Clay by B

Jewellery dish, bits and bobs holder, pedestal dish, raised dish... I have no idea what to call this guy but you will find him and his friends in my little shop update later tonight ❤️
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Pigmented plowl: a sandstone-like clay with delicious caramel and chocolate marbling 🤤
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Another couple of items to come out of my kiln load of trials and experiments:
Organic slab-built cannisters.
I say 'organic' because they're a bit wonky, a bit unique and a bit imperfect 😅
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Spoon rests: a benchtop's best friend
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The pigmented handles on these mugs took forever to make so I'll be really questioning my sanity if I think of doing them again 🤦🏼‍♀️
I figured, something that took so long to make deserves a permanent spot on the grid though!
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I'm a crazy bowl lady, I'm always managing to somehow accumulate bowls. I find I always feel like (but not necessarily am) a better cook when I've got some pretty bowls to prep dinner with 😁
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The awkward moment when you almost wrote bowel instead of bowl 🤦🏼‍♀️...
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I'm finding hand-building so relaxing at the moment. It may be a slower process than wheel throwing but sometimes that's just what we need in our crazy lives, some slow time 🧡
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There's something about wrapping your hands around a warm cuppa' on these chilly mornings 🍁
Mugs & tumblers available now at 🧡
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Slab-built babies- they may take an eternity to make but they sure are worth it 🤍🧡
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These guys are wrapped and ready to head off to their new home at where they will be included in their stunning hampers! 🤤🧡
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-THE PROCESS OF POTTERY-
I know I've done a story or two about this but for anyone interested in what goes into making one of my ceramic pieces, please read on ✌️
- First the clay is weighed and wedged. Wedging (kind of like kneading dough) prepares the clay for throwing and gets rid of any air bubbles.
- Throw your masterpiece.
- Allow the piece to dry to 'leather dry' before trimming it to make it look somewhat presentable.
- Let the piece dry for another week or so (depending on the weather).
- First firing (bisque fire), the pieces get fired to roughly 1000 degrees over the space of 10 hours.
- Glaze.
- Second fire (glaze fire), I fire my pieces to approx. 1280 degrees over 12-13 hours as I use high-fire stoneware clay.
- Allow the kiln and pieces to cool (which can take another day) before water testing and sanding the pieces.
- Wash and send them on their merry way.
- Have a nap.
It's a looooong process and something I knew nothing about until I literally started doing pottery, but it sure is rewarding seeing a lump of mud turn into a piece of pottery.
If you're still here, thanks for tuning in ❤️
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Why I loooove bud vases:
- Perfect for the odd flower from your garden (or neighbours gardens 🙊)
- Ideal for that leaf kidlets give you that you REALLY can't throw out
- You don't have to use a random small glass or cup from the cupboard for a single bloom
- They are super cute even without flowers in them ❤️
(Swipe to see how George likes to 'help' with photos)
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🌱💚
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I'm loving experimenting with pigmented clay at the moment 💗💚 I've always been a neutral Nelly but introducing a pop of colour seems to make life that little bit brighter.
Note to self: light the incense BEFORE you take the photo... 🤦🏼‍♀️
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2022 is the year I get even more out of my comfort zone, so here I am in front of the camera- it's a start 🤷🏼‍♀️... and I thought it was about time I introduced myself on my page!

👋 I'm Bridget, I'm 29, I live in Bendigo with my partner Dave (the brains behind my little biz) and my two fur babies Salem and George (my studio assistants 😺).
I am a self-proclaimed crazy cat lady and crazy plant lady. I am obsessed with all things interior design and architecture, art, and of course, pottery.
I started my pottery journey in 2020, at the start of Covid by purchasing an old Venco wheel and attempting to teach myself how to throw.
After a few months I started to really enjoy it (definitely wasn't the case in the beginning 😂).
Next thing I'm buying an oversized oven (my kiln) and firing my own work in my backyard shed.
A proper studio is in the reno plans! 🤞
It took me a long time to get the courage to sell my work but we finallyyyyy launched my website in July last year, thanks to my crazy talented partner, family and friends.
Now I'm a few releases down and my ceramics are out in the wild, being used by friends, family and strangers - it's one of the weirdest feelings 🤯 but also one of the best feelings 🥰
Soooo that's really about it (without writing an essay), that's me and that's what I'm all about.
Thanks for reading along!
The end.
(How else do I end it? 🤷🏼‍♀️)
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Back into the spin of things (see what I did there 😉)
Spending the start of 2022 working on some special orders for some special customers 🥰
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T H A N K Y O U to every single one of you for your support during 2021!

