PRIVATE CERAMIC IMMERSION FOR TWO

Four days of making, learning and creating together

A private four-day ceramic experience designed for two people — friends, partners, family members, or anyone who would like to share the experience of learning ceramics together. The listed price is for one participant.

Rather than joining a larger course, you have the studio largely to yourselves. The four days are structured around learning the foundations of ceramics, spending focused time at the wheel, exploring hand-building, and creating your own small dinnerware collection.

The programme is suitable for complete beginners as well as people with previous pottery experience. Your days can also be adapted around a particular project you would like to make.

You don't need to arrive knowing exactly what you want to create. We can discover that together.

THE FOUR DAYS

DAY 1 — Discovering Laima Ceramics

Morning — Studio & Farm Tour

We begin by getting to know the place, the people and the animals behind Laima Ceramics.

You’ll have a tour of the ceramic studio and the surrounding farm, meet the people who work here, and get introduced to the animals who are part of our everyday life — including our horses, ducks, cats and dog.

In the studio, we explore the entire ceramic process and the equipment we use, from preparing clay and making forms to glazing, kiln loading and firing.

You’ll get an introduction to:

• The different clays we work with, including stoneware and porcelain

• Studio equipment and how we use it

• Wheel throwing and hand-building

• Plaster and bisque moulds

• Glazing and surface development

• Kilns and the firing process

• What happens to clay from raw material to finished piece

• How our studio works day to day

This is also a chance to slow down, settle into the surroundings and ask all the questions you might have before getting your hands into the clay.

Afternoon — Hand-building

In the afternoon, we begin making.

You’ll explore hand-building technique creating your first pieces of the immersion.

DAY 2 — Wheel Throwing

A full day dedicated to the wheel.

We begin with the fundamentals:

• Preparing and wedging clay

• Centring

• Opening and pulling

• Creating cylinders

• Shaping bowls and cups

• Controlling thickness and proportions

• Understanding the movement of clay

There is plenty of time for repetition. The aim isn't simply to make one successful pot, but to start developing an intuitive understanding of the wheel.

Depending on your experience and progress, we may explore more complex forms and techniques.

DAY 3 — Throwing, Trimming & Refining

We continue working at the wheel, building on everything from Day 2.

The day may include:

• Further wheel throwing

• Trimming and refining your forms

• Adding handles

• Creating lids

• Combining thrown elements

• Experimenting with different shapes and proportions

• Beginning to develop a small collection rather than individual pieces

This is where the repetition of the previous day often starts to click.

Rather than rushing through many techniques, we focus on helping you become more comfortable, precise and independent.

DAY 4 — Design & Make Your Own Dinner Set

The final day is dedicated to creating your own small dinnerware collection using slab-rolling technique.

We begin with an introduction to the principles behind designing functional dinnerware — considering not only how a piece looks, but how it feels in the hand, how it is used, washed, stacked and stored.

Together we explore:

• Proportion, scale and ergonomics

• Designing for everyday use

• Making efficient use of slabs and working with templates

• Creating clean, refined forms while retaining the handmade quality

You will then design and make your own plates and bowls, using slab-rolling and simple construction techniques.

The aim is to create a small collection that feels intentional and cohesive — pieces that belong together and that you will actually want to use at home.

We will finish by exploring our studio glazes and discussing how different surfaces can complement the forms you have created.

YOUR IMMERSION, YOUR PROJECT

Although the four-day programme has a suggested structure, this is a private experience and can be adapted to you.

If there is something specific you would particularly like to learn or make, we can build the programme around it.

For example:

• A complete dinner set

• Teapots and lidded vessels

• Sculptural forms

• Porcelain work

• A combination of wheel throwing and hand-building

• A particular functional object

• Exploring a specific glaze or surface

If you already have a project in mind, tell me when you enquire and we can design the four days around it.

You can also add an introduction to horsemanship

If you would like the experience to extend beyond ceramics, part of the programme can be adapted to include an introduction to our approach to horses and inter-species communication at Laimes Zirgi.

This may include observing the herd, learning to read horse body language, basic ground communication and simply experiencing time with the horses.

The horse element is entirely optional and can be included according to your interests.

A PRIVATE EXPERIENCE FOR TWO

This format is particularly suited to:

• Two friends travelling together

• Couples

• Parent and adult child

• Siblings

• Two creative partners

• Anyone looking for an unusual shared experience

Because there are only two participants, I can adapt the teaching much more closely to your individual pace and interests.

You don't have to be at the same level either. One person can be a complete beginner while the other has previous pottery experience.

COURSE RHYTHM

4 days / 4 nights

The guided studio day generally runs from 10:00–16:00, with time for lunch break between.

There is also plenty of opportunity to continue working independently outside the guided sessions.

Arrival

Arrival is on the evening before the course, allowing you to settle in and become familiar with the studio and surroundings.

Departure

Departure is at 16:00 after the final studio session on Day 4.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• 4 days of private ceramic instruction

• 16 hours of guided studio time

• Clay and basic studio materials

• Firing of your work

• Glazing in one colour for up to 20 finished pieces

• Accommodation at our family home

• Use of the studio during your stay

• Shuttle service to/from Bauska if needed

Materials allowance: up to 10 kg of stoneware clay per person.

