December arrived wrapped in grey. The kind of grey that lingers. Misty, wet and almost heavy.   

As a ceramic artist in Finland, this is the time of year when light becomes something you actively search for, both in the landscape and in the studio.

I found myself chasing those brief moments of brightness, to try to find enough light to photograph new sculptures.  Three sculptures sold before I even had time to share them online making it a little less work.  This is the part I am still learning to be okay with.  Letting things move at their own pace and letting my pace be enough. I am not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination but with the help of my Innolux light I managed to get them done. 

Weather!

The early snow disappeared quickly, replaced by what I call English Dull Weather and discussion was about little else.  Flat skies, rainy mist and endless drizzle.  Very unusual for this time of year.  When the snow finally returned, even briefly, it transformed everything.  The landscape softened.  The days were brighter and I felt calmer. 

Lucia arrived just when it was needed most.  Our Finnish light festival brought candles, song and a quiet sense of togetherness. Soon after, the Christmas season began to unfold bringing its own light.

Markets and Sharing My Ceramic Work

The Turku market was a real highlight this month. It was a joy to show my handmade ceramic sculptures to a completely new audience, and five pieces found new homes.

One moment stayed with me. A woman I had met earlier in Jakobstad when she was visiting this summer,  saw on social media that I would be in Turku and travelled there specifically to find her piece. Proof, perhaps, that social media can work, even for a somewhat reluctant user like me.

Some of my reels also reached more people than usual. That felt encouraging, even though I still struggle to keep that momentum going. I’m practicing being okay with moving at my own rhythm instead of chasing numbers.

At Jul på Södermalm, our local Christmas market, the weather behaved for once and the atmosphere felt properly festive. We also shared our plans for the new studio there, and it was heartening to see how many people were interested. We are getting closer now. If all goes well, I’ll be testing the kiln next week in our new hand-building ceramic art studio here in Jakobstad.

More Weather!

December’s strange weather became a constant source of inspiration in its own way. There were brief pockets of calm and brightness that felt especially precious because they didn’t last. 

My mother came to visit for Christmas and was quietly disappointed not to have a white one.  It was of course wonderful to celebrate all together and see what my daughter made me.  A handmade apron for the studio complete with my logo letters on!  Wonderful!

The snow arrived eventually, not long after the huge storms that caused widespread damage across Finland. Stormy nights, little sleep, and now we start the new year with sudden stillness and low temperatures.  Now it feels as if true winter is finally arriving. 

Looking Back, Stepping Forward

I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions, but I do like to pause and reflect. One unexpected moment came from my mother, who at the lovely age of 81 discovered my social media properly for the first time and proceeded to like almost every single video I had posted. She had only seen my stories before.

Looking through everything together, I felt a deep sense of achievement. It really has been a year of new things. A new official business. A new website. New collaborations. A new studio.

Working with ceramics  and beginning new projects has taught me that growth rarely looks neat. It unfolds slowly, shaped by time and small decisions. I don’t need to have everything figured out. I just need to keep taking steps forward, even when the action feels messy.  We are unavoidably IN life and I believe the activity of figuring things out is the actual substance of an absorbing life.

We can be prone to overthinking the worst,  but surely then I can also overthink the best.  Happy New Year to that!