My dream of starting my own little micro-biz would not have been possible without the support of you all. Whether you bought something, sent a message or even just liked a post, it honestly means so much to me 💕

Being able to use my creative outlet to do something that I love but to also have others enjoy my work... it's definitely a pinch-myself moment.
While I am glad to see 2021 come to an end, I am also grateful for what it has given me and all the amazing people I have met along the way.

Thankyou again from the bottom of my heart for all your love and support.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year and I'll catch you in 2022 with lots of new and exciting things! Xx

I hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas! Whatever way you spend the holiday season, I hope it is full of lots of love and laughter with family and friends ❤️💚
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Raised bowls- the perfect holder of treats 😋
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I always find when I'm making these guys I get distracted thinking about the delish food that could potentially be served on them, especially leading into Christmas 🤤 No wonder I'm always hungry...
You will find these 4 in my shop update on Thursday ❤️
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Shoppo update this Thursday at 8pm 💃🎅
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It's going to be hard to part with these ones!
Those warm toasty tones where the glaze meets the clay body gets me right in the feels 😍🤤
These guys will be featured in my Christmas release which shouldn't be too far off!🤞
Stay tuned folks ❤️
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OTT vases... because why not?! 💁🏼‍♀️
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I've been a bit quiet on the socials lately, but things have been far from quiet for me. I have been buried in mud working on my Christmas (Christmas?!) release plus getting some special orders finished.
I'm finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel so hopefully I'll be able to show you some sneaky peeks of what's to come soon 🧡
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Bowl? 🤔 Plate? 🤷🏼‍♀️ Plowl! 🙌
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Little planter in progress. This one was a bit of a challenge to make so I hope it survives! 🤞
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A little touch of colour ✨ Obsessed with making these at the moment 🤭
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17.09.21 @ 7pm- Release No. 2 will be hitting an online store near you!🎉
www.claybyb.com ✌️
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RUOK? Day: It's OK NOT TO BE OK.
How many people will just say they are 'OK' or just cover up the fact they are struggling?
It takes a s**t load of courage to be open and honest about your mental health and say you're struggling or having a tough time.
It is in NO WAY a sign of weakness, a sign you're 'just being a sook' or 'asking for attention'!
By being open about your mental health, you never know who else could be going through the same thing.
Only in the last couple of years have I realised and been taught that it's ok not to be ok. I was so worried about what people would think of me or say behind my back that I just hid the fact I wasn't coping with things and made up excuses for it.
The day that I was open and honest to people about my mental health was one of the most scariest moments, but it felt so good and was so worth it!
I realised other people were struggling with the same things and also needed someone to chat to. By me being open and saying that I wasn't okay, was actually helping someone else too. Soooo many people struggle with mental illness so why is there still such a stigma attached to it?
So please be honest if you are struggling with your mental health, whether that's with a friend, family member or a health professional. Believe me, you are not alone.
If you are the person checking in on someone, don't let RUOK Day be the only day you reach out. It can be so hard to open up about mental health so be persistent and check in regularly if you think they aren't coping. It doesn't have to be like an 'intervention', it can just be for a coffee or for a walk but it can make the world of difference for someone struggling with their mental health.
RUOK Day should be every day, not just today.

Bowls of all sizes! Perfect for prepping dinner, or in my case, when you're on M&M rations 🤭
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The fruit bowl that demands attention 👑
Unfortunately this one won't be featuring in my 2nd release due to being kind-of sat on during transportation 🤦🏼‍♀️ 😩
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Which ever way you have your coffee, these babies have you covered! ☀️
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The keys bowl, the condiment bowl, the jewellery bowl, the anything bowl 🤷🏼‍♀️
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Hand rolled stoneware beads
FUN FACT: I used to sell these guys a while back before I started pottery, except I used to use air dry clay. They are actually part of the reason I got into pottery. Trying to make things out of air dry clay wasn't getting me very far 😅 next minute, I bought a pottery wheel.
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Bud vases with personality ☀️
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So I've been a bit MIA on the socials lately... that's because I've been busy whipping up a muddy storm getting ready for my second release! I haven't had any pretty pictures to post as nothing is ready yet so here is a picture of my muddy mess 💁🏼‍♀️
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