When I was in the third trimester of my pregnancy I quite reluctantly left Turning Earth studios in Hoxton, London, I’d been throwing and turning my tableware in their beautiful studios, with a sizeable bump but I’d been taking a step back not wanting to use too many glazes or partake in any processes that might be harmful. I had made a vase, which I was really pleased with the shape was quite contemporary and symmetrical and it was just the right height. I got my OH to glaze it as I was at the stage when I didn’t want to touch the glazes, and he did a really good job. The clay was really textured with the matte white glaze. It holds flowers so well, the opening is not too big so the flowers are upright and it’s big enough to hold a decent bunch. I used the vase for several years, but as I didn’t have time to go to a studio wasn’t able to make any more, hoping to be able to starting making at home. Then I joined the Turning Earth studios Haringey – I was so excited when they opened. A studio close to home where I'd be able to continue my time for tea / tableware passion! When it came to making the vases though, unfortunately, wasn’t able to make one quite the right shape - the angle of the curve was always too steep, particularly at the top. Each one didn’t quite have the right shape. When I came to glazing, the matte white in the studio had too many faults, it wasn’t sticking properly – was it that the shiny white had been mixed in, as this was a fault much more common with that, was it that there was some Vulcan black mixed into the clay body? So, in my impatience I tried some other glazes, the result was terrible. Now I’m WFH (or PFH - pottery from home). It’s such an exciting process setting up your own studio, being able to create the handmade at home – and one I feel quite out of my depth at times, but I can work at a much slower pace, I’m not obliged to go to the studio, and put so much pressure on my home and working life.
I had made a vase, which I was really pleased with the shape was quite contemporary and symmetrical and it was just the right height.
Now I’m solely hand building, so the pieces are literally handmade or crafted by hand and not the wheel as I don’t currently have one, so I’m coiling the vases, and while it’s a slow process, in some ways it’s quicker as I’m actually getting closer to the shape I’m after. With a bit of practice the vases are getting more symmetrical, and they do take a long time, but I can do them in stages, an hour here, an hour there – it’s nice to have something on the boil I can do a couple of times a day. So now I have my little group of vases - I’m much happier with the shape, I can’t wait to fire them and see how they turn out once they’re glazed.
