The Potter's Way: Heal your Mind and Unleash your Creativity through the Power of Clay

Description

An inspirational journey into the therapeutic powers of pottery from The Great Pottery Throwdown contestant, Florence St George. Sometimes it's the little things that get you through the big stuff. Struggling with depression and feeling lost after the birth of her daughter, Florence St George began experimenting with a small lump of clay on her kitchen table. Pot by pot, bowl by bowl, she discovered that as her hands became busier, her mind grew calmer. In just a few years, Florence went from complete beginner to contestant on The Great Pottery Throwdown, discovering some important lessons along the way: that pottery is the perfect antidote to internet overload (phones and clay don't mix), that creativity doesn't have to be expensive, and that the hands-on process of working with clay can ground you like nothing else. It forces you to be in the moment, it teaches you resilience (pots are endlessly breaking) and fully engages your mind, body and soul. In The Potter's Way, Flea shares simple tips to get you started on the great pottery journey, from hand-building pinch pots through to throwing large scale vessels on the wheel. This book will give you the toolkit to unleash your creativity and put you on the path of self-discovery. "It doesn't matter who you are, we all get stuck in the mud sometimes. Fortunately, I found that mud has the power to heal."

Florence St George, also known as Flea, is a British ceramicist who discovered her love of clay after the birth of her daughter when she became ill with postnatal depression. In 2020, Flea became a contestant on The Great Pottery Throwdown. Demand for her work continues and she works with a factory in Portugal to produce limited editions of her designs. In 2021 she collaborated with the jewellery designer Monica Vinader and created an array of delicate stacking dishes for rings.