At Studio Asobi, we believe that there is a place in this world for beautiful creations crafted by hand – slowly, lovingly and uniquely.
Our clay vessels each bear a name and a little haiku, and just as we have enjoyed making them, we hope that they bring the same joy to whoever holds and uses them.
The pictures below are a glimpse of our pottery works and creative process. Larger sculptures and installations can be found here.
SEASONS See the birds take flight And the forest shed its crown A fresh path revealed
Below these cups are carved the characters 悅、益、宁、顺、康、恩，farewell words that our good friend is blessing his colleague with as she enters a new season of life. As I slowly carve these words, I am reminded of each individual stroke of blessing I have experienced in my own life.
If were to make a cup for myself, a word I would love to carve would be 友 (friendship). Only 4 strokes on paper, but many many steps long in the journey through this strange and wonderful life.
SEASONS See the birds take flight And the forest shed its crown A fresh path revealed
Below these cups are carved the characters 悅、益、宁、顺、康、恩，farewell words that our good friend is blessing his colleague with as she enters a new season of life. As I slowly carve these words, I am reminded of each individual stroke of blessing I have experienced in my own life.
If were to make a cup for myself, a word I would love to carve would be 友 (friendship). Only 4 strokes on paper, but many many steps long in the journey through this strange and wonderful life....
If we didn`t have that pivotal time alone with God that changed our minds about having a child, it is quite easy to imagine how our lives may have continued. Probably feeling a lot more in control of things. And more pottery would be made haha!
But, it would also certainly not be as interesting! If I have to pick a flavor, sweetness is definitely the core taste of my motherhood experience.
"Mama, you are so cute! I love you!" are words he says to me and I carry his love so close to my heart. I know that if he knew our love, and we too knew his love, we would all be okay on this journey of life. If we keep growing in love with one another, we will only grow happier and closer. I don`t believe it`s a given that family relationships can only trend downwards.
When we go beyond comfort zones, we find growth. These bouldering pictures are from a recent outing (thanks YY for joining!) and it was exciting to see him attempt routes! It is so satisfying to see him do things I can`t even do.
When we do pottery, we mold and sculpt and shape accordingly to what we have in mind. But a child is not your pot. When it comes to parenting, it is probably more like being a gardener, where we observe what kind of seed he is and then provide the environmental conditions for him to grow for God`s purposes.
This morning I was listening to some Chinese idiom stories on the way to school with our son and one of them was 拔苗助长 (pulling up shoots to help them grow faster). It is an idiom which warns against spoiling things through undue haste or unnatural methods.
Keeping this concept in mind has helped us enjoy our parenting journey as we follow a more natural pace of learning. Just like my dad once said to me "you can`t pry open a flower to make it bloom".
We are still on a journey, and it is still early days (he is 8+ yo). Sometimes we tend to hear more of the negative stresses and worries of parenthood and truly, it is no easy ride. Yet, there are also many positive sides, and it is always a conversation worth having if anyone of you is at the undecided stage! Hope this encourages you!
If we didn`t have that pivotal time alone with God that changed our minds about having a child, it is quite easy to imagine how our lives may have continued. Probably feeling a lot more in control of things. And more pottery would be made haha!
But, it would also certainly not be as interesting! If I have to pick a flavor, sweetness is definitely the core taste of my motherhood experience.
"Mama, you are so cute! I love you!" are words he says to me and I carry his love so close to my heart. I know that if he knew our love, and we too knew his love, we would all be okay on this journey of life. If we keep growing in love with one another, we will only grow happier and closer. I don`t believe it`s a given that family relationships can only trend downwards.
When we go beyond comfort zones, we find growth. These bouldering pictures are from a recent outing (thanks YY for joining!) and it was exciting to see him attempt routes! It is so satisfying to see him do things I can`t even do.
When we do pottery, we mold and sculpt and shape accordingly to what we have in mind. But a child is not your pot. When it comes to parenting, it is probably more like being a gardener, where we observe what kind of seed he is and then provide the environmental conditions for him to grow for God`s purposes.
This morning I was listening to some Chinese idiom stories on the way to school with our son and one of them was 拔苗助长 (pulling up shoots to help them grow faster). It is an idiom which warns against spoiling things through undue haste or unnatural methods.
Keeping this concept in mind has helped us enjoy our parenting journey as we follow a more natural pace of learning. Just like my dad once said to me "you can`t pry open a flower to make it bloom".
We are still on a journey, and it is still early days (he is 8+ yo). Sometimes we tend to hear more of the negative stresses and worries of parenthood and truly, it is no easy ride. Yet, there are also many positive sides, and it is always a conversation worth having if anyone of you is at the undecided stage! Hope this encourages you!
