The lovely Vanessa and I met via an online course earlier this year. We both wanted to improve our blogging skills. It didn’t take long until we started to chat about our business ideas and hopes. As I run events and she hosts workshops it soon became apparent that we should do something together. Not long after, The Heiter Autumn Event took place at Vanessa’s Oak Tree Barn in Somerset, England. It was such a heiter experience that I wanted to find out more about Vanessa, and share her story wih all of you.

Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do.

I’m Vanessa and having spent the last 30 odd years pursuing many different occupations in many different locations I find myself back in the village of my childhood. I have rather taken the long way round, but have finally been able to identify the fact that the simple pleasure of spending time with like-minded people is what fills me up. Friends, family and those whom I welcome to my home in North Somerset, England, which I share for workshops and retreats.
I’m happily married to a wonderful man and we have two very nearly grown up daughters. We’re a little spread around the country at present but love nothing more than being together at the barn where we enjoy pottering outside, gardening, eating, drinking, chicken wrangling and sitting in front of the fire.

When did you decide to start hosting workshops at Oak Tree Barn and why?

I began hosting workshops at Oak Tree Barn just a year ago having previously run them from our home in Bristol. I initially began running workshops having identified two things - that I definitely wanted to work for myself, and that I needed to meet other people regularly. I’ve always enjoyed attending workshops as I love learning, and thought this might just be the thing for me. I’m always happy for an excuse to try out new recipes and baking without the danger of eating it all myself is welcomed!
I do know from experience through that running a workshop alone is quite challenging. It’s hard to be fully present for a group of participants if you’re worrying about whether the kettle has boiled or if lunch is ready. I hope that what I’m able to do is enable others to share their skills, knowledge and experience in a relaxed and pleasurable way for everyone.

What kind of workshops are held at the barn?

I’ve hosted quite a variety of events here, from floristry and Christmas wreaths to skills for small businesses and some quite intense personal development retreats. Indeed, I even hosted your first UK Heiter event which felt like the perfect combination of getting people together to enjoy a bit of everything - the benefits of a lovely walk, getting creative and also reflecting on the things that genuinely give us pleasure.
The barn is a very special place to us and has a particularly peaceful, calm ambience. I am possibly a little biased, but others do comment upon it too. It’s a wonderfully flexible space so lends itself to a variety of small group events, and I’m always happy to try something new so welcome suggestions.

Image taken during the Autumn Heiter Event earlier this year

Why is the Oak Barn Tree different to other workshop locations?

I think perhaps it is partially the fact that the barn is a home that enables people to quickly feel comfortable here and able to absorb whatever the day has to offer. I’m always happy to share the (rather longwinded!) story of how we ended up owning and converting it; we know how lucky we are to have had the opportunity to create this space, and sharing it gives me great pleasure which I hope people can sense.
From a practical perspective it’s away from the city but within easy reach, parking is no issue and we have the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty literally on our doorstep. I offer nourishing home cooked food that I’m on hand to serve, and I’m always here to help out during workshops.

Why do you think workshops can have a positive impact on people and add to their Heiterkeit?

I have no doubt at all that workshops have a positive impact. It may not always be what you expected, but I think the benefits of spending time amongst a group of people are enormous. Meeting people outside our regular circles, learning or experiencing something new, walking, talking, eating and drinking together is hugely uplifting. It opens our eyes and hearts to the possibilities we can create and offers support from others in exploring the options.

What have you enjoyed most about running your business?

It’s funny, when I very first began I think I thought I would find a creative pursuit that I would be able to fully embrace and turn into the business itself, but what I have actually discovered is that producing the words and imagery required to communicate about a business is what I really gain pleasure from. Photography and writing have become the ‘work’ I love, while welcoming others here at the barn doesn’t really feel like work at all.

What has been the biggest learning curve you’ve experienced while being a creative business owner?

The sheer number of things I’ve needed to learn and understand over the past couple of years has felt at times quite overwhelming. From the vague notion of having a business to actually being able to say confidently that I have one has been a huge leap. Sales, marketing, social media, admin, writing, photography, food hygiene, health & safety, insurance, finances, communication... The list is endless and just trying to remember to take it one step at a time, to slow down and breathe has been so important.

What’s next for you and the Oak Tree Barn?

I’m so looking forward to next year, to spending more time here with more people. I will be continuing to host others’ workshops and in addition am going to be offering other ways to join me here too. I will have a sort of ‘non-workshop’ day here each month, a day of camaraderie, of spending time with others who are perhaps creative and/or self-employed, to walk, talk, eat & drink together. I think it will be a lovely way to meet like-minded souls and cheer each other along.
I am also very excited that I will be able to offer short 1:1 retreats in our new Shepard Hut. There have been many times in my life when I have felt a strong desire to hide away, to take stock, breathe deep and be looked after. And this is just what I want to offer to women who can’t get away to join a longer retreat with others, don’t want to be entirely alone but simply need to find a little time and space to reset themselves.

Where can people find and connect with you?

Instagram is my favourite social media hang out so join me there @simpsonsisters
My website is www.thesimpsonsisters.co.uk and I’m always delighted to find emails from real people in my inbox vanessa@thesimpsonsisters.co.uk

How would you describe your perfect heiter (cheerful) moment?

Warmth is the word that springs to mind, both the physical warmth of the sunshine or a fire and the psychological warmth of being with those we like and love. Sharing food and drink in the warmth - that’s heiterkeit to me! Vx

Images: Vanessa Dennett

Interview: Katharina Geissler-Evans, heiter magazine

Update 2021: In early 2020, Vanessa decided to change careers and turn her passion of bringing people together into a beautiful new adventure. Vanessa now works as photographer and creates meaningful photography that conveys warmth and an emotional connection with the viewer. Read more about it here.

