The world of clay

I have gotta say I love playing in the mud!! It is squishy, silky and very therapeutic.... Okay I know you may have visions of me sitting in a puddle and squishing mud through my toes - but I am really talking about pottery! I love to lose myself throwing clay.

I have been throwing clay on a wheel for about 2 years now. When you first start you through little bowls, and eventually, when you have enough bowls to fill a good sized car boot, you start to look at other shapes and tricky stuff like handles and lids.

I have had my share of 'interesting pieces' but I must say that I find the garden a great place to pop those bits that you can't put on a table..... But I also have had some lovely successes which keep me going.

It is funny at work because I bring in a lot of bowls and plates that I just can't use but are not good enough for presents and we use them for pot pourri, candles or whatever. So I see my creations around a lot of the time, and it makes me smile that they are beng enjoyed.

As I throw on a wheel, that has been a time of learning....... in the beginning you don't think you will ever centre clay........ but bit by bit you get a feel for it and one day it happens, and you make a pot with even sides. That is a time to celebrate!! Now I can centre most clay, big or small, most of the time.

I also love to throw different clays - they all react differently to each other. I love Walkers Dark clay as it is a biscuit colour when stoneware fired. But I am not too keen on their Red which is pink on the same firing. I like the challenge of throwing porcelain, which is so silky and looks great really thin.....and terracotta for big garden pieces. One day i am getting my own studio on the farm and I can't wait for that!!