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.
It`s been awhile since we had some pottery content, partly due to the March holidays and partly due to the fact that it does take quite a long time for us to make 40 cups!
Sometimes I do wish we could throw as fast as those reels I see on IG. And sometimes I do ask myself, why I`m not using moulds to produce these vessels that look very uniform! But then when I`m actually making them, there`s just this sense of comfort in feeling the clay run smoothly across my fingers, and settle into those pleasing curves.
I thank God for giving us this work, which brings us as much joy as it does for those we serve.
It`s been awhile since we had some pottery content, partly due to the March holidays and partly due to the fact that it does take quite a long time for us to make 40 cups!
Sometimes I do wish we could throw as fast as those reels I see on IG. And sometimes I do ask myself, why I`m not using moulds to produce these vessels that look very uniform! But then when I`m actually making them, there`s just this sense of comfort in feeling the clay run smoothly across my fingers, and settle into those pleasing curves.
I thank God for giving us this work, which brings us as much joy as it does for those we serve....
We revisited our childhood and could process on hindsight more things and events that were formative or that needed to be redeemed. We communicated even more deeply as we made intentional decisions on how to nurture our child amidst the noisy landscape of cultural opinions and practices.
As we watched him grow, explore and reach up to conquer his fears; there is that sweet satisfaction of being able to witness all these and being able to be cheerleaders alongside. It is kinda like the satisfaction from the process of seeing a lump of clay transform into a beautiful vessel. It is still early days of course,, but we have found parenting to be more and more enjoyable as he grew.
Something that we talk often about, is the need to work on ourselves, as opposed to just focusing on working on the child. There is so much anxiety in modern day parenting about not wanting the child to fall behind and hence it seems better to hurry to the next lamppost ahead of peers but what kind of fruits are actually being reaped here?
Parenting brings up so many opportunities for inner work and it can be so easy to get caught up with what the child needs to learn, rather than what we ourselves need to learn or change so that the family unit stays harmonious and looks forward to life ahead together.
The real test of whether clay successfully transforms into a pottery vessel is not how it looks at the end of the making; but whether it passes the test of fire. It can have the looks of a well made and impressive piece, but the fire will either strengthen or destroy the work.
The real test of whether the child succeeds, is not in the school phase but in the adulthood phase. Will they thrive as adults? Or start having issues because it is no longer about swimming in the pool with marked lanes but in the open sea.
Culture takes time and people to shift and my prayer is that we would tend to the gardens of our homes and do the necessary work but also let the process take its place for the flowers to bloom in due course in their unforced rhythms.
We revisited our childhood and could process on hindsight more things and events that were formative or that needed to be redeemed. We communicated even more deeply as we made intentional decisions on how to nurture our child amidst the noisy landscape of cultural opinions and practices.
As we watched him grow, explore and reach up to conquer his fears; there is that sweet satisfaction of being able to witness all these and being able to be cheerleaders alongside. It is kinda like the satisfaction from the process of seeing a lump of clay transform into a beautiful vessel. It is still early days of course,, but we have found parenting to be more and more enjoyable as he grew.
Something that we talk often about, is the need to work on ourselves, as opposed to just focusing on working on the child. There is so much anxiety in modern day parenting about not wanting the child to fall behind and hence it seems better to hurry to the next lamppost ahead of peers but what kind of fruits are actually being reaped here?
Parenting brings up so many opportunities for inner work and it can be so easy to get caught up with what the child needs to learn, rather than what we ourselves need to learn or change so that the family unit stays harmonious and looks forward to life ahead together.
The real test of whether clay successfully transforms into a pottery vessel is not how it looks at the end of the making; but whether it passes the test of fire. It can have the looks of a well made and impressive piece, but the fire will either strengthen or destroy the work.
The real test of whether the child succeeds, is not in the school phase but in the adulthood phase. Will they thrive as adults? Or start having issues because it is no longer about swimming in the pool with marked lanes but in the open sea.
Culture takes time and people to shift and my prayer is that we would tend to the gardens of our homes and do the necessary work but also let the process take its place for the flowers to bloom in due course in their unforced rhythms.
Playing with clay is often described as being therapeutic. Sometimes we have self-professed "very bad in art" type of people who come and try pottery and then they get pleasantly surprised by how much they enjoyed the process as well as how good their pieces could be!
