Midwinter Making: Hands, Heart & Clay 

February can feel long and chilly especially with all the snow storms we got!, but inside the studio it is a month of simple pleasures. There’s something heartfelt about working with warm clay when the world outside feels cold and quiet. I love focusing on smaller, intimate pieces this month,  little bowls, candle holders, and soft-handled cups that fit comfortably in your palms. They bring warmth to both me (the maker) and you (the user).

This month also invites creativity rooted in care. Many students and visitors make gifts for loved ones, and I adore seeing how much personality each piece carries. Something handmade always feels more meaningful in midwinter, when people appreciate warmth the most.

Textile Tip of the Month:
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If you're weaving or working with wool in winter, lightly condition your hands with a non-greasy balm first. My dry winter skin usually catches on delicate fibres and cause snags, hence this idea to keep your hand soft and your weave happy!

A Fresh Start in the Studio
 
January always feels like a clean page in the studio. The shelves empty out after the holiday season, the tools are sorted again, and there’s space ( physical and mental) to explore new ideas. This is a wonderful month for experimentation: new forms, new glaze combinations, new habits. I love beginning the year with gentle intentions rather than pressure. Creativity grows better when it’s nurtured slowly, like clay centred patiently on the wheel.
 
It’s also a perfect time to revisit old skills. Repeating a familiar shape, refining a technique, or even watching how your throwing muscles remember movements can be grounding. The pace of January is unhurried, and that is one of its gifts.
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Studio joy tip: Set aside one studio day just for play. Try a new form, tool, or colour combination without worrying about the result. Creative curiosity often leads to the most surprising and joyful discoveries!

Creating Together

The studio feels especially warm this time of year; soft lights, laughter, cozy warmth, and the hum of the wheel filling the space. This holiday season, I’m opening the studio for pottery classes and creative sessions where friends and families can come together to make something by hand. There’s something magical about seeing people share studio's workspace, shaping clay, helping each other, and discovering new sides of their creativity. while making new friends.

Moments That Matter
Amid the rush of December, these precious quiet hours spent creating feel like a pause; a way to slow down, connect, and make memories that last beyond the holidays. Whether it’s a handmade ornament, a small bowl, or a mug to keep, every piece carries a little story of time shared with loved ones.

Looking ahead, I’m already planning new workshops and classes for the new year, full of ideas inspired by this season’s joy and togetherness. Each year reminds me that art is at its best when it brings people closer through making, sharing, and simply being present.

Studio tip:  When working with friends or family, everyone can choose their own design and form to make which leads to unexpected beauty and lots of learning and of course laughter!

Felting Stories Continue

Another felting workshop at Neilson Park Creative Centre brought returning faces and new participants eager to explore wool. The focus was on expression and mood using colour, texture, and composition to tell a story. Each piece reflected the maker’s emotions in beautiful, unexpected ways. These are some of my most favourite classes to teach.

Studio Time Between Classes
Back in the studio, I’ve been finishing new pottery pieces, testing glazes, and exploring ideas for upcoming workshops. The slower pace between classes feels grounding, a chance to reconnect with the tactile rhythm of clay and witness the changing of seasons.

Studio colour tip: Blend two or three shades of wool before felting. Subtle shifts in colour bring landscapes and figures to life, much like layering paint on a canvas.

Teaching and Creating at Neilson Park Creative Centre

October has been a month of making and teaching in other creative spaces. I’ve started a comprehensive 8-session pottery course at (NPCC) Neilson Park Creative Centre in Etobicoke, surrounded by a community of artists and makers. It's such a joy to share the process; from the first wobbly bowls to the satisfaction of trimming and glazing finished pieces. Watching beginner students gain confidence with each session is a reminder of how grounding and meditative working with clay can be.
 
This month I also taught a wonderful felting workshop focused on landscape and figurative work at the NPCC. It was a colourful day filled with texture, creativity, and storytelling through fibre. Each participant brought their own vision to life: soft skies, rolling hills, and expressive faces emerging from layers of wool. I’ll be returning to Neilson Park in November for another felting workshop, and I can’t wait to see where everyone’s imagination leads next.
 
As the season turns and the days grow shorter, the studio feels extra cozy, the perfect place to slow down, experiment, and create from the heart. 

Studio tip: When working with clay or felt, take your time with the drying process. Letting materials rest between stages helps everything stay strong and smooth; patience really is part of the craft.

Weaving warmth into the first crisp days of fall.

The air’s starting to carry a little crispness, just enough to make you want to bring out one of my favourite handwoven scarf, even in the studio and even when they get a bit dustry!
This week, I have spent my mornings weaving with a cup of something warm, watching the first few leaves turn colour into gorgeous reds, oranges and yellows. I’ve started weaving with deeper, richer tones like rust, ochre, and that deep forest green, and it’s like the fabric itself is getting ready for cooler days. Plus, sweaters (and scarves) make everything feel a little more comforting when you’ve got hands full of yarn or clay.

Studio joy tip: When the weather starts to shift, weaving always lifts my spirits! Just the touch of wool and creating a fabric for use at home brings me so much joy. I feel truly blessed to work in both textile art and pottery, so I can switch whenever I feel like exploring a different medium. It makes the whole creative process feel fresh and exciting like autumn unfolding.
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Catching the golden light in every curve.

