‘Tis the Season for Clay, Chaos, and Christmas Trees

It’s officially that time of year again—the calendar explodes, the to-do list multiplies, and suddenly I’m juggling homework help, math competitions (yes, those are apparently a full-time parenting sport now), and a whirlwind of extracurriculars. Throw in two pottery classes a week, and “busy” doesn’t even begin to cover it. I’m having the absolute best time in those classes, but come January I’ll probably scale back to one class—or maybe even hit pause for a hot second—just to catch my breath.

The silver lining? I finally have a little studio corner carved out in the garage! That means even if I take a break from formal classes, the wheel and I aren’t breaking up anytime soon. I can sneak out there whenever life allows and get my hands back in clay. Best therapy ever.

Of course, the big dream is that our house finally sells in the new year. Once it does, we’ll be deep in house-hunting, moving, and settling into whatever comes next—which will undoubtedly eat up every spare minute. Fingers tightly crossed that 2026 is the year everything clicks into place.

In the meantime, I wanted to share some of the finished Christmas trees I threw and glazed in my seasonal class. There’s something magical about seeing a lump of clay transform into a tiny shining tree. They make me smile every time I look at them—and they’re a sweet reminder that even in the busiest seasons, making time for creativity is always worth it.

Here’s to cozy lights, messy hands, and finding little pockets of joy amid the holiday hustle.

Make all the things

We have now officially make vessels with lids. I have one piece I am in love with and want to make a whole set and a few pieces I hated but then added some texture details and no longer hate them but definitely not my favorite. Hopefully they will all make it threw the kiln. One part of pottery I find fascinating is how you can do everything correctly and still lose pieces in firing. We did enclosed vessels and that is SOOOOO much harder than it looks. I did enclosed forms for Christmas trees and it didn't go great but I made some I'll share when they are out of the kiln. They were glazed last night. Here are the closed form jars I made. Not my favorite but after adding the texture I don't hate them. 

but one piece turned out better then I could have hoped I one day I'll make a full set in larger sizes.

i plan to use it for loose leaf tea. It's so pretty, I haven't decided on colors yet though. I really hope they all make it through the kiln. Next class is Monday and hopefully I'll have my own wheel by then too. Fingers crossed. So what have you made this week? Any holiday projects planned?

Glazed work

Oh my goodness y'all it has been a crazy few weeks. I have so much to show you but I'm going to save that for tomorrow when I have more time to sit down and write everything down. For now I will just share my glazed piece and how they ended up. I'm and happy with them for the most part. Have a few away, each kid picked their favorite to keep. I love that they love the things mommy makes them. I can't wait for new pieces. I made Christmas trees a few weeks ago and those have been bisque fired and are ready to be glazed hopefully this week. My husband started cleaning up a space in the garage so I had a place to work at home. I'm excited to make more. My studio wish list is a mile long lol. One step at a time. Until next time let your creativity burn.

Classes Continue

It’s been a whirlwind few weeks, and I owe you an apology for the radio silence! My first six-week pottery class wrapped up, and while I don’t have any new fired pieces to show off just yet, I’m still buzzing with excitement. Our final class was all about glazing, but some of my pieces were still too wet to fire, so I can only share the unfired, glazed versions for now. They’re like little promises of what’s to come, and I can’t wait to see how they turn out once they’re fired.

In the meantime, I’ve been diving into a new creative outlet: 3D printing pottery tools! I’m printing texture rollers and ribs to use in my work, and I’ve got three done so far with a fourth in progress. I’m also planning to print some mold forms for hand-building and shaping. There’s something so satisfying about building up my tool collection this way—it feels like I’m crafting my own pottery arsenal. Who doesn’t love new toys for their favorite hobby?

I’m thrilled to share that I’m doubling down on pottery this next six-week block by taking two classes. The first is a seasonal class where we’ll use both wheel-throwing and hand-building to create holiday-themed pieces—think festive mugs and ornaments. The second is a continuing wheel skills class where we’ll tackle larger amounts of clay, which has me so excited. I’ve been wheel-less for weeks now, stuck in the trimming and glazing phase, and I’m absolutely itching to get my hands back in the mud. The break has only made me hungrier to throw, and I find myself obsessively browsing marketplaces for my own pottery wheel. One day, I’ll have my own setup to practice whenever the mood strikes.

On top of that, I’m curious about experimenting with “wild clay.” There’s a ton of red clay around here, and I’d love to play with refining it for some local, homegrown pottery projects. It feels like a fun way to connect even more deeply with the craft.

My seasonal class kicks off this Wednesday, and I can’t wait to see what I’ll create this week. Stay tuned for some holiday-inspired pieces and (hopefully) some progress on my 3D-printed tools. Until then, keep creating and embracing the messy, joyful process of making something new.

