DIY THINGS TO DO IN TAIWAN THE SHUS POTTERY WORKSHOP

After learning how to make Pineapple Shortcakes, next in our itinerary for this OTOP Taiwan tour is the Pottery Workshop. From Taipei, we drove for about 40 minutes to New Taipei City and went to Yingge District where The Shu's Pottery is located. Here, we learned about the history of the company with a tour at their museum, have a look at their line of products, and experienced a workshop on pottery making. I'm so happy that pottery making is part of our tour. I've been wanting to try this even when I am traveling around the Philippines, and it's only in the Taiwan that I'll get to experience it for the first time.

The Shu's Pottery is located in Yingge Ceramics Old Street, the pottery capital of Taiwan. It is a family business that started in 1926 and handed down to four generations. The brand name was taken from the founder's name Hsin-Wang Shu who started and grew the company. It represents innovation and the concept of "keep going forward." Through the years, they've been through several product changes and brand innovations, and became a successful ceramic company that it is today.

Upon arrival at The Shu's Pottery, we were warmly welcomed by the staff and introduced to us the company. She then ushered us to the showroom where she presented us some of their products. One of their best-sellers is the color-changing mugs which are handcrafted cups with heat-activated color changing designs. I love its wide variety of designs that change colors when hot water is poured inside. It's certainly a nice and innovative product. No doubt, it's one of their best-sellers.

After the short demonstration, we went up to their Ceramic Memorial Museum. Here, we learned about the company's history, and how they started. She also showed us some of the products they make though the years, as well as the traditional process of ceramics making, and some old pottery making equipment such as the antiquated gas kiln, turning bowl machine, kicking pulley and many others.

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We then went down to the workshop area for our DIY pottery making workshop. As I said, this is my very first time to try this and I am really so excited to finally have a hands-on experience in pottery making.

After explaining to us the materials needed and demonstrating to us how to do it, we finally sat down to give it a try.

I must say that it's really not easy. You have to really focus and practice a lot to perfect this craft. I tried it so many times, but I guess it would take some time for me to make a good one. It's a "trial and error" thing for me, until I finally made a decent looking mug. Hahaha! I then put some cutout shapes on the sides of the mug as design. The finished product will then be sent to the staff for them to check and to dry it in the kiln. You can either pick it up after or have it shipped to your home address for a fee.

Aside from the showroom where you could buy some pottery products they make, The Shu's Pottery also have a small cafe where you could have some snacks and drinks while enjoying your workshop.