Always Learning, Always Creating

 Creativity doesn't stand still. There is always something new to learn, something different to try, and another way to look at the world around us.

My usual creative process involves designing something on a computer, choosing the right piece of wood, setting up the laser cutter and watching an idea gradually become a finished product.

Pottery is a very different experience.

There is something wonderfully hands-on about taking a lump of clay and beginning to shape it.

You can't simply press 'undo' when something doesn't quite go according to plan! You have to slow down, experiment, and learn to work with the material.

And I am very much at the learning and experimenting stage.

Some things work. Some things definitely don't!

But that's actually part of the enjoyment.

Why start something completely different?

Running a small business can sometimes mean that creativity becomes your job rather than simply something you do for pleasure. There are orders to make, photographs to take, descriptions to write, packaging to organise and all the other things that come with running a small business.

I think it's important to occasionally do something purely because you are curious about it.

Learning something completely new gives you the opportunity to be a beginner again. You don't have to be good at it straight away. You don't have to have a finished product in mind. You can simply enjoy the process of learning.

Inspiration can come from anywhere

One of the things I love about handmade crafts is seeing how differently people approach materials.

A piece of wood, a sheet of paper or a lump of clay can become something completely different depending on the person working with it.

Creativity doesn't have to have a purpose

I don't know where my pottery journey will lead.

I'm not starting pottery because I have decided to add ceramics to the Hickory Dickory Designs range. It's simply something new that I wanted to learn and enjoy alongside my existing work.

And perhaps that's exactly the point.

Not everything we make needs to become a product. Not every hobby needs to become a business. Sometimes it's enough to learn a new skill, make something with your hands, and enjoy the satisfaction of creating something that wasn't there before.

Learning something new keeps creativity fresh

I think there is a connection between pottery and what I do at Hickory Dickory Designs, even though the materials and techniques are completely different.

Both are about taking an idea and turning it into something tangible.

Both involve working with your hands.

Both allow for individuality.

So, while my laser cutter will definitely remain the main tool behind Hickory Dickory Designs, I'm enjoying having another outlet.

I'm looking forward to seeing what I can learn over the coming weeks — experimenting with textures, colours and glazes.

You don't have to be an expert to start something new. You just have to be curious enough to have a go.