I started pottery two years ago. The moment I touched the clay for the first time I felt connected to something. A part of the earth, a part of me. I found that whilst I was creating, I couldn’t think about anything else. It was soothing, relaxing, all encompassing. I started to look forward to each lesson and thou it was frustrating when things collapsed, often, I felt a sense of achievement, I began to listen to the clay through my hands and begin to understand its structure and form, allowing me to manipulate it into something beautiful. Pottery became my safe space. Where all my worries and intrusive thoughts just slipped away. You can’t throw or build a pot while thinking about tomorrow’s to-do list or replaying yesterday’s argument. Your hands are wet, the clay is moving, you’re either here or the pot collapses.
It was meditative, all encompassing, it felt like I was giving my busy brain a break, a mini spa..’ It was therapeutic without being therapy. It was creative without the pressure of art. And when I held a finished piece – something I’d made with my own hands – I felt… grounded.
That’s where the Calm Clay Collection started.
I began making small, smooth pebbles for myself. One for my pocket during difficult pastoral conversations. One for my bedside table for evening prayer. One to give to a friend navigating grief.
Then people started asking: Can you make me one?
So here we are.
I came to pottery sideways.
For over 20 years, I’ve worked with children and adults facing challenging circumstances – as a ChildLine counsellor, in schools as a wellbeing coordinator, in the community as a bereavement volunteer with Cruse Bereavement support and in my local church, running the The Bereavement Journey courses. I have a Christian Care and Counselling Certificate, I am a Drawing and Talking and Sandplay practitioner, and trained in SEMH support.
Mindfulness is the practise of paying attention, intentionally, to the present moment, without judgement or expectation. It is about gently anchoring yourself in what is happening right now, rather than being consumed by thoughts about your pastor worries about the future. This powerful yet simple practise can transform how we respond to overwhelm.
Through both the workshops and use of the mindful pebbles you can learn these practises to help create a space between ourselves and the flood of thoughts and feelings, noticing what is happening without being swept away by it, helping us to respond rather than react. Mindfulness builds resilience, reduces stress and anxiety, improves emotional regulation, enhances focud, and encourages self-compassion.
Empathy, hand-formed.
Every piece I make draws on those 20+ years of pastoral care, counselling, and walking alongside people in pain. I know what anxiety feels like in the body. I know how hard it can be to pray when life is loud. I know the power of small, simple practices – repeated daily – to shift how we feel.
The Calm Clay pebbles aren't magic. They're tools. Like a well-designed hammer or a well-written prayer, they help you do something your hands and heart already know how to do.
Each pebble is individually hand made, glazed in calming tones, fired twice in our studio kiln, and packaged with care. They're made in small batches – usually around 40 pieces a week.
Red Lodge Ceramics is more than the Calm Clay Collection. I also make:
contact
I’m always happy to chat about custom commissions, workshop bookings, bulk orders for therapists or churches, or anything pottery-related.
info@redlodgeceramics.co.uk
@redlodgeceramics
@redlodgeceramics