Deciding whether to have children or not is a big step of faith. We never really know what it will be like until we reach and take that step.
Asking God: When I turned 35, we were faced with a biological reality. The odds of conceiving and/or a healthy baby would start declining more rapidly. We decided to go into the woods and have time alone with God to pray over this decision.
It was there when I came upon this bible verse which changed my thoughts (and life!) completely.
Psalm 127:3 — "Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him."
If God wants to give us a gift, why should we reject it? At the same time, we don`t want to be presumptuous that God wants to give us a child because we know that these things concerning life and death are ultimately a divine mystery.
God spoke to Kenneth in a different but complementary manner and hence, we decided that we should surrender this to God and leave it to Him to decide. If we conceive and have a child, we give thanks for the gift. If we don`t conceive, we shall also give thanks for His other purposes for our lives.
Our son loves hearing this story of how we didn`t want to have children at first and how we changed our minds. He knows that we see him as a cute gift from God, and he loves imagining how he waited for God to bring him into our family:)
We also share with our son that God prepared us for parenthood because He first redirected us to a different pathway from our past corporate careers to become potters. We were molded and reshaped, and we became more ready to embrace the mission of nurturing a child.
In our topsy-turvy world, good things have become bad and bad things have become good. We have been lied to as evil always seeks to kill, steal and destroy.
When we look into the eyes of a baby and hold the tiny hands, we instinctively smile because it is by design that they bring forth joy. Children are a reminder of what is pure, beautiful and worth protecting. They also challenge us to be our better selves as they hold up a mirror for us to review our past, today and future.
Deciding whether to have children or not is a big step of faith. We never really know what it will be like until we reach and take that step.
Asking God: When I turned 35, we were faced with a biological reality. The odds of conceiving and/or a healthy baby would start declining more rapidly. We decided to go into the woods and have time alone with God to pray over this decision.
It was there when I came upon this bible verse which changed my thoughts (and life!) completely.
Psalm 127:3 — "Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him."
If God wants to give us a gift, why should we reject it? At the same time, we don`t want to be presumptuous that God wants to give us a child because we know that these things concerning life and death are ultimately a divine mystery.
God spoke to Kenneth in a different but complementary manner and hence, we decided that we should surrender this to God and leave it to Him to decide. If we conceive and have a child, we give thanks for the gift. If we don`t conceive, we shall also give thanks for His other purposes for our lives.
Our son loves hearing this story of how we didn`t want to have children at first and how we changed our minds. He knows that we see him as a cute gift from God, and he loves imagining how he waited for God to bring him into our family:)
We also share with our son that God prepared us for parenthood because He first redirected us to a different pathway from our past corporate careers to become potters. We were molded and reshaped, and we became more ready to embrace the mission of nurturing a child.
In our topsy-turvy world, good things have become bad and bad things have become good. We have been lied to as evil always seeks to kill, steal and destroy.
When we look into the eyes of a baby and hold the tiny hands, we instinctively smile because it is by design that they bring forth joy. Children are a reminder of what is pure, beautiful and worth protecting. They also challenge us to be our better selves as they hold up a mirror for us to review our past, today and future.
PART 1: The gift of motherhood was one I almost rejected
We started off in our marriage being open to having children as it was still the norm of couples to do so (at least back in our day!)
We had a lot of fun being a childless couple. We had free time and freedom to go anywhere we wanted at whatever odd hours. We were serving actively in church and the community and felt like we were contributing to society in our own small ways.
We shared similar fears and worries with those who were hesitant to have children. The world looked like it was going on a worsening trajectory and there were a lot of costs and pressures associated with raising children well in our society. We also weren`t sure if our families` medical histories would mean passing on genetic issues to the next generation. Above all, we questioned ourselves if we would be good parents? Do we have time and energy to nurture a child?
These thoughts were enough to keep us from having one for 5 to 6 years of our marriage. We also considered — what if we regretted this later in life? We discussed our thoughts about adoption or fostering.
We understood our parents` big desire for us to have children, but we knew it was still a big decision to decide for ourselves. So we even asked our friends for the reasons why they decided to have kids.
There were many reasons given but frankly, none that really resonated deeply with us and our own causes for concern.
There were however, a few examples/conversations that moved the needle for us.
From afar: I used to read a blog of a stay-at-home mum who shares the daily events of her husband and children. Because they were such ordinary moments lovingly captured and recorded, it was a glimpse into the simple, yet profound joys of family life. It was a beautiful picture which stood up against a terrible trial of surviving and recovering from a terrible fire.