There are many reasons why this is so. Clay is from the earth and its tactile properties help us to release pent up tension accumulated in our bodies. The material is also very evocative of childhood; as it can feel similar to the times when we used to play with Play-Doh or plasticine. Clay kick-starts generative thinking as it is so open-ended that many different ideas can come up while the hands are at work. So if you haven`t tried pottery, you can consider coming for our workshop or retreat! :)
However, this isn`t what I was primarily thinking about today. Lately there have been different news articles about dropping fertility rates (in Singapore and other developed countries) as well as rising mental unwellness among the young.
We could relate to some of the reasons why people didn`t want to have children because we were once thinking the same thoughts. We were in Year 6 of our marriage when we decided to try for a child. Having now passed Year 6 of our child`s life, we are so thankful for what he has brought into our lives!
We thought we were already very happy and fulfilled and had everything we could wish for but he expanded our hearts` capacity to love and filled it with even more joy. We didn`t even know there was still so much depth to life and meaning that a baby or child could bring forth. The stresses and uncertainties of parenting, diaper changes and night wakes were very real but in those times of trials and suffering; we grew and our character was moulded.
Through the eyes and the mind of a child, the world became more beautiful and the wonders of nature and simple things were like peels of an onion that just revealed more and more.
Playing with clay is often described as being therapeutic. Sometimes we have self-professed "very bad in art" type of people who come and try pottery and then they get pleasantly surprised by how much they enjoyed the process as well as how good their pieces could be!
There are many reasons why this is so. Clay is from the earth and its tactile properties help us to release pent up tension accumulated in our bodies. The material is also very evocative of childhood; as it can feel similar to the times when we used to play with Play-Doh or plasticine. Clay kick-starts generative thinking as it is so open-ended that many different ideas can come up while the hands are at work. So if you haven`t tried pottery, you can consider coming for our workshop or retreat! :)
However, this isn`t what I was primarily thinking about today. Lately there have been different news articles about dropping fertility rates (in Singapore and other developed countries) as well as rising mental unwellness among the young.
We could relate to some of the reasons why people didn`t want to have children because we were once thinking the same thoughts. We were in Year 6 of our marriage when we decided to try for a child. Having now passed Year 6 of our child`s life, we are so thankful for what he has brought into our lives!
We thought we were already very happy and fulfilled and had everything we could wish for but he expanded our hearts` capacity to love and filled it with even more joy. We didn`t even know there was still so much depth to life and meaning that a baby or child could bring forth. The stresses and uncertainties of parenting, diaper changes and night wakes were very real but in those times of trials and suffering; we grew and our character was moulded.
Through the eyes and the mind of a child, the world became more beautiful and the wonders of nature and simple things were like peels of an onion that just revealed more and more.
OPEN These walls around us Cannot keep out the sunlight For love surges through
I`m sure I`m not the only person who has experienced finding myself in an emotional prison, unable to move forward or backward, to turn left or right, to stand up or lie down.
It could be a conflict with a close family member, or an estrangement from a community, or the loss of someone precious. We want to turn away but we can`t avoid. We want to leave but there are too many strings attached. We want to move on but the memories are too heavy.
I`m sure I`m also not the only person who has tried unsuccessfully to help someone trapped in a box. We want to pull them out but what if they just need some comfort? We want to comfort but what if they continue being trapped? We want to give up but how can we bear to allow this continuous suffering?
There`s no perfect formula for the breakthroughs we need in our lives. But what I have found is that love, like water, will seep through even the hardest walls. Just need to find a corner, a crack, and let the water slowly drip until finally, sunlight shines in.
OPEN These walls around us Cannot keep out the sunlight For love surges through
I`m sure I`m not the only person who has experienced finding myself in an emotional prison, unable to move forward or backward, to turn left or right, to stand up or lie down.
It could be a conflict with a close family member, or an estrangement from a community, or the loss of someone precious. We want to turn away but we can`t avoid. We want to leave but there are too many strings attached. We want to move on but the memories are too heavy.
I`m sure I`m also not the only person who has tried unsuccessfully to help someone trapped in a box. We want to pull them out but what if they just need some comfort? We want to comfort but what if they continue being trapped? We want to give up but how can we bear to allow this continuous suffering?
There`s no perfect formula for the breakthroughs we need in our lives. But what I have found is that love, like water, will seep through even the hardest walls. Just need to find a corner, a crack, and let the water slowly drip until finally, sunlight shines in....
Made some little pourers for our friends at @apartmentcoffee , and enjoyed my free milk coffee reward in their lovely "apartment"! It`s been a great blessing to be able to do what we love, at the speed that we like, and still make a joyful living out of it. And this is only because we have wonderful clients and customers who appreciate who we are and give us the time and space to do what we do best!
