My first year potting

My First Year as a Potter

My journey into pottery began with a night class in Netley Marsh, Hampshire. I remember feeling equal parts excited and intimidated as I stepped into the studio for the first time. Thankfully, I had a wonderful teacher, Pauline, who runs a pottery business called Crank Pots. With her patience and passion, she guided me through the fundamentals of working with clay.

One of my proudest achievements from that first year was creating an umbrella stand—a tall, coiled pot that still sits proudly in my hallway today. I built it using the coiling technique, starting at the base and gradually spiraling my way upward. Once all the coils were in place, I spent time smoothing out the surface so it looked as though it had been thrown on the wheel.

To make it more personal, I carved umbrella shapes into the sides of the pot. I glazed the inside in a clean, glossy white, while the outside featured a swirling blue glaze that reminded me of the wind—perfectly fitting for an umbrella stand. The finished piece had a slight unevenness at the top, but rather than seeing it as a flaw, I think it gives the pot even more character.

Now, every time I walk through my hallway and see it filled with walking sticks and brollies, I’m reminded of that first year—of the learning curve, the creativity, and the sense of accomplishment. That umbrella stand was more than just a pot; it marked the beginning of a new passion.