Finished pieces are fired after the course and shipped to you once completed. Shipping costs are additional.

LOCATION

The immersion takes place in my light-filled ceramic studio in rural Zemgale, Latvia, surrounded by fields, an apple orchard and our horse sanctuary, Laimes Zirgi.

• 25 km from Bauska

• 70 km from Riga

• Approximately 1.1 hours from Riga International Airport

• 5 minutes from the magnificent Rundāle Palace

The studio, horses and accommodation are all part of the same small rural setting.

ACCOMMODATION

You will stay at our family home, a historic brick house originally built in 1878 and carefully renovated in 2021.

The house is shared with our family, including our five cats and one dog. The horses' paddock and stable are between the house and studio, just a short walk away.

For the private two-person immersion, you will have:

• A private twin room with two separate beds or private room with double bed (140cm)

• Shared kitchen and bathroom

• Bed linen and towels

• Wi-Fi

• Fully equipped kitchen

The studio is approximately a two-minute walk from the house.

MEALS

Meals are self-catered.

The accommodation has a fully equipped shared kitchen where you can prepare your own breakfast, lunch and dinner.

If you have rented a car, you can also use the evenings to explore the surrounding area and go out for dinner at one of the local restaurants.

GETTING HERE

If arriving by public transport, we recommend travelling to Bauska and continuing by taxi.

We can provide a shuttle to and from Bauska if needed.

A rental car gives you more freedom to explore the area, visit Rundāle Palace and go out for dinner.

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This experience is for anyone who would like to spend several days immersed in clay, learning through making and sharing the experience with someone close to them.

You can be:

A complete beginner.
No previous pottery experience is required.

An experienced potter.
The programme can be adapted to help you explore specific techniques or projects.

At different levels.
You don't need to have the same experience as your companion.

Most importantly, you should come with curiosity and a willingness to slow down and make things with your hands.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Q&A — travel tips, arrival information and practical considerations

Booking Terms & Conditions

How to enquire

This is a private experience for two, so dates are arranged individually.

Write to me at laimaceramics@gmail.com and tell me:

• Who you would like to come with

• Your previous pottery experience, if any

• Whether you are interested in including the horse experience

• Your preferred dates

We can then create the four days around you.

I look forward to welcoming you both to the studio in Latvia.

This immersion is designed to help you experience porcelain from multiple angles within a focused and highly practical format. Rather than working exclusively at the wheel or solely through hand-building, we combine both approaches throughout the course, allowing techniques to inform and strengthen one another.

Limited to just four participants, the immersion offers a supportive, relaxed atmosphere with plenty of individual guidance. Whether you're taking your first steps with porcelain or refining an existing practice

What We Explore

• Wheel-thrown porcelain

• Slab building and hand-built forms

• Surface texture and decoration

• Functional design principles

• Cups, bowls, plates, serving ware, and teapots

• Studio workflow and efficient making methods

Along the way, you'll develop:

• Better control and sensitivity with porcelain

• Stronger understanding of form and proportion

• Confidence moving between wheel and hand-building techniques

• Efficient processes for creating cohesive collections

Many participants arrive expecting “a pottery class” — and leave with something far deeper.

“I left home for a pottery class but returned with so much more. This experience far exceeded anything I could have imagined.”
— Eliza, Romania

Wheel Throwing

We begin with the foundations: spiral wedging, centering, opening, pulling cylinders, shaping forms, and trimming.

Depending on your skill level, we may explore:

• Larger forms

• Teapots and lidded vessels

• Handles and attachments

Having guided hundreds of students through their first experiences with clay, I teach with a balance of precision and intuitive understanding, helping each participant find an approach that feels both effective and natural.

Hand Building & Heirloom Dinnerware

Alongside wheel work, we will explore hand-building techniques that allow beautiful, functional pieces to emerge quickly and efficiently.

Together we create:

• Slab-built dinnerware

• Textured porcelain cups

• Plates and serving pieces

I share the methods used within my own studio practice and hospitality collections, including approaches that make it possible to create coherent, professional-looking tableware set.

Course Rhythm

• 4 days and 4 nights (arrival on 24 August, departure on 28 August)

• 4 hours of guided sessions per day

• Daily rhythm: Morning session 10:00–12:00, Afternoon session 14:00–16:00

• Studio remains open to you beyond guided sessions

Location

The immersion takes place in our light-filled studio in rural Zemgale, surrounded by open farmland, an apple orchard, and the horse sanctuary.

Distances:

• 25 km from Bauska

• 70 km from Riga

• Approximately 1 hour from Riga International Airport (RIX)

• 5 minutes from the magnificent Rundāle Palace, one of the Baltic region's most celebrated historic estates

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided in our family home — a historic brick building dating back to 1878 and lovingly renovated in 2021.

