Give me some space! Finding a place for pottery.

I would bloody love a shed. Now that is something I never thought I would have said 20 years ago…or maybe even 10. But now, I would LOVE a shed! Well, when I say a shed, I guess I mean a fully functioning summer house type shed…with electrics and a sink. Not much ;o) When I have been looking at these wooded wonders though, you’re talking a minimum of about £5k* – going up to over £20k for some options. I’m absolutely not knocking anyone who has done it (quite the opposite, I’d be pretty damn envious!) but for a new potter it seems a bit of a pipe dream.

Initially, my thoughts were that I would have the pottery wheel outside. We have a lean to – so I thought I could perch out there, looking out at our (slightly overgrown) garden and feeling very earth-goddess like and zen. I took a small corner of a room for storage and thought I would move the wheel in and out each time I wanted to use it.

Well…that was harder than I thought. For one…whilst the Shimpo wheels are light, I would say they are on the heavier side of what I can lift – so it took more humping around than I thought. Using the intelligent side of my brain, of course this would be the case, as you’re putting up to 15kg of clay on there, it has to have some oomph to deal with it! Of course, this is relative, the bigger pottery wheels would be pretty much impossible to lift.

The second thing was, even with the faffing about, it was bloomin’ freezing! Yes, it’s June but yes it’s still cold and yes I thought my hands were going to fall off getting in the shower after throwing. After having a slight initial panic that I was going to give myself chilblains if I carried on, I decided I needed a proper space where I can throw without moving the wheel around.

My long-suffering husband agreed to (well, was probably nagged into) me taking over pretty much half of a room we have. I was lucky in that we have the space in this room for me to do that – and it involved me taking apart a non-used piece of gym equipment. Feeling proud after working out how to use a wrench, I proceeded to set up my little piece of heaven. I know that is cheesy, but it has made me proud to have a small space that I can now use as my own. The windows are MASSIVE in there and there is a door outside, so I can still feel earth goddess-ish…but with the bonus of keeping the feeling in my hands!

This is definitely a good compromise for me at this point – I can clean easily in there as there are plastic type tiles in there (and I have laid some lovely plastic sheeting down too!). I have some shelving in there too…all I am missing is a wedging table, but all in good time.

I think the main thing here is to not underestimate what space you’re likely to need…but also to realise that with a bit of work you can forge the space pretty much anywhere. It’s not to say I still wouldn’t love a shed one day though!

*probably less if you can do some of it yourself. Please see my kiln post to understand just how clumsy I am. Not happening!