New Year, New Ideas Hello from the Gillybean Studio
(Doesn’t that name make my studio sound grand? In reality, it’s my beloved, if dusty, little shed tucked away at the back of my garden.)
It’s been a while since my last newsletter, but one of my 2025 goals is to send these out more regularly—fingers crossed!
A Busy Start to the Year
Christmas was a whirlwind! I’m thrilled to say it was a sell-out season. January has been all about restocking, which means weeks of throwing, trimming, and waiting (and waiting some more) for pieces to dry before I can fire up the kiln.
The kiln, by the way, doubles as a bit of a heater for my studio. Without it, the space has been rather chilly, and drying times have been frustratingly slow. But this week, I finally got enough dried pieces for a bisque firing. Hurray! Now that the kiln has warmed things up, I’m hoping to get into a proper rhythm.
Currently, I’m focused on mugs—but I’ve also had some time to play around with new designs and products. I’ll share those once they’re finished!
Small Improvements, Big Goals
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the power of small improvements. This year, I’m deliberately applying that idea to my pottery. I spend an almost embarrassing amount of time thinking about mug design—handles, rims, bases, weight, shape—but instead of resisting that, I’ve decided to embrace it. Each piece will be a chance to ask, “What small change could make this better?” My goal is to push my work to be the best it can be within my current abilities.
Seasonal Challenges
Another intention for 2025 is to be more organized with seasonal products—think Mother’s Day, Pride, Easter, and beyond. I’ll admit, I’m already stumbling on this one. I had a beautiful pink glaze in mind for a Valentine’s Day mug, but the glaze is still en route from my supplier. With ceramics, testing and perfecting a new design often takes weeks—or months—and that unpredictability can derail even the best plans.
So, while I may miss some seasonal deadlines, I’ll still aim to hit as many as I can. And if I don’t manage a perfect Easter mug this year, at least you’ll know why!
Here’s to a Creative 2025
Wishing you a happy and healthy year ahead! Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Hopefully, I’ll see some of you at a market or class soon.
Warmly,
Gillian