It’s been a little while since I last checked in here. The weather has changed a bit, we’ve gone from long, bright, hot days to shorter, rainy humid ones.

I’ve been keeping pretty busy on a day to day basis – passing the time with hobbies at home, as well as working on some bigger plans that scare & enthral me in equal measure.

Studio Hours

I’m still working on my first ceramics collection. While I built most of the pieces at home, things opening up again means I could visit a studio again, for the first time since March! I’ve found a new place to practise; it’s much larger than my previous studio & very well equipped. I’ve visited a couple of times already to get my pieces fired. It’s been fun to dress up for studio visits; denim dungarees have become my go-to, & I keep accessories to the minimum – fun earrings & pinky rings, with a roomy canvas tote to carry supplies. The studio is halfway across town so it’s fun to take little walks there before getting in a cab to head back home.

Jungalow Vibes

I usually resent the rainy season thanks to the dullness & extreme humidity that come along with it. But this year I’ve found myself quite enjoying the season & I know that the plants are a bit part of the reason why. A lot of my plants have tripled their growth rate & I’ve even had to repot one that quickly outgrew it’s pot. I cut a few of my plants down & decided to propagate them so I could share the houseplant love with friends & family. I cannot describe the joy I get from seeing a new leaf unfurl – it really never gets old.

Homesteading

I’ve always considered myself a homebody – even more so when I got cats. But in the last two years I’ve really surprised myself with how I’m able to keep busy & fulfilled at home. A couple of weeks ago I tried my hands at a simple mango pickle (my first!) & my only regret was that I missed most of this year’s pickling season – I’m gonna be on it for sure come 2022!

I did previously allude to growing onions but unfortunately, it didn’t work out. They got all squishy before I could transfer them to a pot, so I’m gonna have to try again later.

Learning New Things

So I’ve always considered myself an auto-didact. I love learning new skills, as long as I can teach them to myself (through the internet or youtube). I really hate ‘class’ setups. But alas, there are some things that you can’t teach yourself, you need to learn from a proper instructor! I was nervous about this when I started ceramics early this year but I was lucky to have an amazing teacher. Now there’s one more thing that I want to learn – even though it’s intimidating, I really want to push through. I’m hoping to tackle it this month, so please wish me luck! x

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A couple of months ago, this space turned 12! I can still remember starting this blog as a way to chronicle interesting happenings in my life during my first year of college. Even though I’m not as regular here as I used to be, I’m grateful to have this space to come back to, to write, document & reflect.

While this space is public, it still feels very much like a diary and reading posts from a decade ago makes me smile & cringe in equal measure. In these last few months, I feel like I’ve made a lot of small changes & set some much larger ones in motion.

Going Home

The year started out quite promising with a trip back home to Goa. I always look forward to these & I hadn’t visited in almost two years. It was dreamy – after many months of being cooped up in a very urban setting, we walked many miles everyday, cooked many fresh amazing meals, visited family, plant spotted & took a lot of great photos.

I wore very little makeup, accessorized with my favorite chain necklace & made sure I wore comfy shoes. My new pair of 90’s style bermuda shorts & me were totally inseparable.

Goa is always fun to visit but this time I found myself considering the viability of staying? I mean sure it’d be a big adjustment, but what if?

Making Ceramics

While on the last days of my trip, I decided to take a course in ceramics. It’s something I’d always wanted to do but kept putting off but after spending months at home consuming pottery videos on youtube (throwing stuff on the wheel can be so calming to watch!) I finally signed up.

It was just a beginner’s course but in a very idyllic setting. I also had the privilege of having an amazing teacher who was both very experienced & extremely patient. Handbuilding my first piece was a thrill & after our ten sessions we over, I made the decision to continue practising at home.

Buying all the necessary tools pinched a bit but it was also quite exciting to commit to this new art form (new to me, at least).

I spent a few weeks in April working on my ‘first collection’ & even set up a new instagram account. I experimented with two clay bodies (an ivory white & a lovely toasted brown) & there were some failures & frustrations but that just made the successes even more special. Pottery does have such a long production cycle though – building may be one of the more laborious steps but there’s also the refining, bisque fire, glazing & glaze fire. My pieces are carefully drying with me & I can’t wait to see them finished! I’ve even made a few small gifts for friends. Here’s hoping that the kiln gods will be on my side.

Moving Forward

Now that you’re up to speed on what I’ve done so far, it’s probably time to discuss my immediate plans. I’ve turned into a total homebody & I’m not complaining. I’ve managed to cut down on buying new clothes & using (or donating) pieces I already own. I’ve taken to needle & thread for the first time since school – just to mend things, but I hope to experiment with embroidery.

Remember when I wrote about getting into houseplants last year? I got a lot more. I did lose a few but most are thriving, & it’s been a very enriching experience. A few days ago I decided to get into growing food. Doing so in an apartment has it’s logistical challenges but I’m starting with onions & it’s fascinating to see how fast they grow.

I hope to knock learn a few new skills in the next couple of months but for now I’m enjoying the stillness at home & the simple routine of watering my plants, playing with the cats & cooking a lot of wholesome meals. I just bought some kimchi so I’m gonna try & make kimchi fried rice tonight! x

The post Summer of Making 🏺 appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.