Independently, I have been learning the art of ceramics for around five years now, exploring both handbuilding and wheel work. A few years ago I converted the boat shed at the end of my driveway into a pottery studio where I run Claydays and create my own ceramics from.
Pottery has taught me a lot, but mainly a deep appreciation of craftmanship, which I feel like our generation is losing. Taking the time to learn the craft properly and create pieces for my home to be used daily, which last a lifetime, is something I get value and contentment from.
My grandparents were an inspiration for Claydays. They both made items by hand and could walk me around their house describing the time of their life when something was made or the story behind it, cherishing not just the making but the memory behind it.
There is something so special about the way a beautiful piece of pottery encourages us to celebrate the little everyday rituals, like sipping our morning coffee, lighting our homemade candle or arranging a bunch of flowers foraged from a morning walk. It reminds us to enjoy the little things, which really are the big things.