Keeping my fingers moving!

wendydiamond20
Jan 13, 2022
1 min read

Updated: Jan 14, 2022

As I no longer play any instruments, due to the Parkinson's issues which challenge my fine motor skills, I make certain I always have at least one knitting project on the go. The ‘everlasting poncho' as I describe it, currently measures 72cm; still a lot to do! ! Just before Christmas, our special friend Jan, from Ashton u Lyne, told me her grand daughter had asked for a pink bedroom for her 8th birthday. I came across a pattern for a knitted rag doll. I really enjoyed knitting this and she is thrilled with the result

Encouraged by this success, I decided to make a graduation rag doll for my younger niece, Lucy. She completed her first degree in July 2020 and since then has completed her masters degree. I’ve taken the colours of the York University masters degree hood (grey and red); but created a slightly off the wall colour scheme for the dolls clothes. When Lucy was growing up she had a penchant for wearing odd socks, so I’ve incorporated this idea in her doll.

I gave it to her as part of her Christmas box.

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Realising a Dream..

This is me. Setting out on my journey as a hobbyist potter.

Pottery was an ‘add on’ O level course when I was at school, only offered in the sixth form. In to studying Music and RE to A level, I embarked on pottery ‘O’ level as a bit of light relief. I loved it although I was never particularly good at it. I made a few pots, mainly handbuilding using slabbing and coiling but didn’t really learn much.

What I wanted to do more than anything was throw on the wheel – the school did have a wheel but no one was allowed near it unless they knew what they were doing… an interesting approach to the process of acquiring skill methinks. I do have one of my very first pots – rather crude really, but its mine, with my initials ‘scrauped’ on the base. Over the intervening years, of which there were many, I watched the art of throwing from a distance, always hoping that one day it would happen.

We had bought our little cottage in Halifax in 2009. Six years later the adjoining house became available so we set about creating a home by combining the two halves. The ‘under-dwelling’, a feature of a number of houses in that area of West Yorkshire was a real gem; we converted into a pottery studio for me and there began my journey. I enrolled on a course in Springhead. Oldham and my amazingly talented pottery teacher, Sue Devine gave me one-to-one tuition in throwing. I bought a pottery wheel and was given a small kiln. My journey had begun – 40 years later!

Twelve month ago, my partner and I moved to Newport in South Wales. I am most fortunate have a pottery studio here. Why Andante Ceramics? Well, I work slowly, I go with the flow, I create no deadlines for my self. My world of clay is completely self-asbsorbing and tomorrow, if I am fortunate to have one, is another day.

My media pages give a flavour of what I do and my blog documents my thoughts as I journey through the wonderful world of pottery and ceramics. I wont sell any of my work but I delight in making pieces specifically for friends; I love the challenge that creating bespoke pieces bring. If you would like me to make something special do please ask.

Wendy Diamond

Keeping my fingers moving!

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