Chantal Clunie

I grow flowers and potter at my home in Hamilton East, balancing my art alongside my work as a chiropractor. Artistry has always been a part of my life- I’ve sketched, made soap, and created digital art- but none held my focus quite like clay and blooms. I discovered pottery in 2022 during a hand-building class with friends. That time coincided with my late husband, Sam, undergoing brain surgery, followed by radiation and chemo. I took a break from my chiropractic studies, and we moved from Auckland to the Waikato to be near my parents. Those days were a mix of immense stress and if I'm honest, twiddling our thumbs. I started spending time at the Waikato Society of Potters, playing on the wheel or shaping clay at home- and at the latter part, even in hospital. Pottery brought a sense of calm, process, and purpose when life felt so out of control. When Sam passed away on ANZAC Day 2023 at just 25, my world crumbled. In that space, flowers began to say what words couldn't. My florist friend created the most beautiful farewell arrangement, bringing a glimmer of beauty to the rawness of grief. I began growing and arranging flowers myself, to bring to his graveside over the following months. Growing became an anchor; after a long time, flowers and bees were the first things to make me smile again. Eventually, I finished my degree and kept nurturing these hobbies. Life grew and changed, and I later met another wonderful man, Jacob. Though we work in very different worlds (he’s in IT!), our shared faith brought us together. We recently married right in the garden—surrounded by our two dogs, a very curious chicken, and the people we love. I made custom named mugs for everyone as place cards and had the time of my life arranging all the florals. People often ask if I'll ever streamline Floral and Clay to choose just one path, but I can't bring myself to separate them. I love that pottery is functional art built to last for years, while the fleeting nature of flowers reminds us to pause and be present right now. So, I continue to do both on a small scale, and I almost always have dirt under my nails. With love, Chantal xx