More Clay and More Classes Soon

Last week’s pottery class was an absolute blast, but it was also my last chance to throw on the wheel for a few weeks, which has me feeling a bit wistful. I made the most of it, throwing five pieces in our final session. One was a total flop that I’m oddly attached to (it’s got character!), while the other four turned out decently—good enough to keep, at least! This week, we’re diving into trimming all our pieces, and next week we’ll glaze, wrapping up this six-week journey. It’s been such a fun ride, and I’m not ready for it to end.

Thankfully, I’ve already got more clay adventures lined up! I signed up for a seasonal pottery class (think festive, holiday-themed creations) and a six-week continuing class to level up my wheel-throwing skills. I’m so excited to keep learning and pushing myself. But if I’m honest, I’m itching to get my own pottery wheel. I keep daydreaming about having a dedicated space where I can sit, practice one skill at a time—centering, pulling, shaping—and just lose myself in the process. Picture this: stepping into my own private studio, clay at the ready, creating whenever inspiration strikes. It’s a beautiful thought, and I’m determined to make it a reality someday.

For now, though, life is keeping me busy with other challenges. Our previous house still hasn’t sold, which means we’re stuck in a holding pattern before we can find a new home, buy it, and start the moving process… again. It’s a lot, and I know I’m going to need some serious clay time to stay grounded through it all. There’s something so therapeutic about the wheel, and I’m already counting down to my next class.

Until next time, keep creating, embrace the flops, and hold on to those dreams of a space to call your own—whether it’s a studio or something else entirely.

Pottery Date Night

This week, my husband pulled off the sweetest surprise—a couples pottery night as a special date! Four weeks into my eight-week pottery class, I thought I had a decent handle on the wheel, but sharing the experience with him made it so much more fun. We laughed, got our hands dirty, and created together, reminding me why I love these moments of connection.

I’m no stranger to clay at this point, but it still throws me curveballs. It’s humbling how the clay demands focus and patience. I tried some new techniques our instructor introduced during the couples session, pushing myself beyond the basics I’ve been practicing. My piece wasn’t my finest work, but I loved experimenting and seeing what I could do. My husband, on the other hand, was the real MVP. He’s never touched a wheel before, and centering the clay was a struggle for him. With a few tips from me (and a lot of encouragement), he shaped a beautifully round bowl. I was so proud watching him get the hang of it—his determination was everything!

The class flew by in a messy, joyful blur. I’m already buzzing for my next regular session on Wednesday. I’m hooked on throwing, and I can’t stop dreaming about owning my own wheel. I want to spend hours perfecting my centering, refining each step, and just losing myself in the process. There’s something so grounding about it.

After our two-hour clay adventure, we cleaned up (mostly) and headed out for dinner. Korean food and boba tea hit the spot—pure bliss. Now that we’re living near family, it’s such a treat to carve out these date nights every now and then. They’re a little reset for us amidst the whirlwind of life.

On another note, today I’m getting ready for a big move into a rental. We’re grateful to have our own space after staying with family, but it’s the smallest place we’ve ever lived in with kids. It’s going to be a wild ride—either we’ll grow closer as a family, or we’ll all be itching for some elbow room (ha!). Either way, I’m excited to make it our own and see what this next chapter brings.

Until next time, keep creating, keep experimenting, and don’t be afraid to get a little messy—on the wheel or in life.

What’s a fun date night you’ve had lately? And if you’re a pottery pro, drop your best tips—I’m five weeks in and always learning!

Another Day in the Pottery Studio: Trimming Pots

This week in my pottery class, I didn’t get to throw new clay on the wheel, but I dove into the art of trimming our previously thrown pots. Some of my pieces turned out beautifully, and I’m genuinely proud of them. Others? Well, let’s just call them part of the learning process—charmingly imperfect.

I’m constantly amazed at how quickly our 2.5-hour class flies by. I sit down, get lost in the rhythm of shaping clay, and before I know it, it’s time to clean up. One session a week feels far too short to satisfy my growing pottery obsession. That said, I’ve noticed my back gets sore by the end, so I’m planning to set an hourly alarm to remind myself to stretch. I’m also working on maintaining good posture and engaging my core to build strength while I work.

Overall, I’m thrilled with most of my creations so far. Next up, they’ll head to the bisque firing stage. There’s one bowl I’m a bit worried about, but as every potter knows, the kiln has the final say on what survives.

Looking ahead, I’m excited for next week’s class, where we’ll learn to pull cylinders and work with more clay. I can’t wait to try my hand at making a vase! While I missed throwing clay this time, trimming my vessels was its own kind of satisfying—and a lot less messy to clean up. I’m so eager to share my finished creations with you all soon!