Also, never used to be a coffee drinker, but everytime I come to Apartment, I just can`t resist.
Made some little pourers for our friends at @apartmentcoffee , and enjoyed my free milk coffee reward in their lovely "apartment"! It`s been a great blessing to be able to do what we love, at the speed that we like, and still make a joyful living out of it. And this is only because we have wonderful clients and customers who appreciate who we are and give us the time and space to do what we do best!
Also, never used to be a coffee drinker, but everytime I come to Apartment, I just can`t resist....
COURAGE STONE Said the great lion If only I had courage So I made him one
Last Friday, the last day of the second week of school, Tobie stood at the side entrance of the school and started crying, saying he was scared to go in, his hand hurts, he wanted to go home. We tried comforting, pep talking, everything we could think of, but it just got worse. Finally, when further delay would have caused him to be late for school, he had no choice but to wipe his tears and run in, while the sky started to drizzle. We climbed up the overhead bridge where we had a view into the large field he had to cross in order to get to the main building, and saw him run across with his bouncing red bag. Halfway through, he turned around to glance up at the overhead bridge even though we didn`t mention we would be there. Spotting us, he gave us a wave with both hands, before running faster into the school just before it started pouring. As if telling us not to worry, he will be alright.
My heart just broke. It was just a normal school day but right then it felt like I was sending my son off to a distant land for the next 6 years. What was inside his heart as he walked that same path into school the past two weeks? Was he holding in his fear as it accumulated day after day until he finally couldn`t contain it anymore? As his father, could I have strengthened him more so that he can greet each day with confidence instead of fear?
We went home feeling so helpless, but just before we reached, I remembered a story I read when I was young, of a girl named Dorothy who was whisked into a strange land by a hurricane. There she met a lion, whose fearsome roar masked a fearful heart. O how he wished that he could have courage. And I remembered that I am a potter, and so I sat down and crafted a Courage Stone for him.
There is power in this stone. That power is a father`s tender love, his desperate prayer, and his sincere faith that this courage his son so desperately needs is already inside him. For courage is not the absence of fear, it is taking fear by a still trembling hand and saying, "I will still walk. Even with you".
We watched the Wizard of Oz that weekend. What a beautiful story.
COURAGE STONE Said the great lion If only I had courage So I made him one
Last Friday, the last day of the second week of school, Tobie stood at the side entrance of the school and started crying, saying he was scared to go in, his hand hurts, he wanted to go home. We tried comforting, pep talking, everything we could think of, but it just got worse. Finally, when further delay would have caused him to be late for school, he had no choice but to wipe his tears and run in, while the sky started to drizzle. We climbed up the overhead bridge where we had a view into the large field he had to cross in order to get to the main building, and saw him run across with his bouncing red bag. Halfway through, he turned around to glance up at the overhead bridge even though we didn`t mention we would be there. Spotting us, he gave us a wave with both hands, before running faster into the school just before it started pouring. As if telling us not to worry, he will be alright.
My heart just broke. It was just a normal school day but right then it felt like I was sending my son off to a distant land for the next 6 years. What was inside his heart as he walked that same path into school the past two weeks? Was he holding in his fear as it accumulated day after day until he finally couldn`t contain it anymore? As his father, could I have strengthened him more so that he can greet each day with confidence instead of fear?
We went home feeling so helpless, but just before we reached, I remembered a story I read when I was young, of a girl named Dorothy who was whisked into a strange land by a hurricane. There she met a lion, whose fearsome roar masked a fearful heart. O how he wished that he could have courage. And I remembered that I am a potter, and so I sat down and crafted a Courage Stone for him.
There is power in this stone. That power is a father`s tender love, his desperate prayer, and his sincere faith that this courage his son so desperately needs is already inside him. For courage is not the absence of fear, it is taking fear by a still trembling hand and saying, "I will still walk. Even with you".
We watched the Wizard of Oz that weekend. What a beautiful story....
Rest is so important to each of us. Especially the restedness of our souls; for it determines how we view and respond to the various circumstances of our lives. Two weeks into 2024 - are you feeling rested? :)
If you are feeling a little tired and weary, we would like to invite you to join our spiritual pottery retreat, where we can spend 6 hours together; receiving the rest and nourishment that God provides and enjoying the therapeutic nature of clay.