The atmosphere is quiet, relaxed, and deeply connected to the surrounding landscape. The house is shared with our family, five cats, and one friendly dog. Between the house and studio lies the horses' paddock, where the rhythm of daily life naturally unfolds.

Guests are accommodated across three rooms:

• A twin room with two single beds and privacy divider (linen curtain)

• Small private room

• Large private room with double bed and with kitchenette

All rooms include bedding, towels, Wi-Fi, and access to a fully equipped kitchen.

Meals are self-organised, and participants often choose to cook and share meals together, creating a relaxed and friendly atmosphere beyond the studio hours.

The kitchen is stocked with our handmade pottery, offering a chance to live with and use the pieces throughout your stay—from morning coffee and tea rituals to shared dinners around the table. A farewell dinner is provided on the final day of the immersion.

The studio is only a two-minute walk away from the house..

TRANSPORT & GETTING AROUND

Most groups choose to share a rental car, which offers greater flexibility for evening outings, restaurant visits, or local exploration.

If arriving by public transport, we recommend coming by Bolt taxi, in which case most participants remain on the premises throughout the immersion. We also offer a shuttle service to/from Bauska for anyone arriving with public transport.

What's Included

• 16 hours of guided instruction

• Small group of only four participants

• All materials, Bisque firing, glazing, and final firing*

• Accommodation for four nights

• Continued access to the studio outside teaching hours

* Includes 12.5kg of porcelain and glazing in single color of up to 30 pieces.

Finished pieces are glazed and fired by us within 4 weeks after the course and shipped to your home (shipping costs additional).

Places are intentionally limited to four participants to ensure personal guidance and ample studio access throughout the immersion.

Practical Information

Q&A with travel tips, arrival information, and practical considerations

Arrival
Arrival is scheduled for 24 August evening, between 17:00–18:00, allowing time to settle in and ease into the space.

Departure
Departure is on 28 August after 18:00. Please note that this is still a full and active day with shared dinner at 16:30.

Booking Terms & Conditions

Application

If this immersion resonates with you, write to laimaceramics@gmail.com and include:

• A short introduction about yourself

• Your experience level with ceramics

We look forward to welcoming you into our studio and sharing four days of porcelain, craftsmanship, and creative exploration.

To get notified for the next immersion select:
“Get notified by email when this product is in stock” on the bottom of the listing.

Would you like to experience this immersion with your own group of family, friends, or colleagues? Private groups of up to 4 participants can be arranged on request. Get in touch and we can find suitable dates together.

A surprisingly rich learning journey — even in just four days

This immersion is designed to cover a wide range of ceramic techniques within a short, focused time frame. Rather than working in a single modality, we usually combine wheel practice with hand-building techniques, allowing skills to cross-pollinate and deepen quickly. This integrated approach often leads to remarkable progress, even for complete beginners.

“Complete beginners could make a beautiful teapot by day three because the course was structured so cleverly and carefully.”
— Anna, Poland

The course is custom-made for small group, creating a close, friendly atmosphere where your individual needs, pace, and curiosities can be met. You are welcome as a complete beginner or with previous experience — the structure adapts fully to the group.

What We Explore

Across the four days, we work with:

• Wheel throwing (stoneware and, if suitable, porcelain)

• Hand building (slab-rolling, coiling, textural work)

• Functional forms such as cups, bowls, plates, teapots

• Glazing and surface exploration

• Holistic horsemanship and inter-species communication

The practices are intentionally interwoven, allowing you to:

• Strengthen coordination and sensitivity at the wheel

• Translate wheel skills into confident hand-built forms

• Understand efficiency, flow, and repetition in functional ware

• Experience how presence and energy directly shape material outcomes

Many participants arrive expecting “a pottery class” — and leave with something far deeper.

“I left home for a pottery class but returned with so much more. This experience far exceeded anything I could have imagined.”
— Eliza, Romania

Wheel Throwing

We begin with strong foundations: preparing clay, centring, pulling cylinders, shaping, and trimming.
Depending on the group’s level, we may move into porcelain throwing, teapots and lidded forms, spheres and complex combined shapes/

Having guided hundreds of beginners, I bring a precise yet intuitive teaching style, making each step accessible technically and energetically. The microcosm of the wheel holds the whole art of living.

Hand Building & Heirloom Dinnerware

Alongside the wheel, we may explore:

• Slab-built dinnerware, allowing you to create a coherent, professional-looking set within hours

• Porcelain cups with texture and nuance

Through repetition and refinement, I share the principles of ease, efficiency, grace, and flow — the same principles used in my restaurant work worldwide.

Glazing

Matte, lava, metallic, natural, and special-effect glazes are central to my work. You will learn both about glaze characteristics and diverse application methods, with an emphasis on surfaces that feel grounded, alive, and intentional. See some of our glazes here.

Horses & Presence

You’ll observe herd dynamics, practise basic ground communication, and experience the grounding, nervous-system regulation horses naturally offer. After long studio days, this space often becomes a quiet recalibration — for body, breath, and attention.

