The Studio in Winter
This winter, the clay is drying much slower, our hands are aching sooner, and the tea kettle becomes the most used tool in the studio, particularly by Andy and Michael. But there's a hush to winter work — a different sort of pace.
We find ourselves working in thicker jumpers and beanies, holding mugs between throws, and planning our trimming more carefully. The new pot-bellied stove is radiating warmth into the main room now, inviting longer conversations and slower, more deliberate decisions.
Seasonally, winter is a refining time. We tend to revisit old forms. Emma is madly restocking glazes and preparing for the busier months ahead, when wedding season will begin and the hens will start planning their parties. It’s a time of grounding. Of repetition with purpose.
And yes, we light a candle some mornings just to mark the quiet. Winter slows us down in ways we didn’t know we needed.
“Working with clay isn’t just about hands and tools — it’s about timing, flow, and feel. The wheel hums. The body finds its beat.”
