From Clay to Creation: My Intro to Pottery (And How I’m Tackling Beginner Woes)
- Stephanie Denman
- Jul 20
- 2 min read
Pottery has been on my “someday” list for years. There’s just something about shaping clay with your hands that feels grounding and timeless—very in line with our homestead lifestyle. So when I finally got my hands on a wheel, I jumped in headfirst… right in the middle of my barn-slash-Etsy shop!
The Current Setup (and Why It’s Getting Tight)
Right now, my pottery wheel lives inside our multipurpose barn where I also store and package items for our Etsy shop. It’s a cozy setup, but let’s just say—it’s getting real cramped in here. Between clay splatter and shipping supplies, I’m starting to outgrow the space.
To make room and streamline my process, I’m eyeing our garage as a potential kiln firing and storage area. It’s not ready just yet (read: clutter central), but come fall when it’s cooler, we’re planning a deep clean and reorganization. With a little elbow grease, I think it could be the perfect complement to my growing pottery setup.
A Kiln Story: Old, Ugly, and Totally Worth It
One of my biggest beginner wins was scoring a super old kiln on Facebook Marketplace—for just $100! Sure, it needed some love (and a few missing parts), but it was a steal compared to the price of buying new. I did have to shell out $220 for an electrician to update our wiring and install a proper 50-amp plug, and I’ve been slowly gathering the replacement parts needed to get it fully functional.
But all in all? Totally worth it. Giving this old kiln a second life fits right in with our homestead values: reuse what you can, fix what’s broken, and make something beautiful from what others might toss aside.
Beginner Challenges (and What I’m Learning)
1. Wheel Woes: Centering clay isn’t as intuitive as it looks on Instagram. I’m still figuring it out, but practicing with smaller amounts of clay (around 1–1.5 lbs) and anchoring my elbows for stability has helped me feel more in control. It’s not perfect—but neither am I, and that’s okay.
2. Timing the Drying: Drying pieces in the Texas heat is a challenge all its own. One day it's too wet to trim, the next it's bone dry and ready to crack. I've started loosely covering my work to slow down the drying process and keeping a notebook to track how long each piece takes in my environment.
3. Embracing the Imperfections: I’m learning to love the “wonky” pieces—the ones with personality. As a homesteader, I know not everything has to look store-bought to be functional and meaningful. That mindset has made the learning curve less frustrating and more rewarding.
Looking Ahead
This pottery journey is far from over, but I’m excited to see where it leads. Maybe one day I’ll have a dedicated studio with all the bells and whistles. For now, I’m grateful for my barn wheel, reclaimed kiln, and all the messy lessons in between.
If you’ve ever thought about trying pottery—do it. Start small. Embrace the chaos. You don’t need a perfect studio to create something beautiful.
Stay muddy, friends. – Stephanie @ The Denman Homestead