Folly & Form at Crafted Clay Market Sunday 12 July: The Perth Potter Who Found Her Way Back to Clay After 30 Years

Some journeys back to creativity take a little longer than others. For Georgie McInerney, the maker behind Folly & Form, it took nearly thirty years.

Growing up in Somerset, England, clay was simply part of life. Her father was a potter, and his workshop, full of kilns, creativity, and the quiet rhythm of making, was the backdrop to her childhood. Life eventually pulled her in other directions, and ceramics faded into the background. But after moving to Western Australia and raising a family, something shifted. In 2024, Georgie found her way back to clay.

What started as a creative outlet became, in her own words, an obsession. And from that obsession, Folly & Form was born.

Handmade from the ground up

Every Folly & Form piece begins at home or at Hound Ceramics, a local community studio where Georgie works alongside fellow makers. She works with stoneware and porcelain clays, using a mix of wheel throwing and hand-building techniques, often letting pieces evolve organically as she works.

The process is unhurried and deliberate. After shaping, each piece is slowly dried, bisque fired, glazed by hand, and fired again. Georgie loves experimenting with different clays, glazes, and textures, which means no two pieces are ever exactly alike. As she puts it, "the small variations and imperfections are part of what make handmade ceramics so special, each one has its own personality and story."

That sense of personality comes through clearly in her work. Inspired by the landscapes, coastlines, and wildlife of Western Australia, Folly & Form pieces carry a quiet connection to place. Grounded, considered, and made to be lived with every day.

A milestone worth celebrating

Launching a creative business is no small thing. Doing it after nearly three decades away from your craft, while navigating career changes and the general busyness of life, is something else entirely.

In less than a year, Georgie has built a growing online community, made sales across Australia, and begun exhibiting at local markets. But it's the quieter moments that stay with her most. "The feedback I treasure most," she shares, "is when customers tell me a piece made them smile or that they fell in love with its personality."

That connection between maker and collector, that moment when someone picks up a handmade object and instantly feels something, is exactly what drives Folly & Form forward. Creating ceramics that bring a little joy to everyday life, as Georgie describes it, is exactly why she does it.

Making thoughtfully

Sustainability sits at the heart of how Georgie works. She reclaims and reuses as much clay as possible, giving scraps a second life rather than sending them to landfill. Offcuts that don't make it back into the reclaim bucket often become what she calls her "leftovers" creations. Small, characterful pieces born from material that might otherwise be discarded.

Being part of Hound Ceramics also means sharing kiln firings with fellow makers, reducing energy use while fostering the kind of community that keeps the creative practice alive. It's a thoughtful, resourceful approach to making that feels entirely in keeping with the Folly & Form spirit.

Something a little different at Crafted Clay

If you're heading to Crafted Clay Market on Sunday 12 July, make sure you stop by the Folly & Form stall. Georgie is bringing something a little unexpected with her.

Introducing the blind date with a mug, or bowl, or pot. The concept is simple and genuinely fun. Choose a vibe (coastal or earthy), choose your vessel (mug, bowl, or leave it to fate with a pot luck option), read the piece's date profile, and make your match. Priced between $25 and $30, these are pieces that Georgie describes as "not perfect items but not imperfect either." Each one waiting to be matched with the right home.

It's the kind of idea that perfectly captures the Folly & Form personality. Playful, a little unexpected, and rooted in a genuine love of getting handmade ceramics into people's hands. The blind date concept is also available online and has already proven to be a hit. If you want first pick, Sunday 12 July is your chance.

Find Folly & Form at Crafted Clay Market

Crafted Clay Market is on Sunday 12 July 2026 at South Perth Community Hall, 11am to 4pm. Free entry.

Follow Georgie and Folly & Form on Instagram at @follyandform_ and come and say hello on the day.