One conversation: It was a casual conversation with a lady I just met on a mission trip who had several children. She passionately shared about how wonderful parenthood is, and it was so sincere and powerful I still remember till today.
PART 1: The gift of motherhood was one I almost rejected
We started off in our marriage being open to having children as it was still the norm of couples to do so (at least back in our day!)
We had a lot of fun being a childless couple. We had free time and freedom to go anywhere we wanted at whatever odd hours. We were serving actively in church and the community and felt like we were contributing to society in our own small ways.
We shared similar fears and worries with those who were hesitant to have children. The world looked like it was going on a worsening trajectory and there were a lot of costs and pressures associated with raising children well in our society. We also weren`t sure if our families` medical histories would mean passing on genetic issues to the next generation. Above all, we questioned ourselves if we would be good parents? Do we have time and energy to nurture a child?
These thoughts were enough to keep us from having one for 5 to 6 years of our marriage. We also considered — what if we regretted this later in life? We discussed our thoughts about adoption or fostering.
We understood our parents` big desire for us to have children, but we knew it was still a big decision to decide for ourselves. So we even asked our friends for the reasons why they decided to have kids.
There were many reasons given but frankly, none that really resonated deeply with us and our own causes for concern.
There were however, a few examples/conversations that moved the needle for us.
From afar: I used to read a blog of a stay-at-home mum who shares the daily events of her husband and children. Because they were such ordinary moments lovingly captured and recorded, it was a glimpse into the simple, yet profound joys of family life. It was a beautiful picture which stood up against a terrible trial of surviving and recovering from a terrible fire.
One conversation: It was a casual conversation with a lady I just met on a mission trip who had several children. She passionately shared about how wonderful parenthood is, and it was so sincere and powerful I still remember till today.
DINO BUSINESS With these fearsome horns Guarding against intruders I can poop in peace
Recently, our studio welcomed a new student who is already quite an expert at moulding dinosaur forms, something way out of our usual creations. Watching him make these magnificent creatures with ease made me want to try it out myself too, at least to prove to myself that there`s some substance in these hands!
So here`s a little triceratops, going about his everyday business of watching out for predators, showing off his shiny armour, and pooping!
Made entirely from memory - it`s amazing how much we remember from childhood picture books and from watching TV!
DINO BUSINESS With these fearsome horns Guarding against intruders I can poop in peace
Recently, our studio welcomed a new student who is already quite an expert at moulding dinosaur forms, something way out of our usual creations. Watching him make these magnificent creatures with ease made me want to try it out myself too, at least to prove to myself that there`s some substance in these hands!
So here`s a little triceratops, going about his everyday business of watching out for predators, showing off his shiny armour, and pooping!
Made entirely from memory - it`s amazing how much we remember from childhood picture books and from watching TV!...
This vessel was made a long time ago. I can`t recall exactly when; but it must have been a day when I felt like there was enough time to sit and slowly tease out a form where varied parts came together.
There was no drawing, no plan, just a feeling to create something. And it was satisfying to have made it - even though it wasn`t for any particular person in mind.
It spent some years sitting unglazed on my shelf - quietly waiting. I would have been happy keeping it for myself, but one day a workshop participant noticed it and loved it. She chose the colour and now it sits in her home:)
Waiting is a very hard thing to do, when one is pining for a particular outcome. It makes one anxious, restless and frustrated. 反正都是等待，能否换个姿态？Since waiting is inescapable in life, can that process be reimagined so that it does not extract a mental toll?
Over the years, I have to come to realize that the most practical thing to do is - 做好自己的本分。There is no need to look left and right at what others are doing. Instead, I need to be clear minded and figure out what I, myself and no one else should be concerned with, and then be focused to take care of that.
To quote 长玉`s father: “关关难过关关过，天塌下来有个高的顶着”。 不管遇到多大的难处，饭要吃饱，觉要睡好！” Loosely translated, it means that no matter the troubles, keep eating and sleeping well. Take each trial as it comes and we would be able to get through it eventually.
This vessel was made a long time ago. I can`t recall exactly when; but it must have been a day when I felt like there was enough time to sit and slowly tease out a form where varied parts came together.
There was no drawing, no plan, just a feeling to create something. And it was satisfying to have made it - even though it wasn`t for any particular person in mind.
It spent some years sitting unglazed on my shelf - quietly waiting. I would have been happy keeping it for myself, but one day a workshop participant noticed it and loved it. She chose the colour and now it sits in her home:)
Waiting is a very hard thing to do, when one is pining for a particular outcome. It makes one anxious, restless and frustrated. 反正都是等待，能否换个姿态？Since waiting is inescapable in life, can that process be reimagined so that it does not extract a mental toll?