29 Jan 2024 (Monday, 10am - 4pm)
More details can be found here: https://studioasobi.com/the-potters-clay-pottery-retreat/
Rest is so important to each of us. Especially the restedness of our souls; for it determines how we view and respond to the various circumstances of our lives. Two weeks into 2024 - are you feeling rested? :)
If you are feeling a little tired and weary, we would like to invite you to join our spiritual pottery retreat, where we can spend 6 hours together; receiving the rest and nourishment that God provides and enjoying the therapeutic nature of clay.
29 Jan 2024 (Monday, 10am - 4pm)
More details can be found here: https://studioasobi.com/the-potters-clay-pottery-retreat/
REFRESH Come to the water Let thirst be but memory Of bygone winters
Yesterday I met a sister in Christ who recounted to me her struggles with insomnia, and how she overcame it with her husband`s support, intentional work boundaries, sleep routines and her favourite Chamomile Lavender tea. It was so encouraging to hear of her journey, and how God unexpectedly provided her with good bosses and colleagues amidst a challenging work environment.
We all have different roads to take, but our needs and desires are often very similar. A sense of purpose, affirmation, healthy relationships, security, and, even if it is often unsaid, the ability to just have a good rest after a long day. There were times when I struggled with this too, but as I leaned upon the grace of my Creator, He led me to green pastures, to still waters, and refreshed my soul.
This set was commissioned by a young brother whose girlfriend and her parents led him to Christ. He wanted to bless them with a tea set inspired by Psalm 23, just as they have greatly blessed him. I love working on projects like these, because they remind me of my own blessings in life - chief of all to have been once lost, now found; once parched, now overflowing.
REFRESH Come to the water Let thirst be but memory Of bygone winters
Yesterday I met a sister in Christ who recounted to me her struggles with insomnia, and how she overcame it with her husband`s support, intentional work boundaries, sleep routines and her favourite Chamomile Lavender tea. It was so encouraging to hear of her journey, and how God unexpectedly provided her with good bosses and colleagues amidst a challenging work environment.
We all have different roads to take, but our needs and desires are often very similar. A sense of purpose, affirmation, healthy relationships, security, and, even if it is often unsaid, the ability to just have a good rest after a long day. There were times when I struggled with this too, but as I leaned upon the grace of my Creator, He led me to green pastures, to still waters, and refreshed my soul.
This set was commissioned by a young brother whose girlfriend and her parents led him to Christ. He wanted to bless them with a tea set inspired by Psalm 23, just as they have greatly blessed him. I love working on projects like these, because they remind me of my own blessings in life - chief of all to have been once lost, now found; once parched, now overflowing....
As we approach our 10th year as Studio Asobi, I`ll be the first to admit that often we still don`t know what we are doing! Just yesterday, we opened our kiln only to find, horror of horrors, that one of our student`s creations had completely shattered at the base during bisque firing. So explosive it was - some pieces even flew up and landed on other vessels!
As we stood there stupefied, I thought to myself that this is probably why many potters still believe in the idea of kiln gods - hot tempered and capricious - residing in every kiln. All of these vessels had spent at least 6 days drying, why would just one piece explode in such dramatic fashion?
Eventually, we came to the conclusion that: 1. The last week of December was cool and humid, slowing down the drying 2. We usually dry our greenware on top of firing kilns, but this time we were away on holiday on Bintan and didn`t do it. 3. The flat base of this piece sat directly on our shelf rather than being elevated, further slowing down the drying 4. There was a lot of slip applied to the walls of the vessel, adding more moisture than it would otherwise have 5. The residual moisture couldn`t evaporate in time during the firing process, and at 100degC everything turned into steam, causing an explosion 6. There isn`t a kiln god in our kiln 😅
It was certainly our mistake for not ensuring the vessel was ready for firing, but we are so grateful for our student who graciously took it in her stride!
This experience also gave us quite a profound revelation about life. With social media, it is quite easy for our family and personal lives to be packaged and presented nicely to those around us. But behind these glossy facades often lie hidden hurts, insecurities, disappointments, even simmering hatred that don`t see the light of day. But when the kiln heats up - a work crisis, a betrayal uncovered, a child or aged parent entering the household - this unreleased moisture can boil all at once, causing our carefully crafted lives to shatter irreparably.
May we all find it in us to let go of what we shouldn`t hold on to, so that when life heats up, we don`t shatter, but instead mature into beautiful vessels.
