Makers Month Lets Meet: Hackney Potter

We wouldn't be able to have our Makers Month without our Lets Meet section that we run throughout the year and it just makes it extra special when its in this month too.  H has been obsessing over the ceramics that Hackney Potter has been making and showing on their Instagram page and so it only seemed fair to have a little chat with them. 

What was the first thing you remember making?

I’ve always been making things; ever since I was little I’ve been drawing and creating. My favourite thing to do as a little kid, was draw with candle wax and reveal the image with washes of black paint, the image appearing seemed like magic to me. Ceramics has the same effect on me now, when glazing something it looks nothing like it will when it fired, so when the kiln is opened and the final product is revealed its magical.

How did you find your creative side?

My mum always did activities with us kids, and TV was full of creative shows like, Smart, Tony Hart, Art Attack, Bitsa, Penny Crayon and Smarty Arty in Zzzap!! I can’t think of a time that I wasn’t trying my hand at someone thing creative, and luckily for me it was encouraged. It seemed obvious to me to do arts at college and university. After university I struggled to find time to be creative, 9-5 jobs really disrupted things. Until I found out about the drop in pottery workshop at Hackney City Farm, then I was hooked.

What has been your favourite ever make? Whether that be for your business or pleasure – tell us about it.

The marbled mugs I’m making at the moment are my favourite. Although the most recent make is usually the favourite. Then as new ideas develop, new things are made that replace the last as favourite. I never feel 100% satisfied for long, which pushes me forward and keeps me making.

What are your favourite ways to stay inspired?

I believe inactivity breads inactivity, and that creativity works the same way. To stay inspired and full of ideas you have to keep making, it keeps your brain ticking.

I am part of a shared studio space called Clay Collective and the other makers there are incredible, everyone is so different and it’s a constant inspiration. Going to exhibitions never fails to inspire, and Instagram is another great place to gain ideas; I’ve got a huge folder on my phone of screenshots that I look through regularly. Also it’s important to give yourself time to explore new ideas and possibilities.

Who are your favourite Designer/Makers right now?

I have so many favourites! The 11 other makers in Clay Collective are huge favourites right now; being able to see their processes, and watch work develop makes the end product more amazing to me.

The Hilma Af-Klint at the Serpentine is mind blowing, she was in an all-female collective called ‘The Five’ in Victorian Sweden, and made these epic works through challenging the spirits as a mystic. Her work was unseen until way after her death, and so it was only recently we discovered her work. Her abstract style pre-dates Kandinsky and other abstract painters. (exhibition on till 15^th May)

 On Instagram im currently loving:

https://www.instagram.com/ceciledaladier/

https://www.instagram.com/kaleyflowers/ 

https://www.instagram.com/melissaweisspottery/

What crafty item is top of your wishlist?

Everything on the bath potters website!

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

Watching films and videos online, hanging out at the studio and going to the pub with my boyfriend

Tell us a bit about what you have coming up?  any little projects you want to tell us about.

I have just been taking part in Pick Me Up Festival at Somerset House with Clay Collective, and that has really taken all of my attention for the last couple of months. I am next taking part in the Clay Collective open studio on 4^th and 5^th June, and the Independent Ceramics Market in Peckham on 17^th July, so please come visit me! 

Hackney Potter

www.hackneypotter.co.uk

www.instagram.com/hackney_potter/

www.facebook.com/HackneyPotter

Seriously you guys, you have to check out Hackney Potter's work, total love!  I just need a big house with lots of visitors to require use of ALL the beautiful ceramics!  ha ha.

Thank you for chatting to us Hackney Potter and hope you guys enjoyed this little delve into their world.

H,xxx

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Well, it is Christmas, so ...

I think this image says it all hey.  I think sometimes we get bogged down with the expectation and this time of year brings up people we miss, things we feel are not going right and also that we should be happy all of the time - no one is Mary Poppins.  But you know what it's ok to do what you want whether that be go all out and spend everything, or stay at home and eat a can of soup.

Just enjoy it.

Thought I would keep it short and sweet today as we have had so much to keep you going on the blog, more to come too.

H,xxx

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Simple Styling: Bedroom Table

This week I thought I would share a little bit of my new home with a Simple Styling post.  I have been in my own home for around 5 months - crazy how time flies.  I still have lots to do and plenty of places to make my own, pictures up on the wall would be a great start!  But I have managed to make a few spaces just how I want them.

My bedside tables for example got the finishing touches this weekend!  I have been coveting this table lamp from Tesco for ages, I know who would have thought it would be from Tesco!!  I saw them in store, then they were gone the next time I went in, they are sold out and also have been for ages online and so after a little trip via another store, I found them!  They finish off my bedside tables perfectly and so that's why I am sharing.

