There’s something about spring that always nudges me to begin again – to shake off the grey and let colour, warmth, and creativity gently tiptoe back into my life. I’m not talking about grand, life-altering changes (though those are welcome too) – I’m talking about tiny, joyful moments of exploration. A fresh flower pot on the windowsill. A cup of tea in the garden. And sometimes, the brave step of trying something completely new… like pottery classes.
If you’re anything like the beautiful souls I’ve met in the studio – running on empty or just craving a moment of stillness – then this time of year can feel like both a sigh of relief and a blank page. That’s exactly why the “Discover Pottery” 2-hour sessions exist – they’re your invitation to pause, breathe, and quite literally get your hands into something grounding.
These pottery classes aren’t about perfection. You won’t find any “you must be artistic” pressure here. In fact, the whole point is to step away from that mindset. This is about curiosity. About gently reconnecting with yourself through clay, creativity, and the quiet satisfaction of making something with your own two hands. I keep the groups small – just a few people – so you get personal guidance, a calm space to play, and permission to simply be. No judgment. No pressure. Just a soft return to self.
And then, for those who dip a toe in and discover they actually love this whole pottery thing (which happens more often than you might expect), the 6-week course is where the real magic unfolds. Set in the garden studio, it becomes more than just a pottery class. It becomes a rhythm – a time each week to come home to yourself. A quiet ritual. A creative pause in the noise of daily life.
Over those six weeks, something incredible happens. It’s not just pots and bowls that take shape – it’s confidence. It’s connection. It’s that almost-forgotten sense of “I can do this.” You start showing up not because you have to, but because you want to. You begin to trust your hands, your ideas, and maybe even your voice again.
And if you’re wondering what life in the studio has looked like lately – well, it’s been a whirlwind in the most joyful way.
Here’s a little peek into what’s been happening month by month:
January brought frost and frozen clay! I visited a local care home where we made heart dishes for Valentine’s Day. Art club was all about bears in jumpers – full of texture, patterns, and pure cuteness.
February turned up the fun with colourful Chinese New Year snakes, charcoal landscapes (a first for many!), and some brilliantly funny clay chickens. There was lots of laughter at both art club and the care home. I also had a proper studio clear-out, with new storage creating space to breathe and create. Pottery classes kept flowing, including some creative problem-solving – like the GreenMan sculpture with half a face that’s now destined for a ‘Phantom of the Opera’ mask! I even snuck in a chilly but lovely trip to Lancaster for my son’s birthday and restocked both my Etsy and The Art Place shelves.
March was butterfly season – we were ready for spring with all things fluttery and woolly (hello, sheep!). I made some animal bell samples for school pottery classes (the sheep was my favourite) and the kids created everything from rabbits to highland cows. Then came an exciting nudge from a friend to speak to a journalist – and just like that, I found myself featured in print! All while welcoming 14 new faces to the studio for Discover Pottery sessions, with clay drying left, right, and centre in the cold.
April finally brought the sun – and a chance to take the studio mobile for a teen birthday party. The throwing wheel came out, and we had two guests learning to throw, plus a few personal clay challenges I set myself. I even got to be on the receiving end of mindfulness for a change, sketching peacefully at a local college – which sparked a renewed urge to explore Essex’s wild corners, now blooming with bluebells.
And if you need a nudge of reassurance, I was recently mentioned in a lovely article that captured the heart of what we do here at Lids Crafting Studio – you can read the feature here. Seeing it all laid out reminded me why I do this. Why this little studio matters. It’s not just clay and glazes. It’s community. It’s mindfulness. It’s joy.
Spring is the season of becoming – not all at once, but gently. Quietly. Like the way clay softens in your hands with warmth and patience.
So if your heart’s been craving a creative exhale, maybe this is your sign. Come for two hours, or six weeks. Come to make, to pause, to reconnect. The door’s open, the kettle’s on, and there’s a spot waiting for you at the table.
Ready to take a mindful step into creativity? Book your pottery class today. Let’s make something beautiful – together.
