Oh me? Just pottering around.
Remember how I mentioned my new favorite podcast is These Are Good Days? I’m still obsessed with it, if you were wondering. But one of the hosts always talks about how she loves “puttering around.” As far as I can tell, puttering is defined as lollygagging, taking your sweet time, daydreaming, slowing your roll..you get the picture.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am most certainly a master putterer. What I am not yet is a master potter. But you know what? I’ve been pottering around for a year now. (See what I did there?) A year ago at this exact time, I was getting over having a nasty case of covid, and getting ready to start my summer of taking 1:1 pottery lessons.
Here are some things to know about me:
I struggled as a student in school. Looking back, I can see that I just learned differently. I did not and do not thrive in a typical classroom environment. I am a hands on and visual learner.
Because of that, I grew up believing that I was truly stupid.
I’ve wanted to take pottery lessons since I was a young teenager, specifically wheel throwing.
I remember thinking as a teenager that I would love to be a potter, but due to the fact that I was pretty stupid, I probably wouldn't be able to do it.
Okay, now that we’re caught up on some of Kiersten’s childhood wounds…
I met a pottery teacher at our local farmers market last year. I saw her tent, and felt the familiar pull I’ve felt my whole life when seeing pots. I went in, and she greeted me. I didn’t say a word about my secret dream, but she introduced herself, and then told me that she taught lessons. She said, “You know, you seem like you just have that thing..that potter thing.” I later asked her in a 1:1 lesson if that’s something she said to everyone, and she said, “Absolutely not. I don’t know, you just had the vibe! And I was right. You have a natural inclination to the wheel, Kiersten.”
Just so happens my pottery teacher was also a fourth grade teacher. She knew a lot about kids learning differently, and while I learned about clay all last summer, I also learned a lot about little Kiersten. As it turns out, she was so far from stupid. She saw the world through creative eyes, and there wasn’t a thing in the world wrong with that.
I fell in love with wheel throwing. I got a wheel, and joined a studio half an hour from my house. I have a lifetime of learning ahead of me, but I just feel so thankful for my journey so far. Of course I’ve learned so much about clay, but I’ve also learned a lot about Kiersten, and God. Isn’t that just the way it seems to go?
A practice for caring for yourself
Take some time to look back. What is something you daydreamed about doing as a child or teenager? Is there anything that comes to mind?
Maybe it was being a dancer, or a photographer. Maybe it was being a painter, or poet. Maybe it was learning to cook, or how to rollerblade. Or maybe it was reading a crazy amount of books, or writing a book of your own one day. What comes to mind?
Our invitation to caring for ourselves this month is really, really simple. What is one small step you can make towards doing that thing? It doesn’t have to be big, or crazy. Just one small, baby step towards that thing.
I promise, you daydreamed about it for a reason. And when we take small, baby steps, it starts to communicate to our inner selves that we are worthy of the good things we used to dream of before something convinced us not to. Because we are.
A practice for connecting with God
Did you know that the type of artist God most relates himself to in the Bible is a potter? More than a painter, an author, or a carpenter - a potter. I just love that.
Here for us today, I’m going to list out the basic steps of making a pot on the wheel. You’re invited to notice which step sticks out to you the most. Consider with God why it sticks out to you, and see if He has something to share with you about that. You can sit with this in a journal, rumiante on it on a walk, or maybe it’s just for a moment here while reading this email. Whatever you feel most pulled to.
The very general steps of throwing a pot on a wheel:
Wedging the clay.
First, the clay is cut from the main block of clay, and weighed. Then it’s wedged. This is a sort of kneading process that removes any air bubbles, and helps bring even consistency to the clay before it’s ever put on the wheel.Centering the clay.
The most crucial part of the throwing process. If the clay is not perfectly in the center of the wheel, it will throw off the entire pot. I center the clay by throwing it down as close to the center of the wheel as possible, and making sure the clay is securely attached before I start the wheel. Once attached, I start the wheel at a high speed, and put even, firm pressure on the clay from the side and top until it’s perfectly centered. Pressure is what moves the clay to the center.Opening the clay.
Once centered, I slow the wheel down a bit, and allow my thumbs to find the very center of the clay and press down in the middle towards the wheelhead. This creates the space to open the clay. I then press consistently outwards towards three o’clock to create open space. Once the clay is opened, I compress the floor. Again, this just looks like applying consistent pressure on the floor of the pot. Compressing the floor helps prevent cracks in the drying process.Pulling walls.
At this point, walls are ready to be pulled up. I slow down the wheel even more, and using my fingers, knuckles, or a sponge, I apply the right amount of pressure from the inside and outside of the pot, and gently and slowly pull upward at the same speed the wheel is going. At this point, consistency, speed, and focus are what make or break this part of the process. Creating walls takes several pulls. It depends on the pot, but at least 3 pulls.Shaping the pot.
Once the walls are pulled, it’s time to shape the pot however I’d like. Sometimes I make the walls perfectly straight. Other times, I give my pots a nice round belly. It just depends on what I see for the pot in front of me. The shaping process usually requires tools other than my hands to be used. Once the shaping is done, the pot is set on a shelf to dry for a while.
What sticks out to you about this process? Where do you see yourself? Where do you see God? If you had to use one of these steps to describe where you feel like you are in this season of your life, which step would you choose? Talk with God about all of this.
Some Scripture references:
Isaiah 64:8
Jeremiah 18
Isaiah 41:25
Isaiah 29:16
Lamentations 4:2
Something lovely
Okay, sticking with the pottery theme here, my friend Jessi introduced me to The Great Pottery Throw Down. You’ve heard of The Great British Baking Show? Well, this is sort of the same concept, BUT WITH POTTERS.
Guys, potter or not, this show. THIS SHOW. It’s so wholesome, and it makes me cry. I cannot tell you how lovely it is. Watch it!
I also have a second lovely thing. I’ve announced this on Instagram, and I wanted to share it here as well. Starting this week…I’ll be making my own handmade mugs available for purchase!!! I can only try to explain how much joy pottery has brought into my life personally, but to imagine sending out my mugs to be held and used by others?! I can’t tell you how much JOY that gives me. I feel it way down in my heart. If this is something you’re interested in, you can FOLLOW ME for the adventure. The way you can purchase a mug from me will be announced this week. YAY!
Friends, here’s what I’m learning to believe - our desires are there for a reason. Our job isn’t to figure out what the reason is, our job is to just notice and listen. I hope and pray you find the grace this month to listen to the voice inside of you that’s maybe been silenced slowly over time. It matters, because you matter. See you in August.
Your Softie Friend,
Kiersten