The Calm before the Christmas Storm

It’s safe to say the last few weeks have been nothing short of a whirlwind. Between a beautiful family wedding, juggling my full-time job, launching my website (with my very first sales – still pinching myself!) and preparing for Christmas stock, I feel like I’ve been running on clay, glaze, and coffee.

The studio has turned into a festive production line. I’ve already strung 60 ornaments (fiddliest job ever) and still have another 60 waiting to be made, glazed and strung. Add to that a growing army of gonks, tree ornaments ready for bisque, coasters, soap dishes, and of course more mugs to throw – it’s fair to say Christmas prep has well and truly taken over The Potter’s Hideaway.

And then there’s Hermione, my trusty kiln. She’s got just six more weekends to behave herself before the fayres arrive. If you’ve ever had a kiln, you’ll know they’ve got personalities – sometimes they’re angels, sometimes they’re divas. Right now, I’m whispering nice things to her and hoping she plays along. After all, without Hermione, there are no mugs, no ornaments, no gonks – and no stall full of handmade goodness!

It’s a funny thing, this time of year. The to-do list feels endless: glaze this, fire that, design new pieces, wrap stock, make sure everything is labelled and ready. Yet, even in the chaos, there’s something magical about watching the shelves slowly fill up with colourful, characterful pieces that will soon be finding their way into homes, stockings, and under Christmas trees. That’s the bit that keeps me going, even when the fiddly stringing makes me want to throw the twine out of the window.

But before I dive into the full Christmas storm, I’m taking a pause. I’m currently tucked away in Pembrokeshire, sat in my campervan with coffee in hand, sausage sandwich on the go, and a sea view right out of my window. The waves are crashing, the wind is howling, and there’s a storm rolling in outside – but for now, it’s the perfect reminder to stop, breathe, and recharge before the next few weeks of clay-covered chaos.

When I get back, it’ll be full steam ahead: two Christmas fayres, the website buzzing, and plenty of festive orders (fingers crossed). It’s equal parts exciting and overwhelming, but that’s what makes this little side hustle of mine so special. Every mug, every gonk, every ornament is handmade with patience, perseverance, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic.

So here’s to the calm before the storm – and to hoping Hermione behaves herself when I hit that “on” switch next weekend.