As any small business owner can attest, sometimes things don’t always go according to plan. What was envisioned to be a six-year lease at Stone Studio’s Miami home ended up being a brief 12-month stint after a new owner assumed control of the building. Not willing to let their dream go without a fight, Jen and Brad began scouting locations for a new spot for their Gold Coast headquarters. Their search eventually led them to Nuban Street in Currumbin Waters. While it wasn’t much to look at initially, the pair immediately fell in love with the spacious lawn area and began to imagine sun-soaked coffees by day and clay and sip classes beneath festoon lighting of an evening. “We got really excited about it,” Brad says of the new space. “We thought it was going to be something special and since having people come in and experience it, we couldn’t be happier with how it’s turned out,” he said. “It’s a real speed bump in our story, but for us, it shows resilience. It’s been ten weeks since closing there to opening here.”

A lot has changed in ten short weeks. The lawn has been transformed into an open-air alfresco space, the mezzanine has been rebuilt and the whole place has been given a much-needed spruce. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is Brad and Jen’s infectious optimism and appreciation for the people around them. “Our team is what makes our business amazing, everything comes from the people,” Brad exclaims. “Our purpose was to create a safe place where people can come and explore their creativity and be part of a community.” Looking around the Currumbin studio space, amongst a sea of smiling faces, it appears as though they’ve achieved their purpose and then some. “We’re on our phones so often, we’re consuming too much. Our anxiety is spiking, but there’s something about pottery. You can’t touch your phone while working with clay, it’s so sensory. You find yourself holding the clay on the wheel and that’s healthy. I think this new space has enhanced the atmosphere for that and helps people to tap into that [mindset] quicker.”

In terms of its offering, the new Currumbin studio will host the same range of experiences including clay and sip social events, beginner classes right through to the advanced courses and even the popular membership option, which is essentially like a gym membership but for people who are looking to explore creativity around ceramics. Giving people the space to learn and discover the creative process has always been at the forefront of Stone Studio, whether you’re an old hand at the wheel or you’ve simply been harbouring pottery pipe dreams for a while, everyone is welcome. Because creativity is fuelled by caffeine, Therefore Coffee – another inspirational local business that’s pushing sustainability and top-notch product – is available in the studio cafe to sip before or after your session. Another change that has come with the new Currumbin headquarters is an expanded menu of breakfast and lunch bites. The menu is thoughtfully crafted by Jack Ryan, who joined the Stone Studio team about 12 months ago, and is based around classic, great tasting dishes – think brekky burgers loaded with crisp bacon, brown-rice porridge and a seriously drool-inducing jam doughnut French toast.

If you’re keen to embark upon your very own pottery journey, check out the new Stone Studio in Currumbin Waters. Skip over to our Stumble Guide for opening times.

Image credit: 1-3, supplied