Course Rhythm

• 4 days and 4 nights (arrival on 17 May, departure on 21st may)

• 4 hours of guided sessions per day

• Daily rhythm: 10:00–16:00 with a shared lunch break in-between

• Studio remains open to you beyond guided sessions

  Each course day includes a shared lunch, eaten together as part of the rhythm of the immersion.

Location

The immersion takes place in my light-filled studio in rural Zemgale, surrounded by vast farming fields, an apple orchard, and the horse sanctuary Laimes Zirgi.

• 25 km from Bauska

• 70 km from Riga

• ~1.1 hour from RIX airport

• 5 minutes from nr1. Latvia tourism destination the splendid Rundāle Palace

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided in our family home, a historic brick building originally built in 1878 and carefully renovated in 2021. The house offers a quiet, grounded atmosphere and is shared with our family, including our five cats and one dog. The horses’ paddock and stable sit between the house and the studio, forming part of the daily rhythm of the place.

• Shared second floor for up to three guests, Shared kitchen and bathroom

• Second floor: One twin room with 2 single beds and linen separation in-between

• Second floor: One private single room (reserved)

• First floor: One large en-suite room with private kitchenette (reserved)

Bedding, towels, Wi-Fi, and a fully equipped kitchen are provided. The horses graze just outside, and the studio is a two-minute walk away.

MEALS

• Lunch: A shared lunch is provided on course days

• Breakfast & Dinner: Self-catered using the shared kitchen.

  Some participants occasionally choose to drive to a nearby restaurant for dinner; this is optional
  

TRANSPORT & GETTING AROUND

If arriving by public transport, we recommend coming by Bolt taxi, in which case most participants remain on the premises throughout the immersion.

Some groups choose to share a rental car, which offers greater flexibility for evening outings, restaurant visits, or local exploration. We also offer a shuttle service to/from Bauska if needed.

What’s Included

• 16 hours of guided instruction

• Materials and firings*

• Accommodation at our family home

• Shared lunch

• Shuttle service to/from Bauska if needed

* Includes 10kg of stoneware, glazing in single color of up to 30 pieces. Finished works are shipped to you after firing (shipping costs are additional).

Who Is This For?

Anyone drawn to:

• Clay, craft, and functional beauty

• Horses and embodied communication

• Learning deeply in a small, attentive group

From first-time makers to advanced ceramicists — this immersion meets you exactly where you are.

Practical Information

Q&A with travel tips, arrival information, and practical considerations

To make local travel easy, we encourage the 4 participants toshare a rental car.
We also offer shuttle service to/from Bauska if you choose to use public transport instead.

Arrival
Arrival is scheduled for 17 May in the evening, between 16:00–20:00, allowing time to settle in and ease into the space.

Departure
Departure is on 21 May after 16:00. Please note that this is still a full and active day, with final moments in the studio.

Booking Terms & Conditions

You’re also welcome to follow along on Instagram @LaimaCeramics for a closer sense of the studio rhythm, materials, and day-to-day life behind this immersion.

How to apply?

Write to me at laimaceramics@gmail.com , include short description of you and where you are at your journey.

We hope to meet you in Latvia!

SUMMER 2026 · 9–22 June

13-Day Pottery & Wood Firing Immersion

Hand Building · Wheel Throwing · Heirloom Dinnerware · Horses

Applications for 2027 will open this December — you’re welcome to subscribe below to be notified when they do.

A once-a-year deep immersion into clay, fire, and presence

This 13-day summer immersion is offered only once per year. We conclude the course by taking part in a traditional Latvian wood-firing event — a rare opportunity to experience fire, community, and ritual as part of your learning journey.

This is a beginner-friendly course — no prior experience with pottery or horses is required.
At the same time, the depth of immersion supports intermediate makers who wish to learn woodfiring, slow down, or expand their skills.

Why this immersion is different

Learning ceramics well requires time, repetition, and presence.
This course is designed to give you exactly that.

You are invited to fully inhabit the craft — with:

• 24/7 access to the studio

• On-site accommodation

• Structured guidance balanced with spaciousness

• Group learning and individual attention

The days unfold at a steady, nourishing pace, allowing skill, confidence, and sensitivity to grow naturally.

“Laima’s courses are far beyond just a ceramics course… the tranquil calm surroundings, wholesome food, beautiful lodging, and presence of animals induce a state of calm and presence that translates directly into the work with clay.”
— Yakeen, UK

Week 1 · Foundations for Fire

The first week focuses on hand building and wheel practice, preparing work specifically for the wood firing.

All pieces created during Week 1 are made from local red earthenware clay, traditionally used for reduction firing.

We explore:

• Coiling and slab techniques

• Sgraffito carving for decoration

• Burnishing and polishing, resulting in a deep black, silky-smooth surface after firing

This process invites patience, touch, and intimacy with the material.

Wheel Throwing

We cover strong foundations:

• Preparing and wedging clay

• Centring and pulling cylinders

• Shaping and trimming

For participants with experience, we can explore:

• Teapots and lidded forms

• Spheres and combined shapes

Having taught for over 12 years, I guide with clarity, humour, and sensitivity — making each step understandable technically and energetically. The whole art of living is present in the microcosm of wheel practice.