As we approach our 10th year as Studio Asobi, I`ll be the first to admit that often we still don`t know what we are doing! Just yesterday, we opened our kiln only to find, horror of horrors, that one of our student`s creations had completely shattered at the base during bisque firing. So explosive it was - some pieces even flew up and landed on other vessels!
As we stood there stupefied, I thought to myself that this is probably why many potters still believe in the idea of kiln gods - hot tempered and capricious - residing in every kiln. All of these vessels had spent at least 6 days drying, why would just one piece explode in such dramatic fashion?
Eventually, we came to the conclusion that: 1. The last week of December was cool and humid, slowing down the drying 2. We usually dry our greenware on top of firing kilns, but this time we were away on holiday on Bintan and didn`t do it. 3. The flat base of this piece sat directly on our shelf rather than being elevated, further slowing down the drying 4. There was a lot of slip applied to the walls of the vessel, adding more moisture than it would otherwise have 5. The residual moisture couldn`t evaporate in time during the firing process, and at 100degC everything turned into steam, causing an explosion 6. There isn`t a kiln god in our kiln 😅
It was certainly our mistake for not ensuring the vessel was ready for firing, but we are so grateful for our student who graciously took it in her stride!
This experience also gave us quite a profound revelation about life. With social media, it is quite easy for our family and personal lives to be packaged and presented nicely to those around us. But behind these glossy facades often lie hidden hurts, insecurities, disappointments, even simmering hatred that don`t see the light of day. But when the kiln heats up - a work crisis, a betrayal uncovered, a child or aged parent entering the household - this unreleased moisture can boil all at once, causing our carefully crafted lives to shatter irreparably.
May we all find it in us to let go of what we shouldn`t hold on to, so that when life heats up, we don`t shatter, but instead mature into beautiful vessels....
BEAUTIFUL LINES Stripes on His body Each a seed sown on my grave Now springs a garden
This planter, commissioned as a baptism gift, was surprisingly challenging to make. Even I was fooled by my own design, thinking it would be a straightforward vessel to carve and glaze. I realized only during the glazing process how hard it was to first get the dark glaze neatly into those narrow grooves, and then spread the grey coating evenly across the surface without obscuring the stripes.
Then I thought about how easy it was for the soldiers to carve those stripes into Jesus` flesh, and how hard it was for Him to bear, not just the pain but the horrible stench and weight of humanity`s sin.
Then I thought about how easy it is for military aircraft to carve lines of devastation across the land, tearing obliviously through lives, through generations.
And I thought about how easy it is for us, each carrying our own visible and invisible scars, to carve vicious lines into the hearts of those we love.
So I cast my wish as a potter today, that for each of us who is about to lay a harsh word into someone`s heart, we would find it just that little bit more difficult today. That we would struggle to form them in our minds, and once formed, they would somehow find themselves inexplicably stuck in our throats and unable to be released. Like a blunted carving tool, or a coagulated glaze. That we might then abandon that idea altogether, and allow the poison to dissipate so that it loses its power to poison ourselves.
For He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
BEAUTIFUL LINES Stripes on His body Each a seed sown on my grave Now springs a garden
This planter, commissioned as a baptism gift, was surprisingly challenging to make. Even I was fooled by my own design, thinking it would be a straightforward vessel to carve and glaze. I realized only during the glazing process how hard it was to first get the dark glaze neatly into those narrow grooves, and then spread the grey coating evenly across the surface without obscuring the stripes.
Then I thought about how easy it was for the soldiers to carve those stripes into Jesus` flesh, and how hard it was for Him to bear, not just the pain but the horrible stench and weight of humanity`s sin.
Then I thought about how easy it is for military aircraft to carve lines of devastation across the land, tearing obliviously through lives, through generations.
And I thought about how easy it is for us, each carrying our own visible and invisible scars, to carve vicious lines into the hearts of those we love.
So I cast my wish as a potter today, that for each of us who is about to lay a harsh word into someone`s heart, we would find it just that little bit more difficult today. That we would struggle to form them in our minds, and once formed, they would somehow find themselves inexplicably stuck in our throats and unable to be released. Like a blunted carving tool, or a coagulated glaze. That we might then abandon that idea altogether, and allow the poison to dissipate so that it loses its power to poison ourselves.
For He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed....
NEST The cleft of a rock Hides an overflowing spring Where I make my home
This sake set was crafted for twin sisters with a 燕 (swallow, swift) in their names. I originally thought of designing a bird motif but then I recalled that swallows build nests in rocks and other structures, and I decided to flow with that.
