Hypertufa Pot and Pedestal Workshop

Ideal for people who have not made a mud pie in years!

We will cover the basics of working in hypertufa as we make a pot based on the look of the English troughs originally used to hold water for livestock. When the old stone troughs were no longer used, gardeners found them great as containers for plants. Since these are made of stone and heavy, hypertufa came along to resemble stone, with a lot less weight and attracts moss. By mixing sand, peat moss, various volcanic aggregates and Portland cement, hypertufa is relatively light. On the first day of the two-morning workshop, we fabricate a pot and pedestal.The second day, we unmold and finish the textured surface.

Date and Time: April 13 & 14 (Sat & Sun)  10am-1pm

Class size is limited to four

Cost per student: $125 fee

All materials are provided including: dust mask, rubber gloves, an earth&vessel booklet with recipes and supply resources.

All completed pieces are left wrapped in my studio for 14 days to cure

Please  contact me for more details.

The Allure of Moss on Hypertufa

The Allure of Moss on Hypertufa

When planning a hike with my pup, I tend to gravitate towards Clark Reservation in Jamesville, NY.  The woods and rocks are covered in moss throughout the year.  With last week’s thaw, it was welcoming to see how green and lush the moss appeared despite the cold. 

You may think, I am just using this post as a way to showcase my pup but actually not…  I want to show you how beautiful moss on hypertufa troughs can be-

This is Clark’s Reservation without a pup. Still beautiful.

I recently finished these two new hypertufa troughs. My hypertufa recipe is a mix of portland cement, sand, vermiculite and PEAT MOSS!  Because these are fresh out of a 14 day cure, they look quite brown but they will “grey up” in no time and if placed outside in the spring, it will just be a matter of time before they will begin to get a “green-ish” appearance.

Adding peat moss into the mix gives the trough/pot some porosity, lightens up the overall weight and, of course, naturally attracts moss and algae.

As you will notice on the hypertufa spheres, they are showing a green-ish cast. But, on the edges of the herb trough, the moss is established.  This trough if left outside year round by my kitchen door so I can snip thyme and oregano in the dead of winter…sometimes I have to dig through the snow a bit!

February Concrete Sphere Workshop

February
Concrete Sphere
Workshop

 Saturday February 23,  9-noon

 Sunday February 24,  9-noon


This 2 morning workshop 

is great for your very

first project or an experienced artist! 

You will create an exciting

30-45″ diameter hollow, natural (no colour)

concrete sphere for indoor/outdoor display.

     Your finished sphere will have

a textured surface.

$100 fee,  all materials are provided

including: dust mask, rubber

gloves, an earth&vessel booklet

with recipes, and supply resources.

All completed pieces are left wrapped

in my studio for 14 days to cure properly 

 

Class size is limited to four, so register early!

To register or if you

have any questions, contact me at:

mpm@twcny.rr.com

 

January Concrete Sphere Workshop

January
Concrete Sphere
Workshop

 Friday January 18,  9-noon

 Saturday January 19,  9-noon


This 2 morning workshop

 is great for your very first project

or an experienced artist! 

You will create an exciting

30-45″ diameter hollow, natural (no colour)

concrete sphere for indoor/outdoor display.

     Your finished sphere will have a textured surface.

$100 fee,  all materials are provided including:

dust mask,  rubber gloves, an earth&vessel booklet

with recipes, and supply resources.

All completed pieces are left wrapped

in my studio for 14 days to cure properly 

 

Class size is limited to four, so register early!

To register or if you

have any questions, contact me at:

mpm@twcny.rr.com

New Studio!

Welcome to my New Studio!

Melissa Montgomery

Hand Cast Stone Objects
for Home & Gardens

There’s a lot going on at my new studio space!

Handmade stone pots, bowls, water basins, troughs and spheres for sale.
Take a workshop and learn make your own stone sphere, water basin, pot.
All work is made with Portland cement, sand, natural materials and
are fiber reinforced for exterior use.

For a studio visit, please contact me to schedule an appointment

Upcoming workshops

Look for more upcoming workshops-

Water basins, planters, troughs, Open Studio!