Week 2 · Form, Function & Fire

In the second week, we expand into dinnerware, and integration.

You will:

• Learn slab-built heirloom dinnerware techniques

• Spend time with my herd of horses, meeting their language and presence

• Have space to revisit, refine, and explore techniques independently

The immersion culminates in three days of communal wood firing, where your first-week pieces are fired together in a living, breathing process shaped by fire, timing, and collaboration.

The Setting

The studio is located in the rural Zemgale countryside, surrounded by wide farming fields, an old apple orchard, and the horse sanctuary Laimes Zirgi.

• 20 km from Bauska

• 70 km from Riga

• ~1 hour from RIX airport

• 5 minutes from Rundāle Palace

To make local travel easy, we encourage the 4 participants toshare a rental car.
If you don’t drive, that’s absolutely fine — you’re welcome as a passenger too.

What’s Included

• 24/7 studio access

• 13 nights of on-site accommodation

• 20 hours of group guidance

• 2 individual wheel lessons

• Materials and firings*

• Welcome lunch & final celebratory dinner

*Includes up to 20 kg of clay for wood-firing and up to 20 electric-fired pieces (or up to 6 kg of finished work).

Wood-fired pieces may be taken home in hand luggage. Electric-fired pieces are glazed, fired, and shipped to you 3–4 weeks later (shipping charged separately).

Additional electric-fired pieces: €20/kg flat fee, including bisque firing, glazing by our team in a single glaze (Stone, Black, or Transparent), and final firing to 1260°C.

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided at our family home, a brick house built in 1878 and lovingly renovated in 2021.

• Second floor features:

  • 1 twin room (2 single beds)

  • 1 small private single room

  • Shared kitchen & bathroom

• First floor features:

  • 1 larger double room (140 cm bed)

  • Private kitchenette

All rooms include bedding, towels, Wi-Fi. The horse paddock borders the house, and the studio is a 2-minute walk away.

Practicalities

Who is this for?
Beginners and intermediate potters alike.

Where?
A light-filled studio in the Latvian countryside — simply search Laima Ceramics on Google Maps.

Led by
Laima Piliņa — potter, teacher, and guardian of a horse herd. → Read my full story here

Arrival
Arrival is scheduled for 9 June at 11:00, when we begin with orientation and settling in.
A welcome lunch will follow at 13:00.

Departure
Departure is on 22 June. Please note that this is still a full and active day — we will be opening the wood kiln in the morning/early afternoon, followed by a final shared lunch around 14:00 at the guest house Balta Māja.

Many participants choose to carefully pack their wood-fired pieces into their luggage after lunch, so please allow a little extra time for this process.

We kindly ask that you plan your departure after 16:00, and avoid booking early flights so you can fully experience the closing moments of the course.

Investment

€3,600 — all inclusive

Payment Plan (2 Installments)

• Installment 1 – Course Deposit (€1,800)
  Due at booking

• Installment 2 – Final Course Payment (€1,800)
  Due by 31 March 2026

How to Apply

Please write to laimaceramics@gmail.com and include a short introduction and where you are on your journey. After confirmation, you may proceed with reservation via this listing.

🔗 Q&A with travel tips, arrival information, and practical considerations
📷 Follow behind-the-scenes on Instagram @LaimaCeramics
📄 Booking Terms & Conditions

With warmth,
Laima

1–25 July | Latvia

A Deep Immersion into Ceramics, Craft & Conscious Living

This once-a-year summer immersion allows for depth, continuity, and personal guidance that is rarely possible in shorter courses.

This is not simply a pottery class.
It is an invitation into the full ecosystem of our ceramic life — where skill, discipline, intuition, rhythm, and conscious living are inseparable.

For 25 days, you live and work alongside us, becoming part of the studio’s natural flow: making, refining, resting, learning, and integrating — not rushing toward output, but allowing mastery to emerge through presence and repetition.

The Essence of the Course

During these weeks, you are offered:

• Full access to our professional studio

• On-site accommodation at our family home

• Weekly group and individual guided sessions

• Space, structure, and support to develop your own creative voice

This is our most comprehensive and intimate offering.
We share not only techniques, but also the lived knowledge behind them — the decisions, rhythms, efficiencies, and inner orientations that have shaped our practice over more than a decade.

Daily Rhythm

Each day follows a gentle yet well-held structure, balancing focused making with spaciousness and rest.

Most days include one or two guided studio sessions:

• Morning workshop: 10:00–12:00

• Afternoon workshop: 14:00–16:00 (on selected days)

Some mornings are reserved for individual wheel sessions, offering personalised attention and concentrated skill refinement.

Outside of guided hours, participants have generous free time — to rest, walk the countryside, journal, integrate, connect with others, or continue independent studio practice.

This balance is intentional: learning settles more deeply when it is not forced.

From Forming to Finishing

As the weeks unfold, the focus gradually shifts from generating forms to completing and refining work. This phase includes:

• Guided glazing and surface exploration

• Kiln loading and firing preparation

• A Raku firing day featuring the traditional Baltic Obvara technique

• Support in preparing work for final presentation

You experience the full arc of ceramic creation — not fragments, but the whole.

