Welcome to the Journal

This is where I share little glimpses of life at Villa Rustica—stories from our days as makers, the workshops we host, and the magic we experience living on the North Coast of NSW.

Greg, a passionate clay enthusiast, and I—mosaic art is my medium—both work from our studios here on the property. Our days are spent creating, tending to the gardens and chickens, and soaking in the beauty and stillness of this special place we’re lucky to call home.

Spirit Totem Workshop
Jane Furney Jane Furney

Spirit Totem Workshop

Our recent Spirit Totem workshop with artist Sue Isherwood was a great success. Here are some photos from this creative weekend.

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On the Mud Trail
Jane Furney Jane Furney

On the Mud Trail

We had the most amazing weekend welcoming hundreds of visitors to Villa Rustica on this year’s Mud Trail.

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Firing the wood-fired kiln
Tristan Furney Tristan Furney

Firing the wood-fired kiln

“I was surprised how it’s such a primal process and so different from flicking the switch on an electric kiln. Wood-firing is the alchemy of fire and clay and the results are unpredictable as the clay is marked by the path of the flame.”

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Mosaic Workshop
Jane Furney Jane Furney

Mosaic Workshop

Here’s a recap of the amazing projects made by students in our Garden Mosaic Workshop. The students were given the choice to decorate a birdbath or design a stepping stone…

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Garden Mosaic Workshop
Jane Furney Jane Furney

Garden Mosaic Workshop

Join us for a fun and creative Garden Mosaic Workshop where you’ll learn to make a beautiful mosaic for your garden.

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Spirit Totem Pole Workshop
Jane Furney Jane Furney

Spirit Totem Pole Workshop

Create your own personalised clay totem pole in a two-day workshop under the tutorage of experienced ceramicist, Susan Isherwood.

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Focus on Form Workshop
Jane Furney Jane Furney

Focus on Form Workshop

Caitlin Hepworth encourages students to think differently about sculptural mosaic where the form is as important as the mosaic.

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Mosaic Coptic Crosses
Jane Furney Jane Furney

Mosaic Coptic Crosses

Making a mosaic cross is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. After deciding on the design and colour combination, I lay a mass of gold tiles face-up on a tray.

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Our favourite wedding suppliers
Jane Furney Jane Furney

Our favourite wedding suppliers

Although we are no longer hosting weddings at Villa Rustica, we are excited to recommend some wonderful suppliers we’ve worked with over the years.

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Chasing Unicorns
Jane Furney Jane Furney

Chasing Unicorns

Chasing Unicorns is a local label celebrating individual style with vintage-inspired clothing. See how they used our space during their recent photoshoot.

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Making for Community
Jane Furney Jane Furney

Making for Community

Greg chooses to work as a sole practioner yet he stays connected to the wider community by participating in local events and charities. Here’s how these events influence his art practise.

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Jane Furney Jane Furney

From Villa to Wellness Centre…

In May this year, just as Australia was grappling with the coronavirus, a location scout knocked on our door to see if we would consider renting Villa Rustica as a location set.

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Eloping at Villa Rustica
Jane Furney Jane Furney

Eloping at Villa Rustica

With the demand for intimate weddings increasing due to Covid-19, we have begun opening our doors for couples to get married in the romantic surrounds of Villa Rustica.

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Kumquats 3 Ways
Jane Furney Jane Furney

Kumquats 3 Ways

Kumquats are polarising – people either love or hate them! I’ve been experimenting with recipes to make the most of this versatile – and often underappreciated - citrus fruit.

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Greg’s Story
Jane Furney Jane Furney

Greg’s Story

Every potter comes to clay a different way and mine started  with a series of misadventures.

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Upcoming Art Workshops
Tristan Furney Tristan Furney

Upcoming Art Workshops

Our plan to hold small artisan workshops throughout this year has temporarily been put on hold due to the situation surrounding COVID-19.

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