The design is guided by two verses from the Bible:
"Be still and know that I am God" - Ps 46:10 "My cup overflows" - Ps 23:5
May these vessels be a reminder that we can always find our rest, refuge and strength in the Rock of ages. For it is not only our shelter, it bubbles up from its depths an overflowing spring of living water, to quench our thirst and refresh our spirit.
NEST The cleft of a rock Hides an overflowing spring Where I make my home
This sake set was crafted for twin sisters with a 燕 (swallow, swift) in their names. I originally thought of designing a bird motif but then I recalled that swallows build nests in rocks and other structures, and I decided to flow with that.
The design is guided by two verses from the Bible:
"Be still and know that I am God" - Ps 46:10 "My cup overflows" - Ps 23:5
May these vessels be a reminder that we can always find our rest, refuge and strength in the Rock of ages. For it is not only our shelter, it bubbles up from its depths an overflowing spring of living water, to quench our thirst and refresh our spirit....
MEALS ON WHEELS: URGENT HELP NEEDED THIS DECEMBER!
Dear friends, thank you so much for supporting our craft and our work all these years. If you like what we do, would you also consider joining hands with us in supporting the less fortunate among us?
Partnering with Meals On Wheels, we help coordinate a group of volunteers from all walks of life, delivering meals to homebound elderly residents living with food insecurity, and exploring along the way the beautiful neighbourhoods of Toa Payoh.
Our group of 50+ volunteers handles afternoon (dinner) deliveries every day of the week, but each volunteer is free to choose any frequency of help, even just once a year. All that`s needed is a pair of legs and a willing heart - wheels are a bonus!
What we provide is a very simple, even mundane service, but it makes a big difference to those who cannot count on having their daily meals, or who are living in isolation.
If you would like to support us in any way, be it in volunteering, giving, or even a word of encouragement, DM us - we would love to hear from you! Weekday volunteers are particularly needed, so do help us spread the word, thank you!
MEALS ON WHEELS: URGENT HELP NEEDED THIS DECEMBER!
Dear friends, thank you so much for supporting our craft and our work all these years. If you like what we do, would you also consider joining hands with us in supporting the less fortunate among us?
Partnering with Meals On Wheels, we help coordinate a group of volunteers from all walks of life, delivering meals to homebound elderly residents living with food insecurity, and exploring along the way the beautiful neighbourhoods of Toa Payoh.
Our group of 50+ volunteers handles afternoon (dinner) deliveries every day of the week, but each volunteer is free to choose any frequency of help, even just once a year. All that`s needed is a pair of legs and a willing heart - wheels are a bonus!
What we provide is a very simple, even mundane service, but it makes a big difference to those who cannot count on having their daily meals, or who are living in isolation.
If you would like to support us in any way, be it in volunteering, giving, or even a word of encouragement, DM us - we would love to hear from you! Weekday volunteers are particularly needed, so do help us spread the word, thank you!
I love this board by @blessedbegift ! Ephesians 2:10 is the verse behind our studio`s birth, and through almost a decade of our journey as an artisan family, this verse has provided us great encouragement and inspiration.
We are also inspired by the work of Blessed Be, founded by Yen in 2020 amidst her own journey of grief and restoration in Christ. Her passion is for more and more people to come to the Lord and to be strengthened by His powerful Word. Each piece is lovingly handcrafted in Da Nang, Vietnam, by brothers and sisters in Christ from a local church. Led by a team of church youths, this work provides precious livelihood to believers from less fortunate backgrounds, and it`s such a beautiful channel of God`s love and blessing for His people.
If you would like to purchase Blessed Be`s gifts and support their work, do catch their Christmas Special from December 9-12 for 15% off (coupon code: EMMANUEL)!
I love this board by @blessedbegift ! Ephesians 2:10 is the verse behind our studio`s birth, and through almost a decade of our journey as an artisan family, this verse has provided us great encouragement and inspiration.
We are also inspired by the work of Blessed Be, founded by Yen in 2020 amidst her own journey of grief and restoration in Christ. Her passion is for more and more people to come to the Lord and to be strengthened by His powerful Word. Each piece is lovingly handcrafted in Da Nang, Vietnam, by brothers and sisters in Christ from a local church. Led by a team of church youths, this work provides precious livelihood to believers from less fortunate backgrounds, and it`s such a beautiful channel of God`s love and blessing for His people.
