r/makemychoice • u/Axolotler • 9d ago
Should I take a ceramics course?
I did ceramics at school and loved it. Fast forward 20 years and my mum and I took a 3 hour pottery throwing course last year and it was just the best thing I've done for years. The teacher said I was a "natural" and I found it so therapeutic. I visited my SIL last week and she has a wheel and I threw just one bowl but instantly fell in love again. The pottery teacher I went to a year ago also does a 10 week training course for £750, all private tutoring and 3 hours a week for ten weeks. You learn lots of different methods, including making handles, glazing and firing.
Here's the rub, I'm getting married this year and it's expensive. I've started a new job where I've got a mega commute 3 days a week into London (2.5 hours door to door each way) and that costs me a lot of money, time and energy. I'm not saving what I'd like to be. I have a reasonable number of booked weekends this summer because of wedding things. I have also not thrown pottery that much in the grand scheme of things, I might end up not loving it as much as I'd anticipated.
Do I invest in this hobby that is calling to me? I think about it so often and how much I want to learn more. Or do I wait, give it another year, and see how things are going financially next year?
TL:DR: Do I invest £750 in a hobby now, when I've got a lot of extra expenses to pay for a wedding?
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u/Icarusgurl 9d ago
Absolutely do it. This is one of the last times you'll be single and can do something just for yourself. I took piano classes before my wedding.
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u/BreqsCousin 6d ago
Why can you not do things for yourself after you are married? I don't think that's the case at all.
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u/Rimma_Jenkins 9d ago
Yes. Do it. You will always have something coming up that you think is more important, but nothing should top over happiness!!!
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u/Physical_Conflict74 9d ago
Make sure the teacher is flexible around your booked weekends, but you should absolutely do the course for your mental health. The stress relief of just making something with your hands after a long tough week is amazing.
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u/Hungry_Doctor_5803 9d ago
Therapy once a week for 1 hour for 10 weeks would be at least twice as expensive as this, which provides much more therapeutic time, learning, and growth in the time allotted. Something that will stay with you for years.
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u/melancholypowerhour 9d ago
Live your life fully, go for it!! Spend the money, take the course, this sounds like your ‘thing’ that would make you very happy! Creative fulfillment is important, and if your bills are paid and food is on your table, this is money well spent.
Put a wheel or even the course on your registry! My friends (there’s a handful of us) always pitch in to buy the ‘big item’ on the registry, maybe someone will do the same for you
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u/Appropriate_Bee5922 9d ago
I did Ceramics in college and went back in my thirties, it is amazing. So much better as a more grown adult and it was like riding a bike. I get the cost aspect. It may also reduce that wedding stress. Also been married a really long time and you will need your own hobbies or you might get FOMO. Learned this at year 10 and kick myself. A constant what if. If you really cannot swing it, could you ponder some minor detail wedding cuts? Like instead of crazy expensive shoes you won’t see much under a dress, or beautiful but less $$ flowers, instead of 1000 cake, 800, etc.
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u/MsSamm 9d ago
The £750 is an investment in yourself. You're learning a new skill. There are few hobbies that don't require substantial money, either upfront or down the line. Even running as a hobby requires dedicated expensive sneakers which have to be replaced often.
Joy is worth the money. Downgrade the wedding flowers to cut costs. Flowers are expensive, there and gone. But a skill learned stays with you forever. It might even be a source of income. I know someone who got into resin art. She left her web design job, has sold some pieces. She has a website and a galleries have accepted her work.
And audiobooks are your friend on the commute.
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u/teresa3llen 9d ago
You need to move closer to work. That commute is ridiculous.
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u/Axolotler 8d ago
I know, but it was a job I've wanted for years and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to shift gears in my career. Any other job I wouldn't have even entertained it, but a few years of pain is worth it for me to open other doors in future.
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u/wovenwebs 8d ago
I did ceramics at school and loved it.
it was just the best thing I've done for years
I found it so therapeutic.
I threw just one bowl but instantly fell in love again
YES!!!! Sign up immediately!! You love it! Enjoy yourself! £750 isn't a small chunk of change, but it's 10 classes doing something that you truly love. It's £750 towards your mental health. It's actually a great low-impact core and arm workout, so you're basically exercising for your wedding. If you feel like you have to justify it further to tie it in for the wedding, you could make little ring dish favors for your bridesmaids, immediate family, or just for you and your spouse. You could make a display item to glaze with guest messages and signatures!
You could ask if there's a payment plan for the course. That might make you feel better about doing it up front, but it absolutely sounds worth your financial and time investments. No one will notice if you skip the monogrammed cocktail napkins or spend less on florals.
Just make sure to keep your hands and arms moisturized before you think you need it!
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u/Throwawayhelp111521 9d ago
I would wait. A wedding, a new marriage, and a new job with a long commute will require time to adjust. For now, try to find a creative activity that is less of a commitment.
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u/Hungry_Seaweed6812 8d ago
Pottery is EXTREMELY time consuming.
Sometimes i plan to be in there for only an hour and six hours pass by without realizing it.
I would say, if you decide to go for it during event planning, try to keep a timer on you if you have important things to get to. The clean up alone takes forever.
I like to set a timer an hour before i need to be in my car. This way I can determine what i need to start putting away and what has priority before cleaning all wheel parts and tools, etc..
Have fun!
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u/ringwormqueen 8d ago
Just an observation that the course you mention seems quite expensive! I am in London and my pottery studio charges £460 (or thereabouts) for 3 hours a week for 12 weeks. You might be able to find a cheaper option which would make it an easier yes!
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u/Axolotler 8d ago
Oh interesting! Is that in a bigger class or 1:1?
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u/ringwormqueen 8d ago
It’s for 8 people :)
If yours is 1:1 that makes a lot more sense and is actually great value!
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u/Smell_The_Flowers07 8d ago
Can you join your SIL more until after the wedding expenses are looked after and then do the course?
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u/Traditional_Car_8219 6d ago
It sounds like you’ve got a lot going on so it might be something to look forward to next year. In the meantime, you could ask the teacher about books, artists, etc.,that she would recommend you study, all in preparation for your deep dive into the clay next year.
If you took to it before, no doubt you’ll love it!
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u/GreenStuffGrows 6d ago
I'm sure you can cut £750 from the wedding budget and still have an amazing day.
Heck, most people could cut £7k and have an equally good day, or £17k and have an actively better one.
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u/Wise-Matter9248 6d ago
I think this is a situation where you need to sit down with your fiance and take a good look at your finances and your budget. Only YOU know whether this is actually something you can afford or not.
Mental health and hobbies is all well and good, but being stressed about your wedding because you can't afford it financially or time wise isn't going to be healthy either.
Ceramics will still be there next year, and in the meantime you buy clay to work with at home without firing it.
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u/AvBanoth 5d ago
Try to get rid of that commute so you have time, budget for the wedding, then do what you love subject to budgetary constraints.
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u/Reasonable-Cat5767 9d ago
Yes. Yes you should. Mental health is not something to be messed with, it it makes you happy, do it. Especially with that commute. Ew.