Late Summer Journal: Summer Heat, Vases, and Six Months On
Summer in Switzerland arrived with an unexpected, heavy heat this year. For my first full season completely dedicated to the workshop, it was a sudden lesson in how intimately pottery is tied to atmospheric shifts. Clay is sensitive, and it responds to the air long before you realize the temperature has changed.
On the hottest days, the drying happened almost violently fast. I found myself throwing on a tight timer, as leaving a piece overnight meant waking up to pots that were already bone dry by morning, often bearing cracks across their bottoms. I adapted by retreating into the studio early, keeping the workshop doors closed during the day to lock in the cool air from the night before. I relied heavily on damp boxes to carefully control humidity levels after trimming. Still, the heat claimed its toll, and a series of bases cracked. Luckily, I had thrown many more than needed for the order.
Pots drying to get ready for bisque firing
Six months into working independently, the sense of freedom is undeniable. I can shift my schedule to travel, choose when to rest, or step away mid-afternoon. But that freedom is closely bound to responsibility. Clay does not honor weekends or standard office hours, it dictates the pace. I’ve worked late into Sunday evenings glazing because the pots needed to be ready, and watched over midnight firings in the quiet of the night. Being a one-woman show means holding every thread: making, photographing, marketing, reaching out, and shipping.
The day I will carry with me from this season was the workshop's inauguration. We gathered with friends and family, ran a small hand-building session where everyone made their own plates, and shared a long barbecue together into the evening. It was a grounding reminder of why we make tactile things, to bring people around a table.
Pottery Workshop on the inauguration date
There have been quiet, surprising victories along the way. My absolute favorite piece from these months was a small jug, one that sold instantly from the very first picture I posted, bought by my friend Aline.
My favourite piece of these first 6 months
As styled and photographed by Aline
Shortly after, I hit a milestone that made the studio feel truly viable: selling to a customer outside my personal network, who went on to place an order for thirty vases. I will always be grateful for this collaboration with Stadtblüte for the restaurant Geissmättli in Lucerne. I was so happy with how it turned out, and I’ll be sharing more details soon on a dedicated Collaborations page on the website.
Bud vases for my first commission
A collaboration with Stadtblüte for the restaurant Geissmättli in Lucerne
On quieter days, even tiny sparks matter, like noticing Florian Gadsby had liked one of my studio shots on Instagram.
Financially, the reality is still modest. For now, sales cover my expenses, and building a steady income takes time. But the practice is expanding. Repeat customers, corporate gifts, and custom orders are becoming a regular part of studio life.
My main learnings from these first six months are to iterate faster, to make more larger pieces, and to throw new shapes more frequently.
Looking ahead to autumn, the studio rhythm is shifting again. In October, I am heading to Paris for an intensive weekly glazing course with Kim Le, a potter whose work I deeply admire. A question for my future self, to answer in the next journal entry: Did the new glaze techniques from Paris change the way I see the surface of my pieces? I am sure about the answer..
Back in the studio, I’ve already begun production on a custom order of mugs for ETH, my former employer, for their Christmas gifts, while planning the rest of my holiday production.
Prototyping some custom-made mugs for a team of ETH Zurich, my former employer :)
A Small Favor & A Big Thank You: If you have brought a piece of Atelier Chus into your home or visited the studio for a workshop, taking a minute to leave a review on Google Maps would mean the world to me. As a one-woman workshop, your feedback helps others discover my work and keeps this small studio growing. Thank you so much for being part of this journey!
I would appreciate taking a minute to leave a review on Google Maps
