A summer full of clay & plans in Rhodes

June was a month full of activity, literally and figuratively. While my studio in the Netherlands has already become a familiar place, the Dream House on Rhodes is increasingly taking shape as a second creative home. And that required a significant investment – in supplies, time, and energy.

A large package from Germany brought no fewer than eight new electric turntables, along with nine sturdy Shimpo cranks specially designed for comfortable and ergonomic throwing. As if that wasn't enough, my trusty Brent wheel from the Netherlands also arrived, along with a second kiln (I already had one in Rhodes). This means the Dream House now has two kilns: a top-loader and a door kiln. It's starting to look more and more professional.

Because I didn't want to just tell all this, I brought in a professional filmmaker. He filmed how my students and I worked in the Dream House garden, with the flowers and olive trees as a backdrop. We also gave a cheerful yet intensive tour of the house, so future guests know exactly which room they'll choose for their retreat. You can now see the result on the homepage – and I can only say I'm proud of it.

I spent a month in Rhodes setting everything up. It was necessary, but also a joy. It gave me time to look ahead: in November and December, I'm having a studio built so that, if the weather turns bad, we can also work indoors. Next to the studio, a separate barn will be built with space for the kilns, a clay extruder, a spraying cabinet, a drying cabinet, and storage for glazes and tools. In short: everything needed to give working with clay a serious, yet light and playful foundation.

It feels like an exciting journey. There are still so many steps to take, and at the same time, it's growing a little more every day. I hope I can inspire enough people to discover the magic of clay – whether in Andijk or on sun-drenched Rhodes.