I’ve been gone way too long. Way, way too long. I’ve often thought of starting again – it feels bad to simply let something I poured so much effort into over the years fall by the wayside.
There were several things standing in the way I think. Firstly, although I still love eating food, the actual preparation of it doesn’t quite fill me with the same excitement. Additionally, my main interest in life has shifted quite fundamentally.
From food… to clay.
A little while after moving to Sweden I found myself craving a creative outlet and I discovered pottery thanks to the immensely talented Linda. Several years later, thanks in no small part to probably the world’s most awesome father-in-law who’s the builder and brains behind the project, I now have this:
My own pottery studio
This used to be a tired old looking shed. Completely renovated, inside and out.
If you know anything at all about the hobby of pottery you’ll know that the price of entry to undertaking it yourself can be a little on the high side. Fortunately I was able to get a wheel and a kiln second-hand.
This was taken right after everything was completed – it’s decidedly messier now with various clay pots and creations adorning the shelves.
It’s my happy place!
Eventually, once this damn pandemic is over (or at least mitigated somewhat) I hope I’ll be able to have pottery evenings with friends – it’s a hobby which is great to lose yourself in and it feels so good to really get stuck in to the clay.
There’s also a huge amount of raw materials that can be accumulated. Not just clay (of which there are hundreds of different types) but various chemicals which can be used to make glazes, colour slips and glazes and use for various tactile effects on glazes and in the pottery itself.
I ordered 8 different types of clay – 4 are shown here – 1 earthenware, 6 stoneware, and 1 porcelain. All in all around 700kg. That was fun to carry in!
Here’s the kiln in action – 579 Celsius at the time. It will go up to about 1250 Celsius when glaze-firing stoneware. It takes the best part of half a day to ramp up to the firing temperature, and then about as long, or longer, to cool back down again.
Here’s a few fired things the day after. The next step is glazing – this can either be done with home-made or purchased glazes. Currently I’m using glazes bought in powder form which are simply mixed with water.
I guess this post transformed from a “yay, I’m back” to more of an instructional half-way along, but I aim to post more soon. As time goes by I plan to experiment with different glazes and different firing methods so stay tuned! I might even post food recipes again as well some time.
Welcome back Charles! Good to see you back!
I did pottery when I was about 17 years old and I wish I could do that again at my age and 2 kids.
Good luck with whatever plans you have.
Thanks so much! This time I’ll try and post more regularly, rather than giving up again 😀
I think something like pottery is definitely easier without small kids… but it’s important to carve out time for yourself too!
I just received an email notification of your new post and got excited! You are back to blogging! And how wonderful to have your own work space. I collect potteries (mostly Japanese) and I really wish to make my own one day. It will be very inspiring to read your posts about your pottery adventure!
P.S. thanks for always helping JOC behind the scene for the past few years. ??
Hi Nami, and thank you! I’ve thought for a long time about getting back to my site… I need to find a way of making the emphasis less on food and more on crafting, but with a bit of food… No doubt I’ll work on that at some point but it feels good to have broken the block and made the first post again after so long!
It’s really such a rewarding activity, I hope you have the opportunity to try it. There’s a Japanese technique I read about – kintsugi – which looks beautiful … Maybe if I can find some gold (lol) I can try that some time (my region in Sweden is known as gold country, so maybe I’ll find a nugget when I’m out for a walk :D)
As for your site – it’s always a pleasure working with you 🙂
Helllloooooooo Charles!!!
So glad you are back!!!! And wow – what a fantastic hobby to have been dabbling in. The funny thing is just prior to Covid, I had been toying around with pottery making too – just a few pieces for me to use for the blog. I even signed up for a few classes but then the lockdown happened here in Atlanta, GA, and all classes were canceled. I let the idea go but look forward to living vicariously through your pottery adventures! I am looking forward to your next post!
Welcome Back!!!!!
Hi Shashi,
Great to hear from you. I go to (well… went to) an art school two days a week where I take lessons in ceramics, textiles (like weaving), and art. Now with the pandemic they’ve gone over to distance learning. It works pretty well for art, but sadly not for pottery/ceramics so I’m just extra glad that I’ve got my own place now.
Hope you get the chance to give it a shot at some point in the future – it’s enormously satisfying!
Good to see you back old friend, it truly has been too long <3
Greetings from Texas!
Thanks Björn!
Welcome back Charles!!!! It was so nice seeing your email and reading your post. Yes, our hobbies and interest do change as we get older, and being much older than you I know that to be a fact. 🙂 Pottery is a great hobby and I can’t wait to see some of your creations. The pottery studio is AMAZING. Talk about a man cave! WOW – to have a father-in-law like yours. Lucky man you are in so many ways. I hope you and your family are doing well and hope that you post pictures soon. Looking forward to hearing more from you. Your old friend, MJ
Hi MJ! It’s so great to hear from you again after so long! I’m in awe of people like you who have still kept going the whole time I’ve been away, who’ve managed to find the focus and the time – it’s really inspiring.
Great to be back and will definitely try and stick around 🙂
Welcome back, Charles.
Amazing new creative outlet. You DO have a great father-in-law.
The closest I got to pottery was taking a class at a pottery place which involved learning various decorative techniques on greenware which they would fire for us. This is LEVELS above that. I’ll keep an eye out for future posts.
Hi A_Boleyn,
It’s so nice to hear from you again after all this time! I’m already planning my next post – my kiln is actually running right now, glaze firing, so all being well I’ll be taking some photos of my finished wares tomorrow!!
What a coincidence! I’m so glad to see you back too! I totally agree: it feels bad to leave something one has put lots of effort into… I know something about it!
Pottery! Wow! The “shed” looks to me like a small house really. You are so lucky to have such a great father-in-law… I’m looking forward to read about your hobby (you equipment looks very impressive!) and to follow all you further adventures in Sweden!
Welcome back and please don’t disappear for too long!
Hi Sissi,
It was actually your post that inspired me – I decided… “I’m just going to start writing because otherwise I’ll put it off and never get it done”. I’m very lucky – I have a very nicely sized place! I’m already planning my next post – my kiln is running right now, I’m glaze firing the items you see above so hopefully tomorrow I’ll be able to take some photos of the finished pieces… as long as they don’t all crack, lol
You are joking!!! I’m soooo happy if I have accelerated your return! Thank you for saying that… You’ll make my day or rather the weekend!
I’m looking forward to seeing your creations!
(And thank you for teaching me the word “kiln”!)
I was so happy to see you stop by and leave a comment with Sissi and was hoping that you would start blogging again. It sounds like your creative side is in full gear. Hope to hear more from you and how you and your family are doing. I could see a recipe somewhere in the future plated on one of your own creations.
I was just baking the cherry squares I did as a guest post and thought I’d pop over to see if anything is happening at your blog and what a pleasant surprise! So happy that you’re back. I’ve been following your foray into pottery with interest, what a gorgeous studio. I’m sure it will be a wonderful place to have pottery evenings with friends if this madness ever ends. Hope you’re well.
Hi Charles, how are you?
I came to London yesterday with my daughter and my friends for one week trip in the UK,and you came to mind.
I hope you are fine and enjoy your life in Sweden!