Botanical Pottery
Forage, press, and imprint real leaves and flowers from the Dhauladhar foothills into your own one-of-a-kind ceramic piece.
Duration
90 minutes
Group size
Up to 8 guests
Price
₹1,500 / person
Skill level
Beginner — no experience needed
Age
10 and up (under 12s with a guardian)
Takeaway
After firing · 2–3 weeks
Book this workshop
Some of the most beautiful pottery isn't shaped by hand alone — it's shaped by what grows around it. In this workshop, you'll walk away with a piece that carries a literal imprint of the hills: a fern frond, a marigold petal, a sprig from the studio's own garden, pressed permanently into clay. It's slow, textural, and a little bit like keeping a pressed-flower journal — except this one holds water.
What you'll do
You'll start with a short walk through the studio's garden (or a curated basket of local leaves and flowers if the weather isn't cooperating) to choose the botanicals you want to work with — everything from delicate fern leaves to sturdier marigold and bougainvillea petals tends to press best. Madhumita will show you how to roll out a clay slab to an even thickness, and how much pressure to use so a leaf's veins show up crisp instead of smudging.
From there, you'll press your chosen botanicals into the slab, peel them back to reveal the imprint, and shape the slab into a functional form — a shallow dish, a small planter, or a wall-hung piece, depending on what you press and how the clay behaves. Madhumita will help you clean the edges, add a base or feet if needed, and talk through glaze options that'll bring out the texture once it's fired (a clear or matte glaze tends to let the botanical detail read clearly; she'll show samples).
The session, step by step
- 01Welcome, apron on, quick studio tour
- 02Forage or select botanicals from the garden basket
- 03Demo: rolling an even clay slab
- 04Press and imprint your chosen leaves/flowers into the clay
- 05Shape your piece (dish, planter, or wall piece)
- 06Clean edges, finish the form, choose your glaze
- 07Studio cleans and stores your piece for bisque + glaze firing
What's included
Clay, all tools, botanicals from the studio garden, glaze of your choice, guided instruction, and light refreshments (chai).
Wear & bring
Clothes you don't mind getting a little dusty. Long hair tied back is helpful. Trimmed fingernails make pressing detail easier, though it's not required.
Who this is for
Nature lovers, anyone who wants a genuinely unique souvenir of the hills (not a generic one), and guests who find repetitive, textural handwork calming rather than stressful.
Meet Madhumita
Madhumita founded Studio Mita as a space for creative exploration and quiet unwinding — pressing local botanicals into clay is one of her favorite ways to connect guests to where they actually are, not just what pottery technique they're learning. She's happy to point out which local plants press best and share a bit about what's currently blooming around Rakkar.
— ceramic artist & founder, Studio Mita
Good to know
Do I need to know anything about plants?+
No — Madhumita curates a basket of botanicals that press well, and you're welcome to pick from that if foraging isn't your thing.
Can I take my piece home the same day?+
No — it needs bisque and glaze firing first, which takes 2–3 weeks. You'll be notified when it's ready.
What if my piece cracks or breaks during firing?+
Occasionally happens with thinner botanical impressions — Madhumita will let you know if this affects your piece and can offer a second attempt at a reduced rate where possible.
Cancellation
Cancel at least 24 hours before your slot for a full refund.
Accessibility
The studio is on the 1st floor, stairs only. Contact us in advance with accessibility questions.
Getting here
First Floor, Ghoomakkad New Bldg, Rakkar Rd, Rakkar, Himachal Pradesh 176057. Directions
₹1,500/ person
90 minutes · weekends