Blogmas Day 22: Taking a Pottery Class

A few weeks ago, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try something new—pottery. When I was little I had done pottery in my art class, and I did buy some clay once and had a night where my family tried to build stuff, but for the most part it was a hobby I admired from afar.

I’ll admit, walking into the pottery studio for the first time felt a bit intimidating. It felt like everyone there knew each other from past classes and I was a stranger sitting in the far back corner of the room. The tools, the clay, and the wheels all seemed a bit foreign to me, but I was excited to learn.

One of the most surprising parts of pottery was how meditative it felt. As the wheel spun, I found myself focused entirely on the clay beneath my hands. All my thoughts, anxieties, and distractions seemed to melt away. I wasn’t thinking about work or anything else; it was just me, the clay, and the wheel. There’s something deeply satisfying about shaping something with your own hands—watching the raw material transform into something with purpose.

And then it collapses and you start over again. And again. And again.

I had to retry so many times that when I finally got one to sort of work out I refused to make the walls thinner because I thought it might fall over again. My first piece was far from perfect. It was uneven, a little lopsided, and the edges were rough. I even tried my hand at hand building, which I was a bit more successful with. And I’d like to say I got better, but even after six weeks I was not that good at it. But it was fun.

If you’ve ever considered trying pottery, I highly recommend it. It’s a great way to relax and unwind. Plus, it’s a great way to make handmade, one-of-a-kind gifts that hold a personal touch.

In the end, my first pottery class was more than just about making clay pots—it was about learning to embrace the messy, imperfect process of creation. And that, I think, is something we can all take with us in every area of life.

If you’ve ever wanted to try pottery, don’t hesitate. Get your hands in the clay, make mistakes, and enjoy the process. You never know—you might just create something beautiful.