It’s true! Whether you are young or old, or in the midlife stream all things are possible. Do what you love, and you can do anything.
I accidentally became a potter. I had always been curious about working with clay. One day I decided to take a pottery lesson with a friend. Little did I know at the time a sensory love affair started that day.
My first pieces out of the kiln thrilled me. It was the magical transition of the glaze from the firing that got me. Though looking back at those pieces, I am not sure what gave me hope!
I really had no idea what I was doing. But something lit a fire in me, and it was not the flames of raku!
Have you thought about your dreams lately? Do you still have dreams? One of my dreams for this year was to have my first solo pottery exhibition, and thanks to the Oxford Riverside Gallery, and a lot of hard work, I was able to make that happen.
Short video of my Raku Pottery exhibit – ‘The Myth of Family’
Before my art exhibition, I was even able to throw my largest piece ever on the wheel. Fittingly this piece’s vase story was based on an Irish legend involving a giant, and you can see the vase ‘Eye of Balor’ here.
My throwing is now only limited by the size of my kiln – until I find a new kiln or firing method for even larger pieces.
Was it a coincidence that in my small rural part of the world I was able to find a pottery class to attend? To me, it was meant to be! And the best is yet to come! I hope you will continue to join me on my journey as I refine my craft even more and continue to reach for more dreams.
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I am also pleased to offer free shipping within Canada to my first four customers within Canada during the month of October, so if you have had your eye on a piece, it’s a good time to purchase it! For those in other parts of the world, I will be offering another special deal. Now is the time to take a look at my one of a kind raku pottery vases, owls, or jewelry.
Raku jewelry is a unique one of a kind gift. 
One of the raku pottery vases from ‘The Myth of Family Exhibit’ 
A raku owl stands guard at a magical garden door.
What do you think of my story about how I became a potter? Share your own story about how you found or fell into your creative passion or your creative dreams and aspirations in the comments below:
Very inspiring! I’m in the midst of my own transformation, myself…a chrysalis of sorts. 🦋
I love that you are in the flow of transformation, which I find can be both exciting and scary and beautiful! Enjoy the process and take it all in 😉
Wonderful story! I think of my passion for writing as a hate/love relationship. Growing up I would spend hours on writing assignments for school because I put so much thought into what I wanted to convey. This made writing a frustrating process for me. Blank pages became my worst enemy. But over time it showed me how much I valued the writing process. I started writing songs throughout high school and college. While abroad, I didn’t have my music equipment with me, so songs became spoken word pieces. Like you, I kind of stumble upon my passion for poetry. But I believe the ‘trip’ was divine. I fell in love with the limitless plain of poetry; the creative freedom of words with no rhythmic boundaries. I still enjoy music very much and imagine writing songs again at some point. As for now, my heart is best expressed through poetry.
I’ve always been interested in pottery as well. Some day I intend on trying it but right now I’m playing with leather working. I did a bit in school but got discouraged because all the other students got theirs perfectly smooth and mine always looked lumpy and pimply!
Yeah. Like Founder McDonald. Doing what you love, like steve jobs
A former neighbor of ours took a Four Corners tour and was inspired by a woman on a Hopi reservation who demonstrated her making of terracotta pottery. Before you know it, he too had a kiln and was hooked.
This is such a positive post! I wish I could add something to it but alas I cannot. You have inspired some thought within me. For that I am most grateful. ❤️
I love this post!
Is pottery becoming your full-time occupation?
For my part, I’m also doing things I never thought I could: setting up a crazy business, writing a book…
It’s not always easy to follow our dreams, but it is really worth the effort. 😊
Thank you so much! My dream is to make pottery and art a ft business for myself, but I have given myself a few years to do it, as I work as well. It is a tough thing to follow one’s dreams, but better than the alternative in my opinion! How is the book coming along? I am hoping to write a pottery related book.
pottery poetry i hope! 🙂
Your hope is well placed 😉
I love that owl at the end, what a beautiful piece
Thanks! I believe that one is still available for sale. Sometimes I like to take the pictures for the site outdoors 😉 I hope you are having a good weekend.
facebooklink is nit working, but well facebook behaves bad these days
Yeah it is much different than it used to be a few years back, and not in a good way
Your pieces are beautiful and your post is so inspiring!