Bedside tables are places where you keep all the useful and random bits of pieces that do not seem to fit anywhere else.  I am lucky as I get to spread out over 2 tables and so this one is the prettier one!  Hence why I chose to show it!  If you look back on our Mythbusting Blogging post you will know that we keep the messy parts hidden, ha, ha.

On my table I have from top left;  Bamboo and Jade bowl from Oliver Bonas - to keep all my hairbands in, Japanese Daruma Doll - present from a friend from Tokyo, Retro style clock from Joy (this was from a while back and so I found a similar one from NOTHS here), Table lamp from Tesco, H coaster - present from a friend (similar one here), Artist Palette necklace from Kate Rowland, Daisy Perfume by Marc Jacobs.  The Bedside table itself is from Ikea (Brusali) and I changed the handles with some off eBay as I didn't like the black ones it came with.

I like to have collections of things towards the back of the table and so there is a nice clear space for not only bits and bobs, but also I think it makes a nice cleaner space.  I am a person who if there is clutter around everywhere I can't think straight and so this helps to keep me calm.

Keeping the colour in a similar colour way is always good too.  I have kept a bit of a theme in my bedroom and so it is easier to co-ordinate - plus it always helps when you can vary it around one of your favourite colours.  What is your colour theme?  Are you a clutter keeper on your bedside table.  On my other side is my phone, notebook and pen - for those in the middle of the night ideas or worries and usually a drink of water.

H, xxx


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H's Style Wishlist

1.Dress by Joy  /  2.Suede flats by Marks and Spencer's  /  3.Satchel by Oasis  /  4.Steampunk owl by MatthewLoweArt via Etsy.com  /  5.Vest by New Look

As Sammy showed you her Wish List on Tuesday, its now my turn.  I am a Spring and Autumn kind of girl and so this is my favourite time of year to get some new items in my wardrobe!

As you can see there is a very colourful theme running through my choices and as a previous 'black only' girl I am going all out with colour! Not all at once though!

Lots to keep me going through the changeable weather we no doubt will be having this Spring.

Love it

H

Live it: H's blue mad life

That's it, January is soon to be over! But wait this is not one of those beat the blues posts, this is all about my obsession with the colour blue!

As you may know by now I do love the colour blue, so much in fact that I have been known to buy notebooks, boxes or even seem rippers in the colour blue rather than any other colour.  Even saying 'oh well if it was in blue I would have it'.  I just love it as it makes me happy, there are lots of versions of it and as a very pale and blonde girl, it suits me.  So all round a good colour for me.

I am trying to move on, I buy green and purple things now too, but apparently that doesn't count as they are from the same side of the spectrum! Humph

So I thought it would be nice to show off some of my Blue to get everyone out of those January Blues and into well, just February!  I guess it would be red February with Valentines day and everything, but it just doesn't seem the same and anyway back to the blue.

So, first up is the flower you can see at the top of this post.  It was given to me by a friend way back at University as she knew how much I loved blue.  If that isn't special I don't know what is.  Throughout the different houses and different towns I have lived in since then, it has always come with me to cheer me up, so that really sums up the cheering up from the January blues hey!

Next is a new thing in my life, dresses!  It has been a few years now, but I still find it amazing that I wear them.  Even some of my friends who I don't see as often, still get a shock!  I used to be the girl ' most likely to me wearing jeans and trainers' and then I moved to London, lost a bit of weight and realised that no one cares if I wear a dress or not, its just ME who feels like they do!  So these are a couple of my current favourites.  The first one is from a shop in London which became one of my favourites, Joy.  Then the second dress is from a lovely shop in Reading called Frock & Roll which has been a recent purchase and I just had to have it after seeing it on their Facebook page!

Then of course I have to have a bag to match and a bit of green got in here!  It was a total bargain from Primark and just manages to get enough in it for a night away - I am the queen of packing the smallest amount I need, just so I don't have to carry much!  I love that its a bowling bag, but it also has a big old over the shoulder strap for free hands.

and of course, just like I was talking about it above, I have a pen that looks like a pencil, this was picked up in the shop at my work, The Lightbox.  I thought that it was such a cool idea and as a creative person, it was the best present I could give myself and so I had to have it in Blue!

One more thing before I go is that even my duvet covers have to have blue, all of them have blue in them, this one is the only one that has other colours in it! 

I get the feeling after seeing all these things that I do need to buy other colours, but it does help me with shopping as I can focus on colour and shape rather than all the colours and shapes.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it I guess!  I hope you have enjoyed a little bit of my blue mad life and it has cheered you up if you have the blues.  What's your favourite colour?  Does it make you happy?  Comment below and I can find out if I am the only mad one out there!

Love it

H