Fridays & Community Rhythm

Fridays carry a softer, more communal tone.

We slow the pace, share a long lunch together, and allow space for conversation and digestion — both literal and creative. Some Fridays may also include optional evening experiences such as sound or guided relaxation sessions.

Saturdays — Optional Experiences

Saturdays offer curated, optional outings, such as:

• Spa and wellness visits

• Local craft or design markets

• Cultural and nature excursions

Participation is always optional; rest is equally valued.

What You Will Learn

Wheel Practice

From solid foundations to advanced forms:

• Preparing clay, centring, pulling cylinders

• Shaping, trimming, refining proportion

• Advanced throwing: porcelain (my personal favourite), teapots, spheres, and complex forms

Having taught hundreds of students over the past 11 years, I guide with both precision and playfulness. Wheel practice becomes a mirror — revealing focus, resistance, rhythm, and ease. Craft and life reflect one another here.

Glazing & Surface

Matte, lava, metallic, natural, and special-effect glazes are central to my work. You will learn both glaze development and diverse application methods, with an emphasis on surfaces that feel grounded, alive, and intentional. See some of our glazes here.

Dinnerware — Slab Techniques

You will learn how to create a cohesive, professional dinnerware set using slab-building methods — efficiently and elegantly.

Through thousands of plates and bowls made for restaurants worldwide, I’ve distilled processes that prioritise flow, consistency, and grace. Even experienced hand-builders often find this class transforms how they work.

Raku Firing — Baltic Obvara

You will experience the ancestral Baltic Obvara technique: red-hot ceramics plunged into a fermented organic mixture, producing smoky markings and rich earthen tones that are both unpredictable and deeply rooted in this land.

Horsemanship & Inter-Species Awareness

We begin with theory and observation — learning the language of horses through presence rather than force.

You’ll observe herd dynamics, practise basic ground communication, and experience the grounding, nervous-system regulation horses naturally offer. After long studio days, this space often becomes a quiet recalibration — for body, breath, and attention.

Self-Development & Conscious Communication

Personal growth is gently woven throughout the course.

Rather than separate “sessions,” insights arise organically through making, relating, and reflecting. My own influences include belief work, somatic practices, Qigong, yoga, and inquiry-based methods — always offered as invitations, never requirements.

The Place

The studio is located in rural Zemgale, surrounded by open fields, an old apple orchard, and the horse sanctuary next door.
Bauska is 20 km away; Riga is approximately 70 km.

The renowned Rundāle Palace lies just minutes from the studio, alongside other beautiful day-trip destinations.

Participants usually share a rental car, though airport pickup can be arranged.

Accommodation

You stay at our family home — a brick building from 1878, thoughtfully renovated in 2021.

• Shared second floor for up to three guests

• One twin room and one private single room

• Shared kitchen and bathroom

• One large en-suite room on the ground floor with private entrance and kitchenette

Bedding, towels, Wi-Fi, and a fully equipped kitchen are provided.
The horses graze just outside, and the studio is a two-minute walk away.

Practical Details

This course is for:
Beginners to intermediate potters with at least one year of experience

Investment:
€6,300 total

• Installment 1 – Course Deposit (€1,300)
  Due at the time of booking

• Installment 2 – Final Course Payment (€5,000)
  Due before arrival

Included:

• Studio access

• Accommodation

• 30+ hours of guided instruction

• Materials and firings*

• Weekly Friday community lunches, welcome meal, and closing dinner

Further Details & Practical Information

For those who prefer to read more before reaching out, you’ll find additional clarity in the following pages:

• Full course description & in-depth lesson outline
  (including detailed breakdowns of techniques, pacing, and learning focus)

• Q&A with travel tips, arrival information, and practical considerations

• Booking Terms & Conditions

You’re also welcome to follow along on Instagram @LaimaCeramics for a closer sense of the studio rhythm, materials, and day-to-day life behind this immersion.

Arrival
Arrival is scheduled for 1 July at 11:00, when we begin with orientation and settling in.
A welcome lunch will follow at 13:00.

Departure
Departure is on the afternoon of 25 July.

Our final working day together is 24 July, when we hold a small exhibition of the work created during the course, followed by a shared goodbye dinner in the evening — a moment to reflect, celebrate, and gently close this time together.

As many participants choose to pack their pieces into their luggage after the exhibition, we recommend allowing time the following morning for careful packing.

There are no additional activities planned for 25 July, allowing for a calm and unhurried departure.

How to Apply

If this offering resonates, write to us and include a short introduction: where you are in your journey, and what you feel called to explore during this immersion.

After confirmation, you’ll be invited to reserve your place through the listing.

The Studio Residency

A two-week deep practice immersion in clay, rhythm, and presence

Applications are on-going throughout the year.

2026 Availability

14-27 September

12-24 October

2-15 November

7-19 December

This residency is a studio immersion for potters who are ready to step away from noise and return to the quiet depth of making.