Over the years, I have to come to realize that the most practical thing to do is - 做好自己的本分。There is no need to look left and right at what others are doing. Instead, I need to be clear minded and figure out what I, myself and no one else should be concerned with, and then be focused to take care of that.
To quote 长玉`s father: “关关难过关关过，天塌下来有个高的顶着”。 不管遇到多大的难处，饭要吃饱，觉要睡好！” Loosely translated, it means that no matter the troubles, keep eating and sleeping well. Take each trial as it comes and we would be able to get through it eventually.
TO QUENCH A THIRST To fields by rivers Parsley sage rosemary thyme Come away with me
Our customer told us he felt that sage could be a good colour for this season. I`m not really a culinary person, so the first thought I had was not of herbs, but of the song Scarborough Fair by Simon and Garfunkel, which I first heard in my dad`s car as he drove me to school. What a strange, enigmatic song, I had thought, with its rich imagery that transported me to this place I had never seen before, some old English town perhaps? I felt an unplaceable sense of longing, cut short by the hustle and bustle of the school day but which lingered in my heart for years to come.
Where was this Fair? What scents were in the air that day, and who was the one who lived there? Could I one day return to this place?
I was filled with wonder, not just about the song, but about the person and soul that gave breath to it. How do people find inside themselves such words to pen down?
These days I write songs whenever I have a quiet moment, and often in the pockets of time between my work, when I need a little escape. But I`ve also occasionally stumbled upon the melodies and lyrics that come from another place beyond the human heart, generated effortlessly just by the tapping of a keyboard. These songs are smoothly crafted, pleasantly rhyming, delivered with well blended vocals that flow gently into the ears. One day (if I didn`t know where they came from), I might conceivably be moved upon hearing them, even if right now they sound just as empty as the promises of human flourishing that our world would have us believe in.
I fear for that day, when I can no longer tell when a song has emanated from someone`s soul, or when it has materialised from the aggregated artifacts of humanity`s vast linguistic records.
But I will still write, and I will still make vessels with my bare hands. Even if my words are clumsy and my fingermarks mar what might otherwise be a perfectly smooth surface.
TO QUENCH A THIRST To fields by rivers Parsley sage rosemary thyme Come away with me
Our customer told us he felt that sage could be a good colour for this season. I`m not really a culinary person, so the first thought I had was not of herbs, but of the song Scarborough Fair by Simon and Garfunkel, which I first heard in my dad`s car as he drove me to school. What a strange, enigmatic song, I had thought, with its rich imagery that transported me to this place I had never seen before, some old English town perhaps? I felt an unplaceable sense of longing, cut short by the hustle and bustle of the school day but which lingered in my heart for years to come.
Where was this Fair? What scents were in the air that day, and who was the one who lived there? Could I one day return to this place?
I was filled with wonder, not just about the song, but about the person and soul that gave breath to it. How do people find inside themselves such words to pen down?
These days I write songs whenever I have a quiet moment, and often in the pockets of time between my work, when I need a little escape. But I`ve also occasionally stumbled upon the melodies and lyrics that come from another place beyond the human heart, generated effortlessly just by the tapping of a keyboard. These songs are smoothly crafted, pleasantly rhyming, delivered with well blended vocals that flow gently into the ears. One day (if I didn`t know where they came from), I might conceivably be moved upon hearing them, even if right now they sound just as empty as the promises of human flourishing that our world would have us believe in.
I fear for that day, when I can no longer tell when a song has emanated from someone`s soul, or when it has materialised from the aggregated artifacts of humanity`s vast linguistic records.
But I will still write, and I will still make vessels with my bare hands. Even if my words are clumsy and my fingermarks mar what might otherwise be a perfectly smooth surface....
I have been taking music lessons over the past year, and it has been a mind (and finger stretching) experience! I do not know how to play the piano, but I have been challenged by my husband to learn how to not only compose songs, but also to do so on keys. I have resisted this suggestion for the longest time due to its daunting nature; but that is a story for another day!
Composing and practicing is tough work. It is honestly a time-consuming endeavour. However, is it worth it?
I suppose it is the same question as to why we do pottery. Is there still a point in making everything by hand when much more uniform and cheaper pieces can be factory made?
Would you rather hear a CD version of a song played in a concert, or hear the singer sing live? Would you rather receive a handwritten love note or a copied proclamation by AI?
I guess you get the drift of where I am going with this. It can be imperfect, but at least it is real. 我要的是真心，不是假意。
An original - is worth so much more to the maker or audience, because it carries the weight of REAL energy and emotions put into birthing it.
