Ever wanted to try your hand at pottery making? Nathalie Walsh is an experienced potter who runs a side business, Cedar Tree Ceramics, dedicated to her hobby, selling her own pieces and holding workshops where people can come and try out the skill for themselves. Her unique journey into a flourishing business is inspiring and she shares her experiences and advice for those wanting to start a creative business of their own.
Walsh explained how she began pottery when she was 38 years old after being bought a voucher for Christmas. She immediately took to the craft and said: "I made three pots in my first hour on the wheel!”, She added that it felt as though she had somehow done it before.
After this instant connection to the hobby, Walsh hunted down local classes to continue her journey. On her 40th birthday she was then gifted a second-hand wheel and kiln so that she could practise her pottery making skills from home. Her skills continued to improve and she moved away from taking classes, deciding on more independent practice, as advised by her teacher.
This then led to Walsh holding an open weekend for friends and family to come and buy some of her creations at 'bargain prices'.
“It went so well and I sold about £1000 in pottery and commissions that weekend!” This instilled a driving confidence and she moved to selling at Christmas fairs and then to holding her own workshops.
These workshops are for people to come along and try pottery, no other experience needed. Walsh describes how this has become more successful as the TV programme The Great Pottery Throw Down was so popular and suddenly everyone wanted to have a go!
She expresses how this is more profitable: "You get paid for when you work as opposed to making lots of things and hoping to sell them. I would like to have workshops throughout the year that people come to with friends and do it as a social event - it's very therapeutic and different to the usual going out for a meal or a drink!”
This gives people a chance to try a new hobby in a pressure-free, laidback environment, which feels approachable and accessible to more people. When asked what advice she would give to those hoping to start their own creative business, Walsh explained: "You shouldn’t make it all about the money, but instead to take joy in doing something that you love."
She also advises that you shouldn’t go crazy buying too much stuff or to undermine yourself, focusing on the point that you should be doing something mainly because you love doing it. “I guess my inspiration comes from different places,” Walsh discusses. She says that making practical pottery is important to her. “I am always looking at items that I can make and use or other people can use everyday. I'm a firm believer that you should use things, not put them away in a cupboard!”
Pinterest is also a source of inspiration for her, as is similar for many other creatives. She describes that when thinking about organising her workshops, she thinks about what I would enjoy to make with people. She added: " I think if I don't enjoy it, they probably won't either.”
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