Thank you so much for your kind comment. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
You as well
Really great pottery works! I love them. So pretty. And nice message too to the reading audience. Made me stop and think. Thanks.
Thank you so much for your very kind and meaningful comment. It means a lot to me. I hope you have had a wonderful weekend!
What an inspiring post! After I retired, I knew I had to fill the void and that is when I started writing. My goal is to write more books (ebooks), and do my own illustrations. Living in an apartment has some drawbacks so most of my creativity is computer based. Plus, I enjoy computers just for that reason. Fulfilling dreams is part of life’s journey and so very rewarding. All of your work is just stunning and I love it! And you also make jewelry – oh, oh – I am in love with unique jewelry!
It is funny how so many of us come into our dreams and creative pursuits as we get older. Your writing is fantastic and I am sure you have many books to write ahead of you! Have you ever thought about self publishing any in print? There should be more jewelry that will be posted a little later this week. Hope you had a beautiful weekend.
My 2 e-books were my experiment with self-publishing via Amazon. I found a book has to have 24 pages to put in print. Mine are only 12 pages, however, I can add to my existing books and republish or write a new book that is more wordy. Something for me to ponder.
I am looking forward to seeing more jewelry!
Love your work and your story! Very inspiring 💘😃
Thank you so much for your very kind comment. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
What an inspiring post. Sometimes it’s in what we don’t take seriously that our life’s treasure is. I’ve always wanted to be a doctor.. Hehehe. But I found years later that teaching and writing are my love.
That is a very interesting and neat way of looking at things. In retrospect, I am glad that I did not follow through with some of the career paths I used to be interested in. Art is much more exciting and pleasurable for me. I hope you had a wonderful weekend!
Yes, I did. Thank you.
This was such a beautiful post! Now I better understand why it is that I am so drawn to pottery. Your video explaining that it’s the earth, water, and fire, makes so much sense. One day soon I will be taking a throwing class and learning this ancient craft myself. It must be incredible to display all of your work that way. Congratulations!
Pottery is just pure magic to me, so much so that my studio name sprung from that! You must be excited about taking the class! That was how I got my start, just one class. I feel privileged to have the chance to display my works! I hope you had a wonderful weekend!
I got into sculpture (with paper mache- and other materials) because the porcelain clay I wanted to make a piece with would not work for what I had in mind- that problem led to a whole new world of opportunities for me. I’m glad trying something on a lark has been such a good creative endeavor for you! I did make some nice decorative pieces with the porcelain clay- it didn’t go to waste.
That is great to hear. One of my Fall/Winter projects is to do some work with paper clay too. Your pieces are great and it is wonderful that from your challenges arose a whole new world for you 😉 I hope your weekend was great.
Always wanted to write, always have written, and continue to write. I do anecdotes, journaling, devotional and poetry. I want to make a book. Maybe. Some day….
Always loved drawing, rarely draw but so want to! People have enjoyed the little bits I have drawn. I wanted to be an art teacher but could not work under pressure for exams and so became a regular primary (elementary) teacher instead.
Want to paint, have rarely painted but liked what I did and wish I would do more. Did one recently at a workshop and was pleased. Should do more.
I have this creative side that longs to get out but doesn’t go very far really…..I’m retired and yet don’t have TIME!!!! 😉 😛
Time always seems to slip through my hands too. I can relate. I also paint, write and make prints, but with work, pottery and the house it is a real challenge to do those things. I have longed to paint for months now. I imagine one day I will get out my paints and easel, but I never seem to quite get there! What kind of book are you hoping to write/create? I hope you had a wonderful weekend!
Maybe a little devotional, a book of poems, or my life story!
I love your pottery. I really like pottery. My parents collect a lot of pottery (crockware, mostly) and I’ve taken one sculpting class.
As for me, truly, I read Harriet the Spy when I was in 4th grade and from that point on I had a notebook that I was writing in…all the time. I grew up but I still use my notebook because I need a place I can be honest about what I think and who I am away from everyone and everything. Thanks for asking!
Thank you so much for your kind comment! There are some really neat crockware pieces that I run across. I have a few, but hesitate to get more with so much pottery around the house.