There’s something about the late summer light that makes everything feel golden, even the wheel seems to glow just a little bit more when the sun filters in.
I’ve been catching those soft evening rays on the clay as I trim, and it almost turns each curve into its own little moment of gold. Outside, the herbs in the studio vases: mint, basil, and a stubborn little succulent are all thriving, even as the days edge toward fall. I’ve been taking a few minutes during golden hour just to wander through them with a steaming cup of tea and a sketchbook in hand.

Studio joy tip: If you can, let your work breathe a moment in that late summer glow; snap a photo, take a breath, or trace a shape in your sketchbook. Something about that light brings out details you didn’t even know were there.

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The kiln’s not the only thing firing around here...

It’s been hot lately!  and when I say hot, I mean my clay is drying faster than I can center it. The studio’s been feeling like a cross between a kiln and a sauna (minus the eucalyptus). 
That said, I weirdly love working in this kind of weather. There’s something about sweating it out with the wheel spinning, the door cracked open, and the weak AC  blowing cool air somewhere away from me! Bonus: the pieces dry faster between steps, so I can actually move from throwing to trimming quicker, if I’m fast enough!
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Tip: If you’re working with clay during a heat wave, wrap your pieces in plastic between sessions or they’ll be bone dry by lunch. And keep your clay hydrated too! Don’t let it go crumbly on you. Also: drink water, take breaks, and consider sticking your feet in a bucket during an outdoor break (you don't want to spill the water in the studo and then have to mop it).
Stay cool out there, and if you’re coming to class dress light and bring your water bottle. Clay fun is on heat wave or not.

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Why making art in natural sunlight feel like a little piece of heaven.

Lately, the light in the studio has been gorgeous. That soft summer glow streaming in through the windows? Chef’s kiss. It makes everything from spinning clay to folded scarves and tea towels look just a little more magical.
Outside the studio, the plants are thriving (finally!). I’ve been taking my tea breaks on the little lawn outside my studio, watching the green leaves flutter while I plan my next batch of mugs or sketch out silk painting patterns. It’s kind of like free therapy...

Studio joy tip: If you’re making art, place your work near a window during natural light hours; not just for better visibility, but because the light does something special to the surface. Even bisque ware feels poetic when sunlight hits it just right.
Also: if you’ve ever wanted to trim or throw while watching tree shadows dance on the wall come by to my studio. It’s a good season for it.

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Handwoven Tea towels: Your Kitchen’s Secret Superheroes

Okay, let’s talk tea towels! those humble handwoven pieces that soak up spills, dry dishes, and maybe sometimes double as a DIY spa headband (I have shamelessly done this on a few occasions).
Making them is a labor of love, weaving together colour, texture, and care so they stand up to all the kitchen adventures (and many cups of tea). Every thread is intentional, and the tactile quality of handwoven fabric makes these towels more absorbent and durable than many mass-produced options.

Pro tip: To keep your handwoven tea towels in great shape, wash them gently in cold water and avoid harsh detergents or bleach. Air drying helps preserve their texture and colours. Over time, they soften and get even better at soaking up those spills. But you can also wash them in the washing machine, they are after all fabrics made to be used lovingly and washed may many times.

​They also make a perfect gift for anyone who loves a little handmade charm in their life, because let’s be honest, everyone needs a superhero in their kitchen and especially a hand woven one! If you want to add some cozy, handcrafted goodness to your kitchen, check out my textile pieces.

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Studio Tour: A Peek Inside Shiva Studios (Clay Dust Warning!)

Welcome to my little creative chaos — Shiva Studios! It’s where clay dust magically finds its way into every nook (and into your shoes, no matter how careful you are). There are wheels spinning, shelves full of colorful pots waiting for their forever homes, and corners where I get lost in weaving.
The studio isn’t just a workspace; it’s a cozy, inspiring place where creativity flows, mistakes are part of the process, and learning is hands-on. I love seeing students discover their own style and confidence as they work with clay and textiles.

Insider tip: If you ever visit, wear comfy clothes that can get a little dirty, and bring a smile. The best moments happen when you relax into the process and let yourself play. And if you want to keep your phone clean, maybe a little bag for it. Clay dust can be surprisingly sneaky.
If you’re curious about what it’s like to learn pottery or weaving in a space that feels like a warm hug, come check it out or join a class. Fair warning: you might leave with a new hobby… and probably a few clay fingerprints on your phone.

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Why Pottery Is More Than Just Clay (And Yeah, It Gets Messy)

You might think pottery is just squishing some clay around — but trust me, it’s way more than that. There’s the wobble on the wheel (that heart-stopping moment: “Is this gonna hold up?”), the satisfying thunk when you trim the base just right, and yeah, the inevitable mess. But don’t worry, aprons are included, and a little clay on your hands is part of the fun. Pottery is a beautiful mix of patience, focus, and a bit of magic. Every piece you make has its own personality; sometimes it behaves exactly how you want it, and sometimes it surprises you in the best way. That’s what makes it so rewarding.

​Quick tip: If you’re just starting out, don’t stress about perfect shapes. Focus on feeling the clay and having fun. The wheel likes steady hands, slow movements, and lots of practice. Also, keep your hands wet but not dripping!, too much water can make the clay collapse!
And honestly? It’s probably the only time as an adult where playing with mud is not only allowed but encouraged! Ready to get your hands dirty (literally)? Come take a class, and I’ll help you find your rhythm with the clay.

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