Clara Bethell-Sacks | Kintsugi Workshops

I had a really lovely time recently chatting on Cotswold Radio’s Culture Club with guest interviewer Charlie Clarke of @littleearthquakepots 🩵 We talked about Kintsugi, the quiet power of repair, and my workshops at Westonbirt Arboretum - how working with the hands, slowing down, and creating space for reflection can be deeply meaningful. I’m grateful for the thoughtful conversation and for the chance to share this practice a little more widely. Thank you for having me.

Hello, I’m Clara 👋 I’m a Kintsugi artist, trained in Japan and the UK, with a background in fine art and midwifery. Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with lacquer and gold, has been a profound teacher in my life. For me, it’s not just about repair. It’s about resilience, mindfulness, and beauty in imperfection. Each piece tells a story. Each repair is a meditation. 🌿 I now share this practice through workshops, from small groups in Westonbirt to corporate team experiences designed for creativity, connection and calm. Follow along to discover the beauty of broken things made whole again.

Kintsugi workshops at In Bristol Studio, Barton Hill. A space rooted in Bristol’s creative community. Where artists, makers and neighbours come together to slow down and make. These sessions introduce the Japanese art of Kintsugi: repairing broken ceramics with lacquer and metal, and transforming what’s been damaged into something new. Beginner-friendly, fully guided, and open to anyone curious to try something hands-on and reflective. A few hours to step out of the noise, share a table with others, and reconnect through making. Booking via the link in my bio.

Nature & Kintsugi - appreciating beauty, transience, memories, repair, connection and presence 🙏 Thank you for a wonderful workshop in a beautiful place @clarakintsugi and @friendsofwestonbirt @westonbirtarb #kintsugiart #kintsugi #healingart #healingarts #natureheals

There’s something special about practising Kintsugi at the beautiful @westonbirtarb Surrounded by trees and open space, the work of careful repair feels even more grounding - a chance to slow down, focus the hands, and step away from the noise of everyday life. Workshops run throughout the year, and there are just a few spaces remaining for May. If you’d like to join, you can find dates and booking details via the link in my bio.

No briefs. No screens. Just hands, clay, and gold. ✨ We brought @galleryofthegiants and @clarakintsugi into the studio for an afternoon of Kintsugi. Six months into Hoxton Square. It felt like the right way to land in the community: slowing down, making something tangible, together. Broken things, made beautiful. The finished pieces now live in a permanent micro gallery here at Household. What people carry with them isn’t the product. It’s how you made them feel. 22 years of people-first. This is what it looks like. #Household #BCorp #FemaleFoundedAgency #Kintsugi #AgencyLife

Spring and Summer workshops are now open for booking. You can join me at: Westonbirt Arboretum Creative Space Bristol In Bristol Studio Bristol Japan Cultural Showcase - 12th April Queer Kintsugi at PRSC - April & July Each session offers time to slow down, work with care, and create something lasting. All workshops can be booked via the link in my bio. Photography © Diana Henry | lightsheds @lightsheds_diana_henry

Yesterday I spent a lovely afternoon embracing the Japanese art of #kintsugi under the expert guidance of @clarakintsugi . Such a beautiful mindful process. The pomegranate dish was chipped and Clara did a controlled break which i mended using the #kintsugirepair . Today it was washed and I then embraced my love of #ikebana with an #ikebanastyle arrangements using camelia native to Southern Asia and berries from acuba japonica. Japonica meaning from Japan. #japanstyles

Friday I had the most wonderful afternoon courtesy my lovely daughter @georgia_van_horne and son-in-law learning the art of Kintsugi with the delightful @clarakintsugi . Such a lovely relaxing experience leaving me feeling very zen at the end. Very pleased with my first piece of Kentsugi - photos start with the finished piece and then move to the various stages of repair. Thank you @georgia_van_horne , Jim and @clarakintsugi

I’ll be sharing Kintsugi at the Bristol Japanese Cultural Showcase on Sunday 12th April. It’s always an honour to teach this practice in spaces that celebrate Japanese culture more widely; connecting craft, history and philosophy. I’ll be guiding participants through the traditional techniques and the deeper meaning behind the art of repair. Details and booking are available on my website. Photography © Diana Henry | lightsheds @lightsheds_diana_henry

In a Kintsugi workshop, the focus narrows. Attention moves to the brush, the lacquer, the careful alignment of broken edges. Conversations soften. Time slows. It’s not just about repair, it’s about presence. What I often notice is how naturally community forms around the table. People begin as strangers and, through the shared act of making, become connected. There’s something powerful about creating alongside others: quietly encouraging, sharing stories, holding space. Craft has always brought people together. Kintsugi simply offers a gentle framework for that connection. Slow work. Shared tables. Meaningful conversation. That, for me, is just as important as the finished piece. Photography © Diana Henry | lightsheds @lightsheds_diana_henry

Have you ever tried Kintsugi on gemstones? We were lucky enough to have Clara @clarakintsugi visit @orchardjewelleryworkshop to give us an introduction to the ancient art of Kintsugi...with a twist 💎 Kintsugi, meaning "golden joinery" in Japanese, is an art form that repairs broken ceramics by using tree sap lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or other metals. Instead of concealing the fractures, it highlights them, transforming the imperfections into a distinctive, beautiful feature. Originating in the 15th century, Kintsugi not only restores the object but also honors its history, embracing the philosophy of wabi-sabi, the appreciation of beauty in imperfection and transience. This technique celebrates an object's scars as a testament to its journey. An ethos we could all benefit from ❤️ Many jewellers talk about using this technique to repair broken gemstones, so I asked Clara if she would be willing to try some samples and if they worked, run a gemstone Kintsugi workshop for us, and she said yes! 😍 @kernowcraft kindly gifted us some beautiful broken gemstones to repair and we had a wonderful, inspiring and insightful day! The stones will receive their final clean and polish tomorrow but I know they're going to look beautiful. We'll let you know more about it soon, but in the mean time if you have any questions let us know below 👇🏼 And make sure to give Clara @clarakintsugi a follow 🌟 #jewellerycommunity #kintsugi #jewelleryworkshop #mendingmatters