My random jump into making things out of air dry clay
Clay curiosities we created <3
I’ve only made three or four items out of quick dry clay but I’m already sure this is a new obsession of mine. I have a tendency to grab onto stuff like this and either want to hop into a research rabbit hole about them or to practice them for subsequent months until the next interest walks my way.
Right now I am creating cute things out of clay in order to bring some kind of, well, order, into my life. There’s something about how messy it is that appeals to me. How it takes the right balance of water and molding to get it right and not have it fall apart in your hand.
There’s probably an underlying message there about life, but for now, here’s some clay.
What I love about these is they’re lumpy and not quite right. They are far from perfect (except Tom’s Kirby which is pretty darn perfect) but mine are imperfectly adorable, and I’m proud to say I made them with my hands.
I never thought of myself as a person who makes clay and cooks, the person who bakes stuff. I typically burn most of my baking but have learnt to navigate that by making this burnt basque cheesecake – now my burning is what adds the best flavour!
There’s something inherently calming and frustrating about making little clay things. It’s so fiddly and annoying, like when you untangle a pair of old wired earphones. Yet, there’s something about it I can’t help but get soothed by, the process of focusing your efforts, time away from a screen, and getting to marvel at it once it’s finished.
During the process it can get frustrating, as I aim to get it to look “perfect.” When I see it starting to go mushy and unhinged I get mad, I shout profanities, and then I laugh at myself for getting mad about a piece of clay. Then I realise that it’s not about making anything “perfect,” it’s about enjoying creating and playing. It’s about getting your hands messy, about making something you love.
In the end I’m always proud of what my hands were able to do, the care I put into a little BMO comes through where my skill doesn’t yet. I’m grateful that I even have the time to put into making stuff. I’m also happy that my inner child was able to play, have fun, and create — he’s now sitting proudly on my windowsill.
It’s now a part of my routine alongside website stuff, drawing, painting, and bake-burning. I guess that’s just part of being sober, you make more stuff. You find things that bring you a satisfaction that you didn’t think was possible.
Reading is also another one. Reading about psychology, philosophy and the likes. There’s a calm to it. Much like developing the body with working out, balancing that with doing things creatively and reading leads to a greater sense of peace, from what I’ve found. Let us know in the comments what brings you the most peace?
I’m not sure what clay-cutie I’ll make next. If you have any suggestions on what I should make out of clay, let me know in the comments. I was thinking of a cute plant pot with a face, as I’m enjoying items with tiny smiles right now (• ◡ •)