Where Clay Meets the soul
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved making things and being crafty. I can remember spending my summers at the craft store, picking out the project I wanted to create, and then diving into whatever it was. One year, it was cake decorating, and the next, it was painting ornaments. You see, I have an older brother, and he wanted nothing to do with me, so I made the most of the situation (as I tend to do) and leaned into being creative as a way to feel connected in the somewhat isolating situation. You could say I found solace in the crafts.
As I grew up, that theme stayed with me, as it seemed that in times of isolation and introspection, often accompanying deep healing, my go-to was to activate my creative side. When I was in my late 20s, finishing my Master's degree, I rediscovered that sacred spark during one of the most difficult transitions of my life. This time, it was making candles and bracelets. Between classes, studying, and conducting lab work, I was creating. I would dive into choosing the essential oils for the candles and picking out the gemstones for the bracelets. Getting lost in the process, or should I say getting found?
Through making, I felt whole, and I wanted to share that with others, so I found a website called Etsy and started a shop. Etsy was pretty new at that time (look at it now!), and I actually got some good sales back then. It was my first taste of the entrepreneurial life. But as life has it, things were about to shift for me, big time.
Fast forward many years, and now I'm living in a different city with a whole new set of distractions. But the sacred spark is always calling me home to the place where the world goes silent, and the only things left are me and my soul.
I continued to dip into my creativity here and there, mostly making gifts for others, and often only during the last quarter of the year, when the holidays arrived. I noticed how much I craved that time of year, mainly because it was when I was the most creative. When that spark within burned brightest. Something that I started sharing with my daughter a few years ago. Getting her involved in the process.
But one thing stuck out to me. Once the holidays passed, my creativity lay dormant. Hibernating and waiting to be awakened again. And so I thought, why was I only allowing myself to tap into that side a few months out of the year? I needed to change that.
So, this past June, I signed up for my first pottery class at the local rec center. I have always been drawn to pottery and have dabbled in a few workshops here and there, but I never thought I had the patience or ability to commit to making more than just a bowl or two. But I am one to push my edges and try new things. And the sacred spark was calling.
Now, I am 6 months in and taking an Advanced Pottery Class. Here are a few of the creations I have made and am currently working on.
I am really excited about these bird plates! I love birds; they are my spirit animals, so of course, they wanted to come through my pottery.
There have been many creations that I didn't take pictures of and also didn't turn out as planned, but so is life. I love the process of creating, for myself and for others. I no longer buy my Christmas gifts; I make them. And just recently, my soul sent me a nudge to start selling again on my Etsy shop. I think I might. But for now, I am just having fun diving into the sacred part of myself that enjoys making pottery.
Who knows where this may lead, and that is the beauty of it all…stay tuned.
love and stardust,
Ashley
