Daily Life Food Inspiration New York Projects

Ceramic bowls and blueberry scones

I signed up for pottery classes a few weeks ago, and it’s surprising how much it reminds me of baking.

My surroundings fade away as I fall into a quiet period of total concentration, carefully kneading, preparing surfaces, building, molding, firing, and waiting. Because most of the work I do professionally is on the computer, it’s truly gratifying to use my hands and create something tangible.

When I was 17, I flew to Japan alone. I received these hand-thrown bowls as a gift and imagined I’d learn pottery one day.

The lovely hand-dyed indigo tablecloth comes from Dali, Yunnan Province. I’m folding kusudama flowers.

“When I am engaged in the process of making and firing I am aware of the element of gravity. Earth draws everything towards itself. But I hope to touch heaven.” – A quote by ceramic artist, Yo Akiyama

“Craft skills are often handed down from master to apprentice, as is the case of Juan Mañosa and his son. This vase collection comes from a single lesson of how to use the pottery wheel.”


Peeps!

If we’re instagram friends, you already know how much I love baking blueberry scones in the morning. It only takes a minute to whip up the ingredients and they always come out perfectly delicious!

Blueberry Scones
adapted from “scones recipe”

Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
5 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick butter
1 egg
3/4 cup heavy cream (alternatively, milk or half-and-half)
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 tablespoon sugar for sprinkling

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. Cut in butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture. Pour in blueberries.
4. In a small measuring cup, whisk together cream, and egg. Stir into flour mixture until moistened.
5. Knead the dough gently and pat into a 1/2 inch thick round. Cut into 8 wedges, and place on lightly greased baking sheet. Sprinkle some sugar on top of the wedges.
6. Bake for about 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

P.S. I recently received the sunshine award, which is “awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspires others in the blog world.” Thank you, Barbara!

I’m supposed to answer the following questions & choose five bloggers to share:
Favorite color: Firetruck red and various shades of yellow.
Favorite animal: Rabbits!
Favorite non-alcoholic drink: Black coffee and cold, cold water.
Facebook or twitter: Lately, twitter.
Getting or giving presents: Exchanges!
Favorite flower: Gerber daisies.
Favorite pattern: Polka-dot.
Passion: Stories for and about people.
Favorite number: 7 or 8.

Five wonderful bloggers I’d like to share:
1. Artwood Lane – because her colorful posts are always so carefully thought-out.
2. You Can Make It Easy – because he documents the little things that make life easier.
3. Crafty Love – because of her photographic adventures and crafty projects.
4. Bonjour Johanna – because her painted copains always bring a smile to my face.
5. It Will Stop Raining – because of her dedication to be conscious about what we eat.

Do you have any favorite blogs around the web? Please do share!

19 Comments

  • Reply
    Chandni
    March 15, 2012 at 12:02 am

    The scones make me want to gobble some right now! I’ve recently started following your blog and really like the way you put together such pretty pictures! : )

    Some blogs I enjoy:
    1. Solo for her lovely sketches and insights.
    2. Things We Forget for To Do notes that matter.
    3. Typewritten for beautiful words that are typed.

  • Reply
    Studio Meez
    March 15, 2012 at 2:53 am

    How excited you are taking pottery classes! It’s something that is on my to do list for a long time and it looks like so much fun. I’m curious to see some of your results and those hand-trown bowls are very beautiful.

  • Reply
    Rina
    March 15, 2012 at 3:31 am

    Pottery class sounds fun! Is it really like baking? Someone else has told me that before as well.
    Now I really want to try it! There is a lot of beautiful pottery in Japan. I bought back my mom a hand-thrown cup, and she loved it!
    Those two men in the video are so skilled. I really appreciate hand made things such as those vases.
    Really beautiful!
    Oh peeps! Are you getting ready for Easter? haha. Those blueberry scones look SUPER yummy!
    I’m a sucker for anything with fresh blueberries in them (scones, muffins, pancakes etc)
    I’m definitely going to try this recipe! I see Aron’s blog!! And a few other famous bloggers! hmmm, as for favorite bloggers, you probably know them already!
    (of course you’re one of them!) ♥♥

  • Reply
    kelly zarb
    March 15, 2012 at 3:45 am

    have fun with the pottery classes won’t you? The blueberry scones look tasty and sound very easy to make to. I love cooking it does have a very meditative appeal for me too, its very soothing and satisfying to create something nourishing for oneself and loved ones too.