If you would like to purchase Blessed Be`s gifts and support their work, do catch their Christmas Special from December 9-12 for 15% off (coupon code: EMMANUEL)!...
SPRINGTIME, AGAIN New winds beckoning Fresh buds still sipping the snow A little while more
This set was commissioned by our former colleagues as a retirement gift for our former boss. This word "retirement" is loaded, complex, and carries with it a strange force of its own. Some people pursue it from early in their career, some stumble unaware into its embrace, some await it like a colossal, inescapable wave. Yet some others trample completely over it, denying its power, silencing its voice in their lives.
I don`t know. Sometimes I think I`m already retired, other times I think I`ll never retire! But what I do know is, I love what I`m doing now. And I`m grateful too for the corporate life we left behind long ago - for the resources and friendships it has provided, for the perspectives it has shaped inside us, and for the skills it has equipped us with.
What is your relationship with "retirement"? What is your relationship with "work"?
SPRINGTIME, AGAIN New winds beckoning Fresh buds still sipping the snow A little while more
This set was commissioned by our former colleagues as a retirement gift for our former boss. This word "retirement" is loaded, complex, and carries with it a strange force of its own. Some people pursue it from early in their career, some stumble unaware into its embrace, some await it like a colossal, inescapable wave. Yet some others trample completely over it, denying its power, silencing its voice in their lives.
I don`t know. Sometimes I think I`m already retired, other times I think I`ll never retire! But what I do know is, I love what I`m doing now. And I`m grateful too for the corporate life we left behind long ago - for the resources and friendships it has provided, for the perspectives it has shaped inside us, and for the skills it has equipped us with.
What is your relationship with "retirement"? What is your relationship with "work"?...
There is a passage in the Bible where the prophet Jeremiah was sent by God to a potter`s house, and there he saw a clay vessel being formed on the wheel, but it was marred in the potter`s hands. So the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
I`ve always wondered, since I became a potter myself, how this biblical potter reshaped the damaged clay vessel. Did he cut off the damaged part? Did he crush it back into a lump and centre it again? There`s no way to know.
This week, during our Potter`s House spiritual retreat, I made a vase on the wheel and asked our 5 retreatants to damage it one by one. Some were tentative, some gleefully punched into it. Then I spent some time slowly working on the badly damaged vessel, running my fingers up and down while the wheel continued spinning. Bit by bit, the wrinkles and tears were smoothened out, and a new vessel emerged.
The retreatants were somewhat awestruck, but I explained to them that this is simply a potter`s years of training and practice. We are only amazed because we don`t know how something is done.
This little exercise demonstrated to them, and more importantly to myself, that if a normal potter like me can completely restore an utterly mutilated vessel, how much more can our Master Potter restore our brokenness, without cutting away, without starting over, but with whatever we are right now. God can use our weaknesses for His glory, as much as He uses our strengths. And it is because of this that He likens us to clay in the hands of a potter. Because as weak and worthless as we might be, we have an amazing quality - we can be shaped into anything our Creator wishes. And He wishes us to be His masterpiece.
There is a passage in the Bible where the prophet Jeremiah was sent by God to a potter`s house, and there he saw a clay vessel being formed on the wheel, but it was marred in the potter`s hands. So the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
I`ve always wondered, since I became a potter myself, how this biblical potter reshaped the damaged clay vessel. Did he cut off the damaged part? Did he crush it back into a lump and centre it again? There`s no way to know.
This week, during our Potter`s House spiritual retreat, I made a vase on the wheel and asked our 5 retreatants to damage it one by one. Some were tentative, some gleefully punched into it. Then I spent some time slowly working on the badly damaged vessel, running my fingers up and down while the wheel continued spinning. Bit by bit, the wrinkles and tears were smoothened out, and a new vessel emerged.
The retreatants were somewhat awestruck, but I explained to them that this is simply a potter`s years of training and practice. We are only amazed because we don`t know how something is done.
This little exercise demonstrated to them, and more importantly to myself, that if a normal potter like me can completely restore an utterly mutilated vessel, how much more can our Master Potter restore our brokenness, without cutting away, without starting over, but with whatever we are right now. God can use our weaknesses for His glory, as much as He uses our strengths. And it is because of this that He likens us to clay in the hands of a potter. Because as weak and worthless as we might be, we have an amazing quality - we can be shaped into anything our Creator wishes. And He wishes us to be His masterpiece....
So delighted to see our little kingfisher again, now happily settled at Fort Canning Park`s Sang Nila Utama garden, 4 years after it landed there. Love how the moss is starting to grow on this lazy bird who doesn`t want to move at all!