It is designed for those who are comfortable working independently and who value time, presence, and meaningful dialogue within a working studio environment.

What This Is

A two-week period of uninterrupted studio access and lived experience inside an active ceramic studio.

You will work independently, alongside us (Laima & Oksana), within a calm and relational atmosphere where conversation arises naturally.

There is no fixed curriculum, no required output, and no need to “make the most of it.”

Instead, this residency offers something rarer: space to deepen, refine, and reconnect with your practice.

What You May Leave With

Each residency unfolds differently, but many artists leave with:

• a small, cohesive body of work

• new clarity in direction or material approach

• a deeper sensitivity to process and pace

• renewed trust in their own creative rhythm

Who This Residency Is For

It is best suited for:

• potters who are comfortable working independently

• those seeking focus, quiet, and depth

What’s Included

• 13 nights of accommodation

• daily access to the pottery studio and all equipment

• shared studio presence and informal guidance

• materials and firing package

Materials & firing include:

• 4 × 10 kg stoneware clay

• glazing and firing to 1260°C

• up to 30 small–medium pieces

Work may also be glazed and fired after departure and shipped internationally (shipping costs depend on destination).

TOTAL €1,800 for a two-week residency

Optional One-to-One Support

To enrich your residency experience, optional one-to-one sessions and workshops can be arranged in advance. These are not part of a fixed curriculum, but are tailored opportunities to deepen your practice or explore a new direction while you are in the studio.

Examples of optional sessions include:

• Porcelain wheel throwing and hanbuilding
Explore the unique qualities of porcelain, learning strategies for throwing, lifting, and shaping this expressive material.

• Big form making
Learn approaches to scale with projects such as large platters, sculptural vessels, or extended forms that benefit from guided planning.

• Specialty firing experiences
Enjoy creative surface investigations such as horse-hair raku or obvara firing, adding a playful, hands-on exploration.

• Introductory horsemanship experiences
For those who wish to broaden their stay with connection time with our horses, introductory sessions can offer gentle groundwork and herd awareness within the rhythms of the residency.

👉 See one-day masterclass options here

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided in our family home, a historic brick building originally built in 1878 and carefully renovated in 2021.

The house offers a quiet, grounded atmosphere and is shared with our family, including our five cats and one dog. The horses’ paddock and stable sit between the house and the studio, forming part of the daily rhythm of the place.

Accommodation options include:

• Second floor:

  • One small private room with a single bed

  • Shared kitchen and shared bathroom

• First floor:

  • One larger en-suite room with a 140 cm double bed (suitable also for a couple)

  • Shared bathroom and small kitchenette

Both rooms include bedding, towels, Wi-Fi, and access to a fully equipped kitchen.

Studio Space

The pottery studio is a large, light-filled space located just a two-minute walk from the house through the garden. Daily studio access and use of equipment are included.

The studio includes:

• 140 m² open-plan workspace

• Pottery wheels

• Electric kilns

• Large working tables and shelving

• Sink and glazing area

• Upstairs gallery space

• Additional lounge room with couch, tea corner, and small book library

Studio Etiquette & Self-Catering

This residency is self-catering and self-directed.

Residents are responsible for maintaining their personal living space and ceaning wheel and their working space after use.

Practical Details

For practical information such as travel tips, arrival details, what to bring, and how finished work can be handled or shipped, please refer to the Residency Q&A page.

Full reservation terms are available via the Terms & Conditions link.

To learn more about the studio, landscape, seasons, and the philosophy behind this residency, you’re welcome to explore our Residency Story‍ ‍here.

The residency offered here is a fixed two-week stay. Shorter or custom-length stays may occasionally be possible to accommodate specific travel plans, depending on availability.

Longer-term studio residencies (5–12 weeks) may be possible. This is a self-funded residency, not a sponsored or grant-based program. Extended stays beyond 5 weeks are priced at €600 per week.

Residency Arrival & Departure
For the 2-week residency (13 nights), arrivals and departures are welcome between 10:00 and 17:00.

We remain flexible to accommodate your travel plans wherever possible. However, please note that arrivals are not scheduled on Sundays.

If This Resonates

If you feel drawn to this way of working, you are warmly invited to apply.

Write to laimaceramics@gmail.comand include:

• a short introduction about yourself

• what you hope to explore during your stay

• your available travel dates

If it feels like a good mutual fit and dates align, you will be invited to secure your place.

This one-week immersive horsemanship retreat is an invitation to step out of urgency and into relationship — with horses, with nature, and with yourself.

Set in the Latvian countryside, the experience is rooted in calm, observation, and honest connection. There is no pressure to perform, no fixed idea of progress. Instead, days unfold around the rhythms of the horses: grooming, groundwork, movement, rest, and shared silence. You will learn to listen — with your body, your breath, and your attention.

The retreat can be joined solo, as a deeply personal journey, or shared by two people who wish to experience this time together. Couples, close friends, or a parent and teen (recommended 12+) are welcome to join side by side, learning from the same horses while moving at their own pace within the shared container.

No prior horsemanship philosophy is required. Riding experience is helpful but not essential; what matters most is curiosity, respect, and a willingness to slow down.

