How My Love for Pottery is What Grew My Account

I have always been a creative person. I remember making my own shoes as a teenager! Always different, I never wanted to conform. But encouraged by my teachers, I went to University and undertook an intense scientific and medical degree. I hated it almost as soon as I got there. By the time of my clinical placement in my final year, I was broken. I couldn’t do it anymore. After that, I worked in our National Health Service as it was all I’d known professionally, but I always had a creative hustle on the side. I enjoyed so many crafts from quilting to embroidery, polymer clay, 3D printing, and lots more, but couldn’t find my niche.

Then I discovered pottery and I fell hard. Ceramics is challenging but so rewarding. So I created Silver Spot Ceramics and got on with honing my craft. I knew that I wanted to be making bright-colored items with flowing glazes. I undertook a short night course at my local college to learn the basics, then started teaching myself. My little business grew and grew until it got to the point I was working a full-time job and then 15-20 hours on pottery! 

When my mum was diagnosed with a serious kidney and brain cancer in October 2019 it was like a lightning bolt moment for me. It hit me that we really don’t have long here on this earth and I was tearing myself apart trying to be two different people: trying to have a ‘career’ and be a creative. So when my mum got out of her successful brain operation I handed my notice in and I’ve never looked back! 

Starting the Business

Whilst I knew in my bones that it was the right decision it was still a scary time. I worried I wouldn't have the income to support myself, that I would make a catastrophic mistake or that I would have to beg for my old job back within 6 months. I have spoken to lots of people who are on the cusp of making the same decision I did and I always say, if you’re nervous then that’s a good thing. It means you’re a sensible, responsible person and not making a rash decision. You know your situation best. I also went sort of part-time before I quit, this helped me dip my toe in, so if you have that option I would recommend it. Consider your options and evaluate your support structures but don’t be afraid to believe in yourself. 

Whilst having a creative side hustle helped me learn the ropes of selling online when it comes to running my business it’s actually my old roles that really help too such as creating an invoice, doing my taxes, PR skills, and so many more. I do believe that you are always where you need to be in life, even if you don’t know it yet. I needed to have those roles prior to this to gain the tools to make my own business better! 

A lot of people ask me about how I got the courage to sell my work online and I have to confess it’s a hard question to answer. I think I am deeply driven by pleasing people. I never consider myself an artist making work for myself, I very much enjoy making items that make people happy! So it felt natural to sell my items, if they fulfill their purpose and are safe then I think it's good to go. But I really don’t want to make this sound easier than it is. I struggle with imposter syndrome almost daily. I am just waiting to be caught out, that I’m not good enough, not properly trained, and so on. It can be hard to not let that annoying little voice get the better of me. But I try and think of it as a little fire under my butt too, it helps me always aim to be better and improve, to get up in the morning and be more creative. So it’s not all bad, I know I can’t get rid of it so I have to just channel it into positivity! 

Growing on Instagram

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