Crafts: Pottery #2

If you haven't read my previous pottery related post you won't know that I've been doing an evening class in pottery and ceramics. Before I started I had lots of ideas, and I imagined them all to be easily realisable. I expected just to rock in and start creating lots of complicated designs. As you can imagine, it's a little bit more difficult than that. I've always had a bit of a thing for mugs and teacups and so they were some of the first things I attempted to make. I made this slightly non-functional one by coiling, which means I built up the design using coils of clay, and then added the handle last. It certainly isn't perfect, and I think it makes a better home for my cactus than any actual liquid, but I'm pretty smitten with it. What do you think?

What hobbies do you do in your spare time? Any pottery tips for me?

Crafts: Pottery #1

I'm a bit of a crafty soul at heart and I get really jealous and gloomy when I don't make time for some sort of creative outlet. I just think that making stuff with your hands is incredibly relaxing. And it gives your head a break too. I knew I was going to be busy at university this year but I really wanted to find something extracurricular I could do on the side. I've always been fascinated with pottery and ceramics and when I was searching for potential evening classes I luckily found a pretty cheap and convenient pottery class.

This is my first creation. It is nameless. It is multi-coloured. It is multi-textured. And I can't quite decide whether it reminds me most of a fish, a piece of coral, or an acorn. But I am feeling pretty proud of myself. If I have to be neat and detailed I really am a bit awful, but with pottery you can be heavy handed and messy and it becomes a style all of its own. Perfect.

I really can't wait to get stuck in and make more stuff. I guess the ultimate dream would be to be able to sell my wares but I think that's a long time off. In the meantime I'll keep sharing my creations with you all - they might even get a dedicated blog before too long!

Do you have any hobbies? What's your favourite craft?

Blog Crush: Santa's Little Blogger

Can you believe that it's almost November? And that means it's less than two months until Christmas. I don't know how you feel, but this year has been such a flash. Honestly, if all years are like this one I'll be sitting under a blanket watching Countdown and talking about the good old days in just a matter of minutes.

Anyway, I digress, I got all caught up in the ghosts of Christmas Past and Christmas Yet to Come. See what I did there? The most organised people you know will tell you that time is key. If we start stuff sooner, I guess it's kind of inevitable that the results will be better. And there is no one more organised than my great friend Megan. She loves Christmas, and is a bit of a festive superstar. She's just set up a blog called Santa's Little Blogger and it's jam packed with helpful hints, tips and supermarket secrets to make Christmas magical. The best bit about it though is that it doesn't assume you've got a massive budget or unlimited time, and so all the ideas are cheap, cheerful and convenient. It's a fab starting place to find new crafting projects and all the current highstreet Christmas deals. Can you believe all the special offers have actually started? Thanks to Megan, I've already decided that I'm going to make my little cousins their own pick and mix shops this year, as long as I'm not around for the sugar high. Megan's mantra is to start early, and save later. And it really pays off. Trust me, I've seen her Christmas treat hamper.

If you're already thinking about Christmas and need a dose of inspiration head over to Megan's and get prepared to feel festive.

Have you started planning for Christmas? What are your top festive tips?