it's round the back of the Methodist Church on Oakley High Street. You'll be able to paint your own ceramics too.

Left to right these are sycamore, oak (potentially holme oak but I'm not sure), tulipwood and ash. The tulipwood will go a deep chocolate brown over time.

14/11/2024

Interiors by Mike Hyden