We live in an age of ease and fake things. Ease of prose or any type of thing that AI can produce instantly for you. An age where fake news and lies are propagated to persuade you towards what serves the ones behind it.
It can get too heavy to process and take it all in. We know because we get exhausted by the news cycles or just thinking about heavy topics too.
But, here is something to consider. There is nothing new under the sun. Everything that has happened, has happened before in some shape or form in the long winding story of humankind.
If we hang on to what is true, what is good, what is just, what is merciful, what is worth safeguarding for the future generations, there will still be hope. Our world would have been so much more impoverished if those who came before us gave up creating. And so, we will keep making! Because it is worth it :)
I have been taking music lessons over the past year, and it has been a mind (and finger stretching) experience! I do not know how to play the piano, but I have been challenged by my husband to learn how to not only compose songs, but also to do so on keys. I have resisted this suggestion for the longest time due to its daunting nature; but that is a story for another day!
Composing and practicing is tough work. It is honestly a time-consuming endeavour. However, is it worth it?
I suppose it is the same question as to why we do pottery. Is there still a point in making everything by hand when much more uniform and cheaper pieces can be factory made?
Would you rather hear a CD version of a song played in a concert, or hear the singer sing live? Would you rather receive a handwritten love note or a copied proclamation by AI?
I guess you get the drift of where I am going with this. It can be imperfect, but at least it is real. 我要的是真心，不是假意。
An original - is worth so much more to the maker or audience, because it carries the weight of REAL energy and emotions put into birthing it.
We live in an age of ease and fake things. Ease of prose or any type of thing that AI can produce instantly for you. An age where fake news and lies are propagated to persuade you towards what serves the ones behind it.
It can get too heavy to process and take it all in. We know because we get exhausted by the news cycles or just thinking about heavy topics too.
But, here is something to consider. There is nothing new under the sun. Everything that has happened, has happened before in some shape or form in the long winding story of humankind.
If we hang on to what is true, what is good, what is just, what is merciful, what is worth safeguarding for the future generations, there will still be hope. Our world would have been so much more impoverished if those who came before us gave up creating. And so, we will keep making! Because it is worth it :)
This month of avoiding news and social media has ironically been filled with much sobering and sorrowful news that can`t be avoided even if one was living under a rock. Reckless, devastating wars, political and economic instability rocking the whole world.
This is the world we live in, whether we are standing on the earth or gazing at it from the other side of the moon. There are circumstances around us that are too big for us to control. But in a world that looks increasingly dark, we can still choose who we are, who we want to be. We can blend into the darkness, and find some measure of peace, or we can choose to be a light and hopefully illuminate the little areas around us.
Thankful for this commission, and for the time it took to slowly carve out these words.
This month of avoiding news and social media has ironically been filled with much sobering and sorrowful news that can`t be avoided even if one was living under a rock. Reckless, devastating wars, political and economic instability rocking the whole world.
This is the world we live in, whether we are standing on the earth or gazing at it from the other side of the moon. There are circumstances around us that are too big for us to control. But in a world that looks increasingly dark, we can still choose who we are, who we want to be. We can blend into the darkness, and find some measure of peace, or we can choose to be a light and hopefully illuminate the little areas around us.
Thankful for this commission, and for the time it took to slowly carve out these words....
One of our recent customers sent us this photo after receiving their cup, and I must say I definitely shared the joy! That wonderful feeling of unwrapping a gift like this, and then enjoying some lovingly brewed coffee in it... that`s one of the reasons we love making pottery.
But it also reminded me that so many of our moments each day are spent in the disembodied realm of the digital world, including much of our interactions with one another. While that has brought great convenience and also helped us transcend physical boundaries, I do feel that some things get lost in the process.
And in these times when social media has evolved to a stage where countries have to ban access for children in order to protect their safety, it really makes me reconsider my exposure to social media, even as an adult.
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, and we thought that perhaps in this Lent season it would be a good time to have a social media fast, the same kind that Huiwen had when she spent a month in Japan before the genesis of Studio Asobi.
To spend time with God, with people we love, with ourselves, with projects that we have unwittingly put off in favour of doomscrolling.
Perhaps we may unwrap a beautiful surprise in the process.
One of our recent customers sent us this photo after receiving their cup, and I must say I definitely shared the joy! That wonderful feeling of unwrapping a gift like this, and then enjoying some lovingly brewed coffee in it... that`s one of the reasons we love making pottery.
But it also reminded me that so many of our moments each day are spent in the disembodied realm of the digital world, including much of our interactions with one another. While that has brought great convenience and also helped us transcend physical boundaries, I do feel that some things get lost in the process.
