Introduction

I started my pottery hobby about a year and a half ago with a friend. It was meant to just be something we could do while enjoying each other's company, but the hobby outlasted the friendship, and I've become quite obsessed with it.

I go to a pottery studio called Mudflat where I take classes and can take advantage of open studio hours to 'hone my skills'. I started out making things at about the level of a 3rd-grader, but lately I've even made a few pieces I like. I'm learning, though, that as my confidence and skills improve, my expectations increase proportionally whereby I now feel just as much stress to 'do better' as I did at the beginning.

It's meant to be relaxing - and it is, don't get me wrong. There's something wonderful about leaving your 'desk job' and spending the evening manipulating mud with your bare hands. Instead of producing intellectual property, I can produce something tangible and practical...and maybe even a bit pretty.

So I'll be posting some pictures, videos and descriptions of my experiences. If you're an experienced clay craftsman, perhaps this blog will remind you of when you were a beginner and you can look back with fondness and pity. If you've never sat at a wheel to throw a mound of clay, perhaps I'll be able to convince you that it's actually not like Ghost would have you believe at all.

Cheers,

Alethea