Every time I see it, I`m reminded that our studio`s name (Asobi) means "play", not "work". Sometimes we forget, and life becomes more difficult, we become more weary, and the burden grows heavier. But when we remember, everything flows.
So delighted to see our little kingfisher again, now happily settled at Fort Canning Park`s Sang Nila Utama garden, 4 years after it landed there. Love how the moss is starting to grow on this lazy bird who doesn`t want to move at all!
Every time I see it, I`m reminded that our studio`s name (Asobi) means "play", not "work". Sometimes we forget, and life becomes more difficult, we become more weary, and the burden grows heavier. But when we remember, everything flows.
This old wheel has been with us for close to a decade, but it had been left pitted and marred because we just never really found the time and mental space to do anything about it. But a week ago, during one of my I-don`t-want-to-work days, I decided to finally dig out the accumulated clay and rust in the potholes and fill them with some gold infused resin.
Didn`t actually take a long time. Probably just half an hour of epoxy application followed by another half hour of sanding several days later, and now we have a nice smooth kintsugi wheel.
It just made me think, sometimes the difficult work that we need to do within ourselves - the hurts we need to heal, the brokenness we need to fix, the pits we need to fill - perhaps some of them are just difficult because we shy away from the restoration work? Perhaps the hardest part is not the fixing, it`s just that simple act of sitting down, taking a deep breath, and getting started?
This old wheel has been with us for close to a decade, but it had been left pitted and marred because we just never really found the time and mental space to do anything about it. But a week ago, during one of my I-don`t-want-to-work days, I decided to finally dig out the accumulated clay and rust in the potholes and fill them with some gold infused resin.
Didn`t actually take a long time. Probably just half an hour of epoxy application followed by another half hour of sanding several days later, and now we have a nice smooth kintsugi wheel.
It just made me think, sometimes the difficult work that we need to do within ourselves - the hurts we need to heal, the brokenness we need to fix, the pits we need to fill - perhaps some of them are just difficult because we shy away from the restoration work? Perhaps the hardest part is not the fixing, it`s just that simple act of sitting down, taking a deep breath, and getting started?...
GIVE ME OIL For my daily bread Soothe the winds and waves inside While I journey home
We made this butter box a few days after our helper arrived, in preparation for Huiwen`s mum`s return. It`s been almost a year since she had to move out due to her fourth stroke rendering her wheelchair bound and unable to climb the stairs of our home. But now we have a wonderful helper, and a stair lift, and I guess we`re as ready as we can be for this new chapter of life!
In many ways I think this butter box signifies our desire to continue flourishing even while navigating the challenges of caregiving. There`s the obvious "加油", because we certainly need to remind ourselves to persevere. But there`s also the delightful bar of butter inside, something we haven`t really had time to enjoy since our caregiving journey started 4 years ago with the first stroke. We often just went for the most efficient options for our meals, choosing takeouts and coffeeshop meals rather than preparing food at home. But now we are going to nourish our days with home cooked food, and butter spreads, and gratitude. And the butter shall even have its own handmade container because we are going to take time to live life, to craft beautiful things for our own enjoyment.
You know, the base might be a little warped, the glaze might be a little patchy, and the words might not have shown up that well, but it`s beautiful because we made it ourselves.
GIVE ME OIL For my daily bread Soothe the winds and waves inside While I journey home
We made this butter box a few days after our helper arrived, in preparation for Huiwen`s mum`s return. It`s been almost a year since she had to move out due to her fourth stroke rendering her wheelchair bound and unable to climb the stairs of our home. But now we have a wonderful helper, and a stair lift, and I guess we`re as ready as we can be for this new chapter of life!
In many ways I think this butter box signifies our desire to continue flourishing even while navigating the challenges of caregiving. There`s the obvious "加油", because we certainly need to remind ourselves to persevere. But there`s also the delightful bar of butter inside, something we haven`t really had time to enjoy since our caregiving journey started 4 years ago with the first stroke. We often just went for the most efficient options for our meals, choosing takeouts and coffeeshop meals rather than preparing food at home. But now we are going to nourish our days with home cooked food, and butter spreads, and gratitude. And the butter shall even have its own handmade container because we are going to take time to live life, to craft beautiful things for our own enjoyment.
You know, the base might be a little warped, the glaze might be a little patchy, and the words might not have shown up that well, but it`s beautiful because we made it ourselves....