And in these times when social media has evolved to a stage where countries have to ban access for children in order to protect their safety, it really makes me reconsider my exposure to social media, even as an adult.
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, and we thought that perhaps in this Lent season it would be a good time to have a social media fast, the same kind that Huiwen had when she spent a month in Japan before the genesis of Studio Asobi.
To spend time with God, with people we love, with ourselves, with projects that we have unwittingly put off in favour of doomscrolling.
Perhaps we may unwrap a beautiful surprise in the process....
KRABI `10 There lives a moment Turquoise sea meets sapphire sky Never the sun sets
I still want to feel young but it`s hard to ignore the effects of ageing on my brain. I respond slower to things, take longer to find words, and struggle to recall important events in my life. But it`s also been quite interesting to note the memories that are etched most deeply in my mind, that time doesn`t seem to be able to wash away.
The pristine sand and sparkling blue waters at Krabi, the bright, crisp snow in Hakuba, the dreamy clouds sweeping across our feet in Alishan.
I treasure these lovely memories, because of how they envelop my senses with beauty and wonder, making reality feel magical in that moment. But also because of who is accompanying me in these memories.
That`s also one of the reasons we make clay vessels. Because they, too, hold memories, hold beauty, and hold a drink that takes time to be consumed. And in that time, hearts meet and journey together for a precious little while.
KRABI `10 There lives a moment Turquoise sea meets sapphire sky Never the sun sets
I still want to feel young but it`s hard to ignore the effects of ageing on my brain. I respond slower to things, take longer to find words, and struggle to recall important events in my life. But it`s also been quite interesting to note the memories that are etched most deeply in my mind, that time doesn`t seem to be able to wash away.
The pristine sand and sparkling blue waters at Krabi, the bright, crisp snow in Hakuba, the dreamy clouds sweeping across our feet in Alishan.
I treasure these lovely memories, because of how they envelop my senses with beauty and wonder, making reality feel magical in that moment. But also because of who is accompanying me in these memories.
That`s also one of the reasons we make clay vessels. Because they, too, hold memories, hold beauty, and hold a drink that takes time to be consumed. And in that time, hearts meet and journey together for a precious little while....
BLOSSOMS AT DUSK As the wind descends Its veil spreads across the land Opening our hearts
These tulip cups aren`t easy to make! We`ve got to trim and dimple the cups at the right time, then blend in a curved petal at just the right angle to create a handle without it looking like an additional attachment. But I love this idea so much and all our cups at home would be in this shape if they didn`t take so long to make...
Talking about making, I just spent yesterday afternoon making 3 plates and failing at each one of them, until I gave up and went to the swimming pool with our son. We have learnt from experience that "finishing our homework" isn`t the only way to satisfactorily complete the day. Getting a backache and swimming away that backache also counts!
BLOSSOMS AT DUSK As the wind descends Its veil spreads across the land Opening our hearts
These tulip cups aren`t easy to make! We`ve got to trim and dimple the cups at the right time, then blend in a curved petal at just the right angle to create a handle without it looking like an additional attachment. But I love this idea so much and all our cups at home would be in this shape if they didn`t take so long to make...
Talking about making, I just spent yesterday afternoon making 3 plates and failing at each one of them, until I gave up and went to the swimming pool with our son. We have learnt from experience that "finishing our homework" isn`t the only way to satisfactorily complete the day. Getting a backache and swimming away that backache also counts!...
Our very first handmade ocarina! Actually not our very first - about a decade ago we tried making one, and it almost made it except for the fact that we were so fascinated by its sound that we couldn`t stop playing with it before even firing it, and to our absolute dismay it cracked open during drying. So this time, we really tried to resist blowing into it too much, and thankfully it made it out of the kiln unscathed! And working!
Learned a lot of science in the process too. About how air is split by the labium of the ocarina, and the resultant vibration creates the resonant sound. And how every hole changes the size of the air chamber on the ocarina, resulting in different pitches. What a geeky vessel to create!
But this has to be one of the most special vessels I`ve created to far - one that fuses my love of music with my love of pottery. can`t wait to make more!
Our very first handmade ocarina! Actually not our very first - about a decade ago we tried making one, and it almost made it except for the fact that we were so fascinated by its sound that we couldn`t stop playing with it before even firing it, and to our absolute dismay it cracked open during drying. So this time, we really tried to resist blowing into it too much, and thankfully it made it out of the kiln unscathed! And working!
Learned a lot of science in the process too. About how air is split by the labium of the ocarina, and the resultant vibration creates the resonant sound. And how every hole changes the size of the air chamber on the ocarina, resulting in different pitches. What a geeky vessel to create!