I think that is wonderful that you have your own private journal. It is great you have a place where you can be honest with yourself and reflect. One of my friends growing up used to read Harriet 😉
Thanks. Recent years, my dad’s been collecting chicken watering dishes made out of crockware. My mother apparently thinks they are very expensive. She collects some sort of dark brown with orange flare pottery. It’s nice to have people around you who appreciate pottery, esp when you think about pottery + humans + life ♥️
You never know where the synchronicities of life will take you. How wonderful that you were courageous enough to take the leap of faith and try pottery. There is so much joy in creation and I’m so glad you found your medium. Your pieces are quite beautiful.
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful comment. I feel fortunate to have found pottery for all the difference and good it has brough t into my life!
I hope you are having a good weekend.
I love these and have always wanted to learn how to do this. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Thank you for your kind words and I was glad to be able to offer a little inspiration! Best of luck on your creative adventures!
Great Post! My mom in her 80’s learned pottery and made some beautiful pieces! Never to late to do what you ❤️
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful and heartwarming story about your mom! I think that is both wonderful and amazing!
Yes
I can do *almost* anything 😀
Absolutely! I love to hear that from people 😉
I love a good origin story. It’s always inspiring to find other people that grow into their creativity and find their passion in an organic way. You certainly have a way with words. I am not much of a writer but oh how I love to create something that tells a story in a visual way.
I am coming into my creativity in mid-life and it’s perfect for me. I know enough “rules” to break them but not so many that I feel constrained. Experimentation is everything! This year has been my turning point. I have drawn and painted all my life with the usual gaps for family and work. Now I am pursuing what I always wanted to do and I’m seeing the fruits of my labours in the most surprising ways.
I love your work, you certainly create something very unique with each piece. The addition of a story breathes life into your art and it’s beautiful.
Wow! Thank you so much for such a kind, thoughtful and incredible comment. I am so glad you are able to pursue your creative passions and that you are making progress in your journey! That to me is an incredible story that you are able to experience ‘being in the creative flow’!
First, it is always nice to see your visits to one of my blogs – thank you.
I love your exquisite pottery – RAKU is my favorite method of pottery making.
Your solo show was amazing and I imagine you had a sell-out show – because the work is so sensuous, tactile, and your forms so exquisite.
http://www.lyndalambert.com
Thanks so much for your visit today!
It is a pleasure to read your writing and visit your blog! Thank you so much for your very kind words regarding my pottery and show! Raku has been the spark that has really helped me pursue pottery, my own personal miracle.
I hope you have a beautiful weekend ahead and wish you luck with your upcoming book launch 😉
Thank you for the inspiring words. It give me hope to keep fighting
You are very welcome, and thank you so much for taking time to comment. Keep up the good fight!
I always wanted to try pottery too. When I did a year at art school there was a pottery studio there and the teacher was such a friendly chap that it bemused me. But I was never able to sort myself out.
Maybe there is a place that offers lessons nearby. It is a great adventure to embark on and I love my time making pottery. I hope you find the chance to give it a try too 😉 Hope you are well and thanks for your comment.
Beautiful! It seems like a peaceful craft.
It brings me so much peace and comfort. It is a haven for me. Thank you so much for your kind comment and I hope you have had a wonderful weekend.
That is such a good thing . We could all use a bit of that . Your welcome . Thank you have a beautiful weekend.
Beautifully done ART Anand Bose from Kerala
Thank you so much!
I’ve dabbled in writing fiction for most of my life, but decided to get serious about it while taking a class on planning at work, in which we were asked to self-analyze our needs and desires – our dreams for the future. I needed a creative outlet, and chose to dive into speculative fiction.
I was struck by what you said of your early work: “Though looking back at those pieces, I am not sure what gave me hope!”
I confess that when I go back and read my earlier material I wonder that myself (no matter how EARLIER it is.) If we care about our art, we continually improve.
None of us will ever create anything perfect. Among writers, this leads some to NEVER publish (or eve allow someone else to read) their stories. Since there is no dearth of reading material out there, each piece has arrived at the point where that author decided it was GOOD ENOUGH for others to see. Standards vary, and depend on the artist. Whether they become “successful” depends on the standards and tastes of the audience.