Every piece in the shop begins as a lump of clay on the wheel. It is shaped by hand, and however carefully that is done, each one comes out a little different — a slightly wider lip, a handle at its own angle, a curve that is all its own.

Glaze adds another layer of that. It moves in the kiln, pooling in some places and breaking thin over edges in others, so the same glaze can look soft on one mug and bold on the next.

Those small differences are not flaws. They are the marks of something made by hand, and they are why each piece is one of a kind.

A day at the wheel usually starts with wedging — working the clay by hand to push out air and even it through. Then it is centred on the wheel, opened and pulled up into shape.

Freshly thrown pieces dry slowly until they are firm enough to trim, when the foot is carved and any handles are attached. After that comes a first firing, then glazing, then a second firing that turns the glaze to glass.

It is slow work, and much of it is waiting. That patience is what makes a piece strong enough for years of everyday use.

This is where you will find notes from the studio — new pieces as they come out of the kiln, glazes being tried for the first time, and the occasional look at how the work gets made.

Most of what happens in a pottery studio is never seen: the drying, the trimming, the waiting between firings. The journal is a chance to show a little of that.

New posts will appear here from time to time. Thank you for stopping by.