But this has to be one of the most special vessels I`ve created to far - one that fuses my love of music with my love of pottery. can`t wait to make more!...
I like to write words. So when I was a child, I enjoyed 习字 (anyone else enjoyed it too? :D).
Copying out song lyrics, quotes from books, keeping a diary etc was also one of the things I used to do as a teenager in the pre-internet days.
I guess it was a natural extension when I decided to pick up 书法 (Chinese calligraphy) as an adult. I learnt the 楷书 script, but I kinda prefer the 隶书 look. Kenneth challenged me to come up with my own font script, so here is my attempt!
It was part 习字, part response journaling as I was watching a sermon while writing. It is so easy to feel sick and paralyzed in today`s messy world. Stuck in limbo, feeling lost, weighed down by the past, not knowing how to decide etc etc.
So here are some words for you, my friend. 出来吧，朋友！Step out and breathe some fresh air; get some sunshine on your back. There is always hope and kindness to be found.
放下，更轻松！Let go of the heaviness of bitterness, anger and emotional baggages. Receive the inner healing you need and believe that a more beautiful way of living can be found.
I know this, because I have seen it:) Sending my best wishes to whoever is reading this! May 2026 be a year of breakthrough for you ❤️
I like to write words. So when I was a child, I enjoyed 习字 (anyone else enjoyed it too? :D).
Copying out song lyrics, quotes from books, keeping a diary etc was also one of the things I used to do as a teenager in the pre-internet days.
I guess it was a natural extension when I decided to pick up 书法 (Chinese calligraphy) as an adult. I learnt the 楷书 script, but I kinda prefer the 隶书 look. Kenneth challenged me to come up with my own font script, so here is my attempt!
It was part 习字, part response journaling as I was watching a sermon while writing. It is so easy to feel sick and paralyzed in today`s messy world. Stuck in limbo, feeling lost, weighed down by the past, not knowing how to decide etc etc.
So here are some words for you, my friend. 出来吧，朋友！Step out and breathe some fresh air; get some sunshine on your back. There is always hope and kindness to be found.
放下，更轻松！Let go of the heaviness of bitterness, anger and emotional baggages. Receive the inner healing you need and believe that a more beautiful way of living can be found.
I know this, because I have seen it:) Sending my best wishes to whoever is reading this! May 2026 be a year of breakthrough for you ❤️
It`s been so long since our last painting on this wall. We had promised Tobie a Christmas Tree last December, but the holiday just came and went so fast! He was pretty forgiving though, instead of a Christmas tree he said he could settle for an Ang Bao tree since Chinese New Year is just around the corner. So today being our Sabbath, we decided to really get going on this 馬 themed painting, complete with an Ang Bao sakura tree to shower blessings upon whoever sets foot in Studio Asobi!
2025 has been a wonderful year by the grace of God, and here`s to a vibrant, adventurous and joyful 2026! May we continue to have the time and space to discover and create new things!
It`s been so long since our last painting on this wall. We had promised Tobie a Christmas Tree last December, but the holiday just came and went so fast! He was pretty forgiving though, instead of a Christmas tree he said he could settle for an Ang Bao tree since Chinese New Year is just around the corner. So today being our Sabbath, we decided to really get going on this 馬 themed painting, complete with an Ang Bao sakura tree to shower blessings upon whoever sets foot in Studio Asobi!
2025 has been a wonderful year by the grace of God, and here`s to a vibrant, adventurous and joyful 2026! May we continue to have the time and space to discover and create new things!...
New year, new beginnings. For some, you may feel all ready for 2026. For others, you may feel like the new year does not hold much meaning because everything is happening everywhere at once and all that spinning feels a tad destabilizing.
“事缓则圆, 人缓则安“。It is perhaps when we are feeling busiest - that the time is ripe to give ourselves a gentle breather.
Come and be refreshed at our spiritual retreat, where we gather to experience the unforced rhythms of grace. May God meet you where you are and touch you at your deepest need :)
More info can be found on our website (link in profile).
New year, new beginnings. For some, you may feel all ready for 2026. For others, you may feel like the new year does not hold much meaning because everything is happening everywhere at once and all that spinning feels a tad destabilizing.
“事缓则圆, 人缓则安“。It is perhaps when we are feeling busiest - that the time is ripe to give ourselves a gentle breather.
Come and be refreshed at our spiritual retreat, where we gather to experience the unforced rhythms of grace. May God meet you where you are and touch you at your deepest need :)
More info can be found on our website (link in profile).
