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Someone asked me the other day if I will ever just do ceramics, full time. My short answer was no. Why? Well, aside from the financial aspect of it (we have a mortgage), I would not want to work ceramics full time because I need the external stimulation of not working in ceramics. I quite enjoy using both the creative and non-creative sides of my brain, and knowing that my time doing ceramics is limited means that I am much more appreciative and less likely to procrastinate. I am essentially quite a lazy person. I can, and do, spend hours in bed doing nothing and only getting up for food. I once spent 3 days in bed reading the whole collection of Twilight books. But when I'm productive, I'm totally ON. With my ceramics activities, they are not just about making things. I consider reading on ceramic techniques, watching videos, writing blogs and going out to see the works of other ceramicists as part of my ceramics working time. Of course there have been times when I wish I was doing ceramics full time, especially when deadlines are looming! But my job has enabled me to progress so much in my ceramics, even if it's taken longer. I don't regret the long journey as that means I have been able to set myself up thoughfully. But hey... I keep an open mind, so let's check back in a few years and see what my answer will be then.  unfired - cloud paper, ice cool porcelain, 2015 By the way, I am sooo excited about the upcoming Australian Ceramics Triennale - Stepping Up - to be held in Canberra from 9-11 July 2015. More information on their website: www.australianceramicstriennale.com.au I've booked my leave from work, got an early bird registration (hurry, it's still on offer) and booked my accommodation too. All set and ready. I know it's still a while to July, but gauging from how things have been for the past 3 weeks since I returned to work, I think time will fly. 
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After about two weeks working in the studio, I realised that I needed a new table. The old one was bent in the middle (probably the result of slapping heavy clay on it for so many years). So off I went with the husband to Ikea on a weeknight to look for a table. Luckily we managed to get one straight away without having to shop around. My new table is called Bekant Desk and I got one in white because it is easier to hide the clay marks.  So along with the new table I started working on a new piece of work. Can I just say that making new work is freaking scary?! I mean, all the doubts, all the self-questioning... does it look good? Am I doing it right? Does it even look like what I want it to look like... At work, most of my work is project based: research/business analysis, planning/proposal/budget, kick off, development, testing, retesting, launch, post-launch support etc. And I think I was trying so hard to apply that to my ceramics at the beginning, and when it didn't work out as planned, I grew frustrated. One of the things I think I had forgotten about ceramics is that I need to be really patient about it. There's no point rushing things when the clay is still too wet and soft, cause then it will just stick everywhere. And also I can't leave things to dry for too long, cause then it will just crack. So here's my latest work... it's quite small, and it's inspired by the Australian native flower Rock Thryptomene.  unfired - flower whim, ice cool porcelain, 2015  My work table, with a mobile tool rack. I am pleased to say that the project to establish a home studio is now complete. When we were house hunting 2 years ago, I always had the studio in mind when viewing and assessing potential homes. It is very important for me that my working room is still inside the house but not in a basement or anything like that. It needs to be easily accessible, with lots of sunlight. Lucky for us, we managed to find a house that fits my requirements for a studio. One of the bedrooms on the ground floor is now my studio room. I've fitted shelves along one of the walls, and placed my working table next to a window. I even have enough space to fit in a throwing wheel working area in one of the corners. I also now have a kiln at home. My kiln is a Woodrow Hobby kiln, the Large size (it comes in 5 different sizes). The reason I chose this type of kiln is because it is meant to be plug and play. It comes with all the necessary elements (shelves, props, bungs) and also a very detailed manual book (I read the manual like as if I was studying for an exam LOL). I have to say though that Woodrow was very good with packing the kiln for the delivery and making sure that the instructions are clear for novices like me.  The fibre material looks very much like the styrofoam boards used to pad the kiln. So I understand why that warning is necessary. The kiln was delivered a few weeks ago, but since my house is on a slope and the shed is at the very back of the house, I had to wait until I could get help with moving the kiln - 100kg was just too heavy for me to manage! The kiln is now ready for its inaugural firing (can I just say that I'm a bit anxious about doing this myself, for the very first time in my life?).  Woodrow Hobby Kiln I purchased the wheel and kiln from Keane Ceramics. They were very helpful from the very beginning with all my purchases, and I would highly recommend them! Now I just need to make things so I can start using the kiln! :) PS: Whilst unpacking all of my stuff from the move, I uncovered this old work.  Porcelain tile |