  • Reply
    Marlous
    March 15, 2012 at 6:35 am

    Mmmm that scone looks delicious!
    One of my favorite blogs on the web is ohhellofriendblog.com

  • Reply
    tasha
    March 15, 2012 at 7:00 am

    your posts are always entertaining and instantly makes me feel better. <3 i wish all my posts could make me feel this way too! sometimes, i think i've been getting stale. on a differet note, it's wonderful that you've started a pottery class! 🙂 it's so beautiful, the way you speak of it. ah, i'll have to try baking those scones this weekend. :3 xxxx

  • Reply
    Veronica Fish
    March 15, 2012 at 10:58 am

    Yessss Peeeps…. When I see those little chicks, spring has arrived ~

    I must try your scone recipe!!

  • Reply
    Nadiye
    March 15, 2012 at 1:56 pm

    Ohhhh that looks so lush! Cute bowls aswell! Xoxo

  • Reply
    olga
    March 15, 2012 at 3:33 pm

    i adore handmade pottery,
    this summer with choldren we were making
    a lot of things, didnt bake them but still. beautiful
    and i`m going to buy a pottery wheel, too)
    im wishing you
    nice lessons, sewon

    and bowl from japan are perfect
    non-glazed part with patterns,

  • Reply
    teresa
    March 15, 2012 at 5:40 pm

    yay for pottery classes! i have neglected my own enrollment due to health issues, but it’s definitely something i want to do! the whole process is incredibly poetic and intimate, very beautiful. i think you’re going to fall in love with the flow and discipline of it all, and i’m super sure you’ll make the most gorgeous work! enjoy!

  • Reply
    Crystal
    March 15, 2012 at 10:20 pm

    I love your description of pottery classes! It makes me want join one. I’ve always been fascinated by pottery and the way people are able to shape clay into different shapes.

    The bowls from Japan are beautiful!

    I am finally starting to get caught up on the blogging world, but I did see your picture of scones on Instagram. Thank you for posting the recipe! I think I’ll have to try these this weekend!

  • Reply
    Ashleylbaluyut@gmail.com
    March 15, 2012 at 10:48 pm

    Sewon! What the heck, I didn’t know you were on instagram?! I’m going to find you ASAP. I bet your feed is a dream 🙂

  • Reply
    Krys
    March 16, 2012 at 3:29 am

    The pottery classes sound so lovely! Even though I’ve never taken a ceramics class, the feeling you’ve described is, yes, reminiscent of baking, but it also kind of reminds me of when I’m in the studios working on my pieces– sometimes it’s noisy, but most of the time, it’s quite quiet with everyone super engaged in what they’re doing. And peeps! One of my favourite Easter treats, methinks. Your instagram photographs of scones have made me crave them a bunch…so I do believe once I come home for spring break, I’ll be making them, hehe. Hope that you had a great week! Thanks for sharing the blogs xx

  • Reply
    NM
    March 17, 2012 at 11:01 pm

    Making anything out of clay is fun, right?
    My favourite part of the whole process is how the shape of your object and the choice of glaze affect each other.

  • Reply
    jannese
    March 18, 2012 at 5:58 pm

    awwwww… thanks, Sewon. I love your blog too! And I love all your mouth watering food photos, yummmmm! I think I may give the scones a go!

  • Reply
    Eliz
    March 19, 2012 at 12:44 am

    hand thrown bowls? are these supposed to resemble wabi sabi? they’re so lovely!

  • Reply
    Amelia
    March 19, 2012 at 6:48 am

    Wow, pottery classes sound amazing. That quote is so beautiful too. I never thought of pottery in that light.

  • Reply
    Ronnnie
    March 20, 2012 at 7:12 am

    Those ceramic bowls look so beautiful Sewon! And you make me want to eat blueberry scones right now.
    Ronnie xo

  • Reply
    alma
    March 22, 2012 at 5:33 am

    Oh now I want to make potery too!

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