A Day Poured Gently

A Day Poured Gently

A Day Poured Gently

Welcome to A Day Poured Gently, a new space for storytelling, one that invites you to step into the world of artists, makers, and artisans who balance their creative passions with careers in healthcare. These are people who spend their days supporting others and their spare moments shaping something beautiful with their own hands, using art as a means of self-expression, restoration, and wellbeing.

Featuring Emily Woolford of Emily Grace Ceramics

For our very first edition, we’re thrilled to sit down with ceramist Emily Woolford, founder of Emily Grace Ceramics— a name you may already recognise. Perhaps you’ve admired her beautiful pieces at the OUH Staff Exhibition 2025, spotted her stall at the Handmade Oxford International Contemporary Craft Festival, or even caught her on BBC Breakfast Oxford, when presenters Sophie and Ross visited her charming studio. Emily’s work is a celebration of calm and craft tactile, timeless pieces that invite you to slow down and savour the moment. Beyond her collections, she also offers ceramic workshops throughout the year, hosts private pottery parties, and regularly takes part in fairs and exhibitions across the region.

You can explore more of her creations or commission your own bespoke piece by visiting her website on: https://emilygraceceramics.comor following her journey on Instagram at @emilygraceceramics.

Her studio, tucked away in a picturesque Cotswold village not far from Oxford, is every maker’s dream. With sweeping countryside views, the hum of creativity, and a small but mighty team, two faithful dogs, Moose and Simba, and a legendary garden tortoise named Fred, who’s taken on the role of unofficial studio guardian — it’s the perfect setting for inspiration to take shape, one piece at a time.

And this is just the beginning. Every four months, A Day Poured Gently will introduce a new artist, maker, or artisan — each with their own story, their own rhythm, and their own way of blending creativity with wellbeing. So stay tuned, and keep your teacup ready.

If you’ve ever flirted with the idea of picking up a new hobby, learning a craft, or simply doing something that quiets the mind after a long day, this series is for you. Perhaps you’ve wondered how creativity can boost your mental health, sharpen your focus, or even grow into a small side business. Or maybe you already create but aren’t quite sure how to share or sell your work. Either way, you’ll find inspiration here. Each feature takes you through a maker’s day, not in hours or deadlines, but in cups of tea.
Cuppa by cuppa, we’ll discover how creativity weaves its way into ordinary moments, offering balance, joy, and meaning along the way.

So put the kettle on, take a moment for yourself, and join us as we explore lives that are gently, beautifully poured.

Meet the

Team

Emily Woolford

founder of Emily Grace Ceramics

Q. What first drew you to clay?

A. I discovered a love for pottery back in school, many years ago, but in 2019 I went on a 6 week course and fell completely in love with clay after the first lesson. That was the spark that ignited everything.

Q. Was there a moment, an object, a person?

A. That first session of the course was key. From that moment on I knew that this was something I needed to follow. I soon saved up to buy my own second hand wheel and kiln and I haven't looked back.

Q. Did your background in healthcare in influence

your path into ceramics in any way?

A. Yes - working in healthcare, especially on a busy children's ward, can be both physically and emotionally demanding. I found working with clay incredibly therapeutic, particularly after tough shifts. It became a form of healing for me.
Q. What inspires your work?

A. Nature is a huge source of inspiration. I walk with my dogs every morning and often collect grasses and flowers to either press into clay or to recreate out of clay. My connection with nature has deepened through working with ceramics.

Q. Are there themes or feelings you return to

when you create?

A. Definitely - calm, stillness, and the grounding presence of nature. I think those themes are what I need most after the pace of hospital life.

Q. We’ve heard artists have muses. Do you

have a furry or feathery studio assistant? 

A. Yes - my two dogs! They're with me every day in my studio, keeping me company and adding to the peaceful rhythm.

Q. How does your pet shape your practice,

companionship, rhythm, inspiration?

A. They help set a gentle pace to the day. Our morning walks give me time to think and gather inspiration, and having them nearby in the studio makes it feel like a calm, safe space.

Q. Is there a particular moment in your day, maybe with that third

cup, when your ceramic world starts to blend into your healthcare

  1. Often in the quiet of the afternoon - around that third cup - I reflect on the day, and those worlds blend a little. It's a space where I can process the emotional weight of my care work and let creativity gently take over.

  2. Three cups:

  • One in the morning to ease into the day

  • One mid morning in my studio as the creative rhythm sets in

  • One in the afternoon, a comforting pause before cleaning up or heading into other responsibilities 

Simba

Nap Time Coordinator

Q. How does working with your hands through the textures,

of the clay in influence your own well-being?

A. It's deeply calming! After a busy shift at the hospital, getting my hands into clay feels like a kind of reset - it slows my mind and helps me breathe again.

Q. In your view, is clay a form of self-care? 

A. Absolutely. It gives me something that's completely mine - a place to focus, process, and create beauty out of stillness.

Q. How do your two worlds — healthcare and ceramics — speak to each other?

A. They balance each other. In healthcare, I care for others; in ceramics, I care for myself. One can be fast-paced and reactive, the other slow and intentional - and I need both

 

 “Start small, be patient and trust your passion. Keep the joy in your craft and let your business grow at your own pace.”

 

Q. Has your experience in care work in influenced the way you see people and the way you interact with your ceramics

A. Yes - care work teaches you to observe and listen deeply. I think that attentiveness shows up in the details of my work and how I teach others during workshops.

Q. Do you ever bring your ceramic practice into your healthcare

work — directly or symbolically?

A. While I don't bring clay into the hospital, I carry the calm it gives me into my nursing work. I think it helps me stay more grounded and present for others.

Q. How do you protect time and energy

for your ceramic work, especially with the demands of healthcare?

A. As my business has grown, I've been able to reduce my hours at the hospital. That change has allowed me to dedicate more time to my studio practice, which helps sustain me emotionally and creatively.

Q. Are there rituals, boundaries, or support systems that help

you keep both parts of your life alive? 

A. Yes - my day always starts with a cup of tea, breakfast and a dog walk. That gentle rhythm sets the tone before I head into my studio.

 


Fred

Patrol Commander

Q. At what point did your ceramics become a business, and how did that feel?

A. It started naturally - after falling in love with clay , I set up a small studio at home, mainly on the kitchen table! As I created more and people responded to my work, it organically grew into a business.

Q. Was there a  first piece you sold that made you

think, “This could be something more”? 

A.  Yes - it was a small piece, but the joy and connection the buyer felt made me realise the potential in this path.

Q. How do you balance the practical side of selling

(pricing, marketing, commissions) with the creative

and therapeutic part?

A. Hosting workshops has helped me bridge both worlds - it's both practical and deeply fulfilling. Having my own space gives me the flexibility to create while still managing the business side.

Q. When did ceramics shift from a hobby to something more serious, or even necessary?

Inspiration and Inner Worlds

A. When I began spending more time in my studio and realised how essential it had become to my wellbeing. Hosting workshops and growing a business felt like a natural extension.

Q. What has surprised you most about the journey so far —

as a maker, a healer, a business owner?

A. That something I began purely for myself has grown into something I can share with others - and even shift my career around. It's been incredibly empowering.

Q. If your favourite mug could speak, what would it say about you?

A. "She's someone who finds joy in simple moments, who values calm and creativity. She's poured her heart into her work - and probably refilled me at least three times today!"

 

Advice to someone dreaming of turning their creative hobby into a business:

 

“Start small, be patient and trust your passion. Keep the joy in your craft and let your business grow at your own pace.”

Emily’s Studio

Hand-thrown magic from the Oxfordshire countryside.Come for the countryside views, stay for the clay therapy.