I first came across Makiko on Instagram about a year ago. I instantly liked her beautiful tableware, and I also loved that her content is in two languages (English and Japanese) too. In an interview I found out how she became a potter, what techniques she uses for her pieces and what benefits she sees in running her own business.

Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.

My name is Makiko Hastings. I’m a potter and I make mainly hand-thrown tableware. I’m from Japan and live in North Yorkshire, UK with my husband and five year old daughter.

When did you decide to start a career in pottery and why?

I think it was during my teaching time from 2009 onward. I first studied ceramics back in 1999 but after that, I went for a totally different career as a social care worker for people with special needs. I worked within the social care industry for 17 years. Although I had worked as an occasional assistant for a studio potter (my late mentor David White) on my days off and had been in the pottery studio environment on and off for a while, I never thought I’d become a potter myself, mainly because I thought I would not be able to support myself financially. Then in 2009, an opportunity opened at the local art centre for people with special needs, they were looking for a new pottery workshop teacher! I applied for the job and got a place. By running a pottery workshop every day, I became more and more passionate about clay and really enjoyed helping others to learn new skills. I realised that I wanted to make my own work too - not just teach, so I enrolled for a BA course that I could complete whilst working. My husband and I built a studio in our garden and bought a kiln. After graduation in 2012, I started my business part-time, slowly making things once a week and selling my work through the shows etc. Our daughter was born a year later and I had to close the studio for three years due to her medical needs. Fortunately she is doing well now and last year she started school, so I just knew this is the time, now or never! (also, the hours were not suitable for school holidays) so I quit my teaching job to become a full-time potter. Quite scary really.

Where do you create your work and what techniques do you use?

In my tiny studio in our garden, which was a combined old garden shed and empty space behind the garage. My husband constructed it and we built the space little by little together. I mainly work on the wheel but also hand build some pieces. My tableware is all stoneware clay and fired with my hand-made glaze. For one of my collections, I use slip and sgraffito decoration, which is blue and white.

Of all the things you've created, what is your favourite piece and why?

It's not actually the work but rather a personal object, which is a piece of hand thrown porcelain platter with my daughter’s foot print on. I just love it so much and it’s on our mantle piece so we can see it every day. Clay does shrink, especially if it is porcelain, so the foot print is not the exact size, but it was not about the accurate size but the memory that I wanted to keep. When my girl turned one year old, I threw a plate and got my husband to carry her whilst I was pushing her wiggly feet against the surface of wet clay! Then I stamped her name and DAY365. I made two pieces, one for us to keep, the other one for her.

You became self-employed last year. What advantages have you seen in running your own creative business, and what have you found challenging?

Being my own boss is certainly an advantage! I had worked for an organisation for a long time, and there were times where I felt I was going nowhere (because of the management system). I like the fact that I don’t have to bang my head against a wall anymore for such reasons. Of course there are difficult times being self-employed and you have to work hard. But having control over how I work is great.

Another good thing is flexibility. Whilst before I had to juggle a lot to take time off work, but now I can organise my time without much restriction, so that I can arrange to come and see my daughter’s show at school etc. and sometime I can take a day off to go to ceramic events, which I did a couple of times this year and it was great!

Lack of time is the most challenging part for me. At the moment, my girl is in her first year at school, so she still needs me quite a lot. So I can only work during her school hours and when my husband is available to look after her in the eveving or on the weekend. I never have enough time for the making process, but I guess lack of time is everyone’s challenge. Pottery is time consuming, and you need to get work done at the right condition of clay, so balancing timing within your limited time is hard.

How would you describe a typical work day?

I go to the studio at 9am straight after the school run and then work up until 3pm. Depending on the task of the day, I may be throwing, turning or glazing etc, or doing several tasks in a day. Every morning I start with my studio diary, in which I write down a rough planfor the day ahead. As my studio is in my garden, I pop back to my house to have a quick lunch. At this point, I often pop out to my garden for five minutes or so, to breathe and refresh my mind. I sometimes work on evenings and weekends, depending on the work load and tasks left from the day.

In what way do you think creativity or working in a creative field can influence someone's happiness?

When I was running the pottery workshop for people with special needs, I always focused on the ability rather than disability of individuals. no matter how small it was. By creating something or being in that environment gave them a chance to explore, express and try something new. It gives them a sense of achievement. I think everyone is happier when you feel that way and I truly believe that creativity can empower people.

Heiter is a bilingual platform (English and German) and so are your blog and social media channels (English and Japanese). What benefits do you see in offering your content in two languages?

It has certainly helped to widen my audience. But that was not really the reason I used both languages. Although I live in UK, I don’t want to lose my sense of being Japanese. When I first started my blog, it was just in English but later on I added a Japanese version simply for my mum to be able to read what I was writing. I continued doing it and gradually my audience in Japan grew. I found it really nice to be able to communicate in my own native language. So I did the same on my social media channels and now it has become a habit. I think writing in your own language is important, not just for Japanese readers but for me to express myself. Of course nuances, words and or phrases don't always carry over. I have this thing both in English and Japanese, that is why my posts are never literal translations. But that works for each reader if you know what I mean. By writing in the language in a way that works better, I think you can make what you would like to say more articulate. Google translate would never be able to do that!

Where can people find you and your work?

On Instagram I am @makikohastings . My website & online shop (open about twice a year) are www.makikohastings.com

How would you describe a perfect heiter (cheerful) moment?

Having a cuppa in your favourite cup! Simple, cheerful and happy!

Images: Makiko Hastings

Interview: Katharina Geissler-Evans, heiter magazine

How Vanessa adds cheerfulness to the world: creative events at Oak Tree Barn

Makiko Hastings in the making: interview with the UK potter