A Day in the Life: Clay, Chaos, and Calculations

Ever wonder what actually happens behind the scenes of a pottery studio? It’s about 10% magic and 90% cleaning the same sponge five times and losing a tool that is right in front of you. Here’s the breakdown of today’s rhythm:

☕ The "Soft" Start
AM: Tea and toast in hand, clearing the inbox, and mapping out the chaos.

Prep: Setting the stage and moving dry pieces to the "kiln-bound" rack.

🌀 The Wheel & The Mud
Mid-Morning: Weighing out clay and hitting the wheel.

Production: Threw a batch of cups and some mushroom bases. They’re currently chilling on the drying rack while I tackle the first (but not last) cleanup of the day.

Kiln Prep: Built shelves for a glaze firing and got the glazing rack organized.

📝 The "Adulting" Interlude
Lunch: I don't want to get hangry and I just don't think well if I don't eat a solid lunch.

Taxes: Spending some quality time with spreadsheets. I’m almost done, but my brain currently feels like reclaimed slip.

🍄 Afternoon Slabs & "Littles"
Slab Work: Rolling out caps for the mushrooms to let them set.

The Tiny Stuff: Spent a few hours making "littles"—the small details that make the studio feel full.

Take a walk and hydrate.

🌙 The Night Shift
Evening: After dinner, it’s back to the wheel to trim cups and attach those mushroom caps.

The Big Choice: I’m currently at a crossroads—do I call it a night, or do I lean into the "late-night potter" energy and start carving scenes into these mushrooms?

The Final Act: One last deep wipe-down of the studio (dust is the enemy!), a final email check, and then falling into bed.

Studio Reality Check: If you don't end the day with clay in your hair and a spreadsheet-induced headache, did you even work?

Every day is not the same and I love that. My favorite days are ones that I get to make!