100 Pot Project - Affordable Craft

Over the last two weeks I have set myself a challenge to make 100 pots to celebrate my new logo design and the launch of a very much needed update to my website. 

During the first week most of the labor was carried out which consisted of, rolling, forming, joining, fettling, sponging, slipping and numbering. This felt like quite a task and was completed in just over 29 hours, which was three and a half days of solid work. 

I am now writing this in the second week where drying is taking a bit longer than expected, or I actually think I am being over cautious and want them to be super dry before they go into the kiln. They are due to go in later today for their first bisque firing. After that they need sanding and glazing and one more kiln firing, and should be revealed from the kiln next Wednesday.

The other reason for this project is that during lockdown what and where we buy things has very much been on my mind. As many of you believe it is important to shop as local and as ethically as you can, with a big push on material awareness, workers rights and sustainability. 

Contemporary craft objects can fulfill these requirements however often come with a large price tag that we cannot all afford.

So how can a consumer’s mindset change, as maker’s work isn’t going to become as cheap as you can get on the high street and it shouldn’t be either. How do we spread the buy less, buy well mentality and show how buying objects with meaning last longer and are better for the planet and our wallets in the long run? 

I feel that it is my right as a maker to help educate the importance and joy you can receive when you make the step from the high street to the independents.     

So for this project I am offering these items at an affordable price of £10, as an introduction to what the experience is like to buy from an independent business, what it means to them and what you will get out of it. So if this is your first craft piece you have bought brilliant! If it is apiece you have bought to help educate and share the handmade love with friends and family’s, or you just want to hand down the collection passion to grandchildren then amazing. I want each piece to help change someone’s mind set just a little bit and to show that not all craft is out of reach.

Hopefully the rest of the process goes well and there will be 100 pots available on my shop on the 1st of August.