The new year begins.

2026 began quietly but with a clear sense of movement.

This post is later than I had planned.

But the past three months have been full in a way that is difficult to capture while you are still inside it!  There has been change and steady steps forward.   

I am learning that growth does not arrive fully formed.  It asks for a lot of patience and as one who struggles with that I have to remind myself often that small steps are still steps!

 Looking back through my photos, I realize just how busy these few months have been.  Full disclosure there are an awful lot of screen shots from the Kiln app!  Turns out waiting for the kiln to cool down is also a good lesson in patience! 

From Idea to Reality

Much of January and February was spent  building The Clayground.

There were booking systems to figure out, mailing lists, endless small decisions about the space, and constant adjustments.

There has been a lot of behind the scenes work and I’m grateful for Sandra and Hannas helping hands.

The Clayground Comes to Life

 The doors are now open. 

People have come in.  We have held workshops.  The kiln has been fired multiple times.  Glazing sessions have become part of the rhythm.   The workshops have been  joyful, focused and so calm.  The visitors have loved the space and its felt wonderful to share it with them.   Shelves have been filled and emptied again and finally it no longer feels like something  we are preparing.

 It feels like something we are living.

One of the most exciting parts has been seeing how naturally the space is evolving.  We now offer beginner workshops, open studio sessions, memberships and more relaxed formats like morning sessions, claydates and adult and child workshops.  And still new ideas keep appearing. 

Just recently, someone suggested birthday parties.  And immediately it felt quite possible.  Like something that belongs here. 

The Clayground is not fixed.  It is growing through the people who walk through the door.  .  

Its very satisfying to see the studio not only as my ceramic art studio but as a creative space where others can discover the magic of working with clay too.

Space to Create Again.

 Alongside building all of this, I have slowly found my way back to my own work.  I’ve finally had time to begin new pieces.  Several new works are taking shape.  I can already feel the excitement building.   The studio has wonderful natural light and having the physical space to spread out changes things too. 

It reminds me why I started creating in the first place.  New sculptures have come through the kiln, but at the same time to be honest, I have not kept the website updated.  There are pieces that haven’t made it online yet.  I’m trying to accept that too.  That creating and sharing don’t always move at the same pace.

Finland in Full Winter

These months have also shown Finland at its most striking.  The winter landscape has taken centre stage.  Snow, pale light and very cold air.  It has been so, so cold!

And yet the clarity of that winter light has been extraordinary.  The contrast, the stillness and the shapes that appear.  Seeing the landscape in this way continues to influence my work. The winter weather leaves its quiet mark on the coast and it continues to shape my sculptures in ways I only fully understand later.

In town, I now have a new display in the window, with Dieter’s beautiful photographs as the backdrop.  His images tell the story behind the work.  The coastal inspiration, the textures and forms that echo water, stone and shifting light.

It feels like the pieces are speaking more clearly about where they come from.

Settling Into the Rhythm

March has felt like a shift.  A settling.  The space feels lived in now.  I feel at home there.  There is still quite a bit to do but it’s not overwhelming.   It feels possible.

We have welcomed people in, and we will keep taking notes and adjusting accordingly.

Looking ahead

I have applied to take part in Konstrundan this year, which feels like another small but important step.  Putting the studio and my work out into the wider world always carries a mixture of excitement and vulnerability.  But more than anything I do feel grateful.  Grateful for the space, for the people who have already come into the studio to create with me.  Grateful that alongside building something new, I still get to create my own work.

This season is about trusting the process.  Adjusting and learning new things, making mistakes and trying again.  All important steps forward.

Where Nature Meets Clay.

I’m a ceramic artist creating one-of-a-kind sculptures for people who crave authentic beauty