CLAY + BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS + DELICIOUS TREATS + TIME TO REST = THE RED COLLECTIVE MAKING WITH MAYCLAY WORKSHOP
Back after popular demand the RED Collective teamed up with local creative Hannah of MayClay Ceramics for a second time! This time the three sessions booked out quick meaning we had 36 beautiful women join us over the span of the past weekend. Hannah’s home studio space was decorated in gorgeous ceramics (nothing unusual about that) & fresh blooms thanks to Natalie of Blooms on Darby. And as always a delicious array of yummy treats & a warm hug greeted the women that came to attend each session. Special thanks to Sally of Healthy Nourished Treats for treating us with nothing but the best raw desserts.
Women supporting women - collaborating & not competing - the best way to be!
No matter the creative experience each RED event has time to Rest, moments to Express yourself in a new creative way & a celebration of things that Delight us. It wouldn’t be a RED event with out Rest, Expression & Delight after all!
During the clay workshop the ladies were taught two clay hand building methods. I won’t go into all the fun things we learnt but here’s a good little snapshot of the two techniques. PINCH TECHNIQUE: This technique I find very therapeutic. Initially inspired by Hans pinch bowls, we rolled our portion of clay into a ball and then proceeded to use our fingers and thumbs to pinch outwards creating a curved vessel shape. Even though we all started with the same lump of clay and used the same technique - our pinch pots all looked completely different - that’s creativity for you! COILING TECHNIQUE: This method taught us how rolling long rolls (or coils) out of clay, then placing them on top of each other could create different shaped vessels. We created coil hug mugs, perfect for warm tea’s in the winter.
Although Hannah & I did a very similar structure & said very similar things in each of the three sessions we both found each workshop to be completely different in terms of the energy that each group of women brought to the space. We had individual women, daughters & mums, gal pals, sisters & long time friends come to the workshop & felt so honoured to be able to hold a space for these special women to take a break & get creative.
‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ was this workshops unique messages. In the lead up to this workshop Han and I had spoken a lot about how beauty standards can cripple creativity & can be so counter productive authentic expression. We realised that our journeys had taught us to become seekers of beauty & that one of the important roles we have a women is to call out the beauty in those around us - be it our partners, our family, our children or our friends.
We hope that the clay workshop gave each women who came a moment to rest, a moment to explore expression in a new creative way, & a moment to delight in your senses - tasting delicious treats, seeing beautiful things, creating with the raw earth & shaping something artful out of dirt.
To all the women who came, we treasure you & are so thankful that you would invest in this experience with us, invest in yourself & say yes to growing your creativity in a safe space. We absolutely loved having you with us & feel so grateful that we are able to create this beautiful space for you. Can’t wait for the next one!