After all, I decided not to take on my old job in retail again; I don't have enough time and it would require a restructure of all our finances. So, now it's just me and the clay and hours and hours of hard work.

Loving it!

I took part in the local Open Studios recently and I never worked so hard in my life. EVER. It was pretty much studio from 8 am to sometimes 9 or 10 pm, firing every other day in my studio partners kiln. I sold some work, which is always nice, but "just" the ceramic jewellery I've been working a bit on lately. I don't think my other work was right for this particular setting; it's much more gallery type pieces, but it was lovely to get feedback and to chat to so many people about my work and my visions and ideas. We did have hundreds of visitors and it was incredibly busy at times!

I have access to using my studio partners kiln now; she's moved it into the kiln room where our group is based so with her blessing I can pretty much fire whenever I want. Not whatever though, which is still frustrating. I can't do my paper saggars or any combustibles at all now, so a raku kiln with all the trimmings in next on the list of business purchases.

There's no way to explain how much I feel I made the right choice to leave my retail job to run my own business; I had some brilliant work-mates and I did really enjoy talking to customers and the thrill of helping someone pick things for their home (not to mention all the sales experience and patter I learned!), but in the end this is what I was meant to do.

Starting to plan a first exhibition now; I'd rather do it in a group than solo the first time so I'm sounding out if my other ceramics friends are interested. The only thing I worry about it that there's only really one of them I completely trust (well, sort of two, but I'm not sure if the other is still making or interested in making) to chip in and help with all the things that will need done. But as with all other things....

...only time will tell!