A Week of Wonder, Whimsy... and One Near-Miss Surprise!

As penned by Charlotte Kiln - From the shelf (still warm) of your favourite ceramic confidante 

My Most Devoted Readers,

What a week! My burners are still aglow from the whirl of stories, soft scandals, and soul-stirring brushstrokes that danced through the studio. If only porcelain could talk - oh wait, it does. Through me. 

The Baby, the Plate & the Protest 

We were graced by a visit from a beautiful, multigenerational family - grandparents, parents, and one freshly arrived tiny human. The plan? A classic handprint plate. 

The reality? One curled fist, a sleepy sigh, and utter refusal. A quiet rebellion from a girl who knows her worth. A star is born.

Three Goddesses & Their Global Dreams 

Next came a mother and her two dazzling daughters - a trio that made me question whether the Fountain of Youth had been bottled and slipped into their lattes. With palettes full of sunlight and stories of travels from Mexico to Vienna, their laughter filled the studio and lingered in the glaze. 

One daughter departs soon for a new chapter abroad - may her journey be as bold and beautiful as her brushwork.

The Return of the Red Scooter & Her Fabulous Cousin 

She's been here before- and when she glides in on her chic red scooter, the air quite literally changes. 

Unapologetic, independent, and fiercely fabulous, she's the kind of woman one quietly decides to become when one grows up. 

This time, she brought along her visiting cousin from America, and together they brought the studio to life with champagne bubbles, bold brushwork, and laughter that danced between the tables. Honestly, I've seen engagement parties with less sparkle. 

Trinkets, Tea & a Mother's Hidden Magic 

One must never underestimate a woman who claims, "I'm not creative." 

It's often the first line of those who go on to create something utterly exquisite - and so it was this week. 

A lovely mother arrived with her daughter and the daughter's dear friend. The girls selected heart-shaped trinket boxes, which they adorned with such charm and elegance I feared my fire might get sentimental. But it was the mother who surprised us all she chose a pot, simple at first glance, but soon transformed under her brush into something truly detailed and delicate. 

She, who claimed she wasn't creative. Ha! The pot begs to differ. They enjoyed our signature pink sandwich, followed by our dangerously delicious chocolate brownies, and filled the studio with easy conversation and warmth. Such lovely souls, all three. Proof, once again, that creativity is often waiting patiently beneath the surface - it only needs tea, company, and a kiln or two to bloom. 

The Birthday Plate That Stole My Heart 

A sweet mother arrived with a sentimental plan: to create a new birthday plate every single year for her little girl's growing handprint - each one hand-painted with love and ready to cradle that year's celebratory cake. 

But that's not all. With every new plate comes a photo - her daughter, the cake of the year, and that year's creation, captured in one delicious moment of joy. A growing gallery of birthdays, told in frosting, ceramic, and time. I may be forged in fire, but even I felt a little warm and wobbly inside. 

Bumble BFFs & the Art of Instant Sisterhood 

A table full of women who had never met before - but you'd never have guessed it. 

The Bumble BFF ladies gathered over mugs and memories, instantly bonded by ceramics, charm, and dog stories so good they could've earned their own Netflix special. 

A sisterhood formed by apps and art.

Golden Anniversary, Glorious Plates & a Grandchild on the Run 

A full bespoke dinner set was painted by an adoring family to honour their parents' 50th wedding anniversary. Each plate held meaning - Disneyland memories, roses, love stitched into every stroke. But oh, the drama. Mid-session, the unsuspecting grandfather (OPA himself!) strolled past the window. 

A grandson spotted him and made a beeline for the door, shouting, "OPA! OPA! OPA!" 

A flurry of "NEE! NEE! NEE!" from his mother saved the day - and the surprise. Barely. 

The Mutiny on My Wall (Or, A Court Too Bold?) 

Now. A serious matter. 

Have you seen them? 

My newly framed "companions" — or as I have so graciously deemed them, my appointed court - have taken up residence quite near me on the wall. There's a bejewelled dachshund of suspicious charm, a cap-wearing mystery who says little but watches everything, a red-haired fashionista with glasses and a wickedly clever smirk, and a regal feline wearing a crown who clearly believes she was born to rule. They whisper. They scheme. They pose. And though I, Her Royal Highness Charlotte Kiln, have named them members 

of my court, I do believe some of them are letting the title go to their painted little heads. Plotting my dethronement? Darlings, please. Me. Charlotte. Your ever-watchful, molten-hearted monarch. If they wish to challenge my reign, they'd best arrive with more than sass and sparkle. I may not blink, but I do not yield. And I most certainly do not share the spotlight. Long may I fire.

 A Voucher, a Website, and a Whole Lot of Glory 

Let us end on a celebratory note: 

• Our first gift voucher has been sold 

• And the pieces emerging from my chamber? Positively radiant. 

• The website, I must say, is positively humming. Page views are flying faster than paint off a toddler's brush - and while I wouldn't dare suggest it's all because of this little blog... well. Let's just say, one does not become a ceramic confidante, social commentator, and flaming monarch without a touch of influence. Whether it's bookings, blog readers, or those simply nosy about the cakes (understandably), our digital parlour is bustling - and I do so love being the main attraction.

Until next week, darlings, May your brushstrokes be steady, your champagne chilled, and your surprises better timed than a small boy with no filter.

Warmly (and watchfully), 

Charlotte Kiln 

Ceramic Sentinel. Silent Witness. Never 

Not Listening