Monday 28 September 2015

Yarn Bowl Anyone? :) Hanