I have an inspiring interview post for you today!
I had the chance to make an exclusive interview with Beth, the hands and mind behind things.beth.makes, which produces beautiful clay creations.
She is a talented knitter and clay artist.
Here, she shares with us how this came to be, so whether youโre a budding artist, fond of art, or simply curious, check out my questions and Bethโs answers below!
1. Could you introduce yourself to all our readers?
Hi! I’m Beth or things.beth.makes, in the fiber world.
2. How and where did your passion begin?
My Grammy taught me to knit when I was about five, and that was kind of it. I fell in love and have been making things ever since. There was a lull in my teenage years when it was anything but cool to knit, and my early 20s when I couldn’t afford yarn. I never completely stopped. There just weren’t as many things flying off the needles in those days.
3. How did you get to be interested in pottery design?
I can thank my husband for that. He purchased a 6-week pottery wheel class at a local pottery studio, and I was hooked. That was three years ago, and I’m still working out of the same studio and taking classes when it’s safe.
4. Which one relaxes you the most? Knitting or pottery?
Knitting and painting. Throwing is still a little stressful.
5. What inspires your design style?
To be honestโฆI don’t know that I could articulate that well. I think everything I make is just a mash-up of all the things I’ve loved over the years.
6. Your designs are gorgeous! How do you come up with all these new ideas without pause?
Mainly I love to have a project to work on. So when I sit in front of my desk, I don’t really think about what I’m going to create. I kind of pick pieces up and start working on them. This definitely does not always work out, but you’d be surprised how much you can accomplish with no plan.
7. You have a lot of beautiful cups, mugs, and notion holders, but do you have a favorite?
I do. But it is constantly changing from batch to batch. So my current favorite is a mug I painted with a green gradient that I think decorated with mushrooms. I decided to keep that one because I haven’t kept a piece of work for myself in over two years. I figured it was time.
8. How long does it take for you to produce a new collection?
Each batch of items requires three kiln firings, plus the time to throw, trim, create a handle, and paint the piece. So it’s typically about a month from start to finish.
9. Balancing your day with family and clay-making/knitting indeed isnโt easy. What keeps you going?
I’m lucky not to have any of it feel like work. I think if it did, I would scale back on that area and focus on another.
10. Whatโs in store for this month?
Lots of family time. I haven’t seen my family very much over the last few years, given the geographical separation. But we’re all fully vaccinated, and we’ll be taking rapid home tests to see each other for the holidays. And we’ll be celebrating my father’s 80th birthday, only a year and a half late!