A Living, Breathing Learning Environment

This retreat takes place in a holistic heart-space designed for recharging, grounding, and creative renewal. It is a deep dive into a sanctuary I have created here — in the middle of nowhere, which has become very much somewhere.

You are invited to experience a different way of being with horses — beyond riding — rooted in relationship, trust, and mutual respect.

“When all the needs of the horses are met, we can begin to talk about interacting with horses in an authentic way.
When we realise the need for the horse to become a willing participant in a relationship, we can begin the path towards true partnership.
Ask yourself not what the horse may do for you, but what we can offer to the horse.”
— Laima

PREVENTATIVE HORSEKEEPING PRACTICES

Our horses are cared for through a gentle, preventative approach that prioritises balance, observation, and natural wellbeing.

Balanced nutrition
Horses receive high-quality hay and oat straw in slow-feeding nets to support healthy digestion. Diets are individually balanced with natural minerals and supplements.

Calm, clean environment
Horses live in small, stable groups where they can move, rest, and interact naturally. Daily routines prioritise hygiene, airflow, and emotional balance.

Observation as prevention
Through daily presence, we learn to notice subtle changes — appetite, posture, mood, movement — and respond before imbalance develops.

This approach creates a peaceful, trusting herd. By participating in daily care, students learn how thoughtful management prevents many of the issues common in conventional stables.

Lessons & Horsemanship Focus

Included are 5 individual sessions, alongside observations and free time spent with the herd throughout the day.

Possible topics include:

• Communication through body language, breath, and intention

• Intrinsic motivation and movement science

• Liberty training

• Training for relaxation and nervous system balance

• Groundwork exercises

All sessions are horse-led and horse-centred, adapting to both your level and the needs of each horse.

Meet our herd here.

Read the story of each horse in our blog here.

Gentle Daily Participation with Horses

It is an invitation to slow down, observe, and learn through presence — becoming familiar with the rhythm of the herd and the subtle language of horses.

Depending on the day, the season, and the needs of the horses, this time may include:

• Walking the herd to their large paddock and accompanying them across the open landscape

• Spending quiet time with the herd in wide, open pasture, observing interactions and social dynamics

• Simple grooming and body care

• Practicing calm, mindful hoof picking

• Working gently with sure-foot pads to support balance and body awareness

• Standing, breathing, and being — allowing trust to form without agenda

Participation is adapted to your experience level and physical capacity, and no prior horse knowledge is required. Over time, this daily contact creates a sense of familiarity and ease — both for you and for the horses.

Through daily care you learn:

• Rhythm and consistency — horses thrive on predictable, calm routines

• Confidence through repetition — your body language softens and clarity emerges

• Belonging — over time, you are no longer an observer, but part of the herd’s daily life

Typical Daily Schedule

9:00-10:00 Morning horse care

Lunch and rest / personal reflection / you may add optional pottery lessons

14:00-15:00 Afternoon individual lesson (5x individual sessions per week)

INCLUDED:

• Private room in our family home (bedding, towels, Wi-Fi included)

• 5 individual horsemanship sessions

• Daily access to the herd and learning environment

There is a shared kitchen for self-catering, as well as several excellent cafés and restaurants within 5–20 minutes by car.

A rental car is recommended, as we are 7 km from the nearest shop. However, it is possible to manage with public transport, occasional taxis, or shared grocery trips with us to local town Bauska.

Read travel and arrival tips here>

WHO THIS IS FOR:

• Adults seeking deeper connection and understanding of horses

• Artists or creatives seeking grounding time in nature

• Students of horsemanship or equine studies

• Beginners welcome with open mind and physical readiness

WHAT YOU WILL GAIN:

• Confidence and skill in horse handling and groundwork

• Understanding of horse psychology and herd behavior

• Experience in stable management and horse care

• Self-awareness through mindful interaction with horses

Practical Details

When
This retreat is offered between September and May. Dates are arranged individually — please get in touch to enquire about availability.

Where
The retreat takes place at my paddock-paradise farm in the Latvian countryside next the pottery studio, approximately 1 hour from RIX airport.

By Whom
The retreat is led by me, Laima Piliņa — training horses and being trained by horses since 2016. The work here is shaped by lived experience, long-term relationships with the herd, and a listening-based approach to horsemanship.

Investment

Pricing Structure

Solo Immersive Experience

€1,200 per person

Shared Immersive Experience (2 Participants)

For couples, two friends, or parent + teen (recommended age 12+)

Shared Accommodation

€900 per person ( €1,800 total )

Includes shared accommodation (double bed 140cm, OR 2x singles), and shared sessions.

Application Process

If you feel drawn to this experience, please write to laimaceramics@gmail.com and include:

• a short note about your previous experience with horses

• your intentions, goals, or questions for this retreat

If it feels like a good mutual fit, you’ll receive confirmation and be invited to reserve your place.

Full reservation terms are available via the Terms & Conditions page.

You’re welcome to follow along on @laimaceramics to get a feel for the rhythm of the place and the herd.