Nothing impressive here if you`re a barista or coffee enthusiast, but guess what, this is done with a Nespresso Aeroccino 3! Which I hear is notoriously challenging to create latte art with. I`m not really a coffee person so I`ve been reluctant to invest in anything more expensive than our simple machine, and so every time we have a barista come for our pottery workshops, we would give them the Studio Asobi Nespresso Aeroccino Latte Art challenge to see if they can create something decent.
So far, it`s been tough to say the least! I`ve been told there are various reasons - Aeroccino microbubbles not the correct size, Nespresso coffee has no crema etc. But if you`re a barista and think you can do it, please come and give it a shot and help us up our game!
But still, after lots of research and hacking and coffee drinking, I`m proud to say that this kinda looks like it?? I just want to believe that one day I can do a proper fern leaf with the Aeroccino haha. If you want to help us along in this journey, come join us for a free coffee!
Nothing impressive here if you`re a barista or coffee enthusiast, but guess what, this is done with a Nespresso Aeroccino 3! Which I hear is notoriously challenging to create latte art with. I`m not really a coffee person so I`ve been reluctant to invest in anything more expensive than our simple machine, and so every time we have a barista come for our pottery workshops, we would give them the Studio Asobi Nespresso Aeroccino Latte Art challenge to see if they can create something decent.
So far, it`s been tough to say the least! I`ve been told there are various reasons - Aeroccino microbubbles not the correct size, Nespresso coffee has no crema etc. But if you`re a barista and think you can do it, please come and give it a shot and help us up our game!
But still, after lots of research and hacking and coffee drinking, I`m proud to say that this kinda looks like it?? I just want to believe that one day I can do a proper fern leaf with the Aeroccino haha. If you want to help us along in this journey, come join us for a free coffee!...
EVENING HUES When day is resting You wake me with your mystery And we fly away
We have a son who isn`t particularly fond of sleeping (except when he needs to wake up). The other day, we switched off the lights and he spent a good amount of time complaining about various aspects of darkness, including the fact that everything has no more colours and even the pink stuffed toys are grey.
Well, grey is a beautiful colour too! Just as beautiful as these three evening glazes in our palette - Dusk, Mocha and Black Forest. Been awhile since someone picked these colours, but I must say they are some of our favourites!
On another note, our studio`s glaze development has restarted in earnest, thanks to Andy and Vanessa who are hard at work concocting new potions for the next season! Hopefully we`ll have some delicious new creations soon!
EVENING HUES When day is resting You wake me with your mystery And we fly away
We have a son who isn`t particularly fond of sleeping (except when he needs to wake up). The other day, we switched off the lights and he spent a good amount of time complaining about various aspects of darkness, including the fact that everything has no more colours and even the pink stuffed toys are grey.
Well, grey is a beautiful colour too! Just as beautiful as these three evening glazes in our palette - Dusk, Mocha and Black Forest. Been awhile since someone picked these colours, but I must say they are some of our favourites!
On another note, our studio`s glaze development has restarted in earnest, thanks to Andy and Vanessa who are hard at work concocting new potions for the next season! Hopefully we`ll have some delicious new creations soon!...
HOMEWARD For a time, frozen Pining for the rising tide To carry her home
This little dragon snaked its way up the craggy rock surface of an East Coast Park breakwater, flames dancing at her jaws as she gazed out into the sea. It wasn`t long before the tide rose and carried her away, so we were glad to have managed to finish satisfactorily before the elements took over!
This sculpture involved many hands - me, Tobie, our pottery student Andy, a whole bunch of children from our camping group, and even a mum who was happy to climb onto the slippery rocks and work on the dragon wing!
I love these opportunities to just stare at a bare rock face, let the imagination wander, and then furiously dig and spread the sand out before we run out of time. To create just for the sake of creating, and then to release the creation into the water, without having to think of profit, or productivity, or practicality. Just to enjoy time passing, enjoy the company of friends, and enjoy beauty.
HOMEWARD For a time, frozen Pining for the rising tide To carry her home
This little dragon snaked its way up the craggy rock surface of an East Coast Park breakwater, flames dancing at her jaws as she gazed out into the sea. It wasn`t long before the tide rose and carried her away, so we were glad to have managed to finish satisfactorily before the elements took over!
This sculpture involved many hands - me, Tobie, our pottery student Andy, a whole bunch of children from our camping group, and even a mum who was happy to climb onto the slippery rocks and work on the dragon wing!
I love these opportunities to just stare at a bare rock face, let the imagination wander, and then furiously dig and spread the sand out before we run out of time. To create just for the sake of creating, and then to release the creation into the water, without having to think of profit, or productivity, or practicality. Just to enjoy time passing, enjoy the company of friends, and enjoy beauty....
