There’s something wonderfully restorative about spending a whole day in the pottery studio. And yesterday was the day!

No agenda. No deadlines. No “must finish this by…”
Just clay, and the simple joy of making. I love getting completely immersed in the processes — be it throwing, turning, or coming up with a completely new construction.

The birds in the garden were in full song, so I decided to listen to them instead of a book or music. Opened the garage doors, and let the outside world in. Erik and Ragnar were around all day too, checking in on me, stretching out on the cool stones in the shade. Dave was also building something: a fold-down kind of serving hatch shelf for outside the kitchen window. So we can pass stuff through the window when we’re eating outside! Clever!

First, I threw and turned a couple of bowls, to warm up. It was so hot outside, that by the time I had thrown the fourth pot, the first one was pretty much ready to turn! Not hot in the garage though; just perfect. The clay I used wasn’t really ideal for throwing. It’s excellent quality for hand building, but it‘s quite gritty, so it hurts your hands on the wheel. You can see the molochite in the clay body here in the photo. See the white specks? It is superb for Raku though, so I shall make some little birds later.

I had originally set this weekend aside to create loads for our Open Days in June. But who am I kidding? This stuff takes as long as it takes — and I really cannot be putting pressure on the very thing that makes my heart sing!

So I decided to relax and simply go with the flow instead.

This Bank Holiday weekend, instead of throwing another May Day Sale party, we’ve quietly moored up the Clarity boat in a safe little harbour for a moment. Constantly rowing flat out does make your arms ache after a while! Hahaha. You understand.

So thank you. Truly. Thank you for understanding that the proverbial river rent and boat maintenance costs a packet whether you’re paddling or resting. Thank you for loving the new Drop shadow ABC we launched on Friday, and placing your orders over the weekend! It means more than you probably realise. CLICK HERE TO FIND

But back to Pottery Saturday! Wasn’t sure where I was going, but thought I’d make a little house. The only way I could think to do it was to make a template. Let’s just say the first house took nearly 5 hours, the second house took less than 2 hours. No planning permission required! Which just goes to prove that the work is in the prep! Once you know where you’re going it is so much easier! I always take photos as I go, so I have a log of what I did.

Pottery really is my happy place.

As I was pottering about, I noticed my little Mainzelmännchen sitting on the shelf nearby. I bought them years ago in an antique shop, and have always loved them, mainly because they instantly transport me back to childhood summers in northern Germany with my grandparents.

Those summers seemed to go on forever. And these funny little characters were always on the television.

If you grew up in Germany, you’ll know exactly who I mean. The Mainzelmännchen are six tiny cartoon figures created for the German TV station ZDF back in the early 1960s. They originally appeared as little transition clips between programmes and advertisements, because new broadcasting rules at the time required a clearer separation between the two.

But what began as a practical television solution somehow became part of German culture itself.

These cheerful little gnome-like characters popped up in tiny animated sketches lasting only a few seconds, usually just before the adverts started. They became beloved mascots, appearing in books, merchandise and radio stories too. Generations of children grew up watching them — including us. I shared the little dolls I found them in the shop in Heathfield with Mum and my brother Steve – and they were genuinely delighted.

Funny how the smallest things stay with you. Here’s a little selection of the Mainzelmännchen from the good old days. Would these kooky little guys still work nowadays, do you think?

So there you have it:

A little clay house, a couple of little Mainzelmännchen, a trip down Memory Lane = a Sunday blog

Sometimes the happiest days are simply the ones where we allow ourselves to make things for no particular reason at all. If I have time today, I will make a whole village! Realistically? I will be glad if the two I have constructed make it through bisque and glazing in time for June 19th!

Thank you for continuing to support what we do here at Clarity. Thank you for showing up, for reading, watching, for encouraging, for shopping with us and for valuing handmade, thoughtful things in a world that often moves far too fast — certainly for this old chick!

Hope you are enjoying the May Bank holiday weekend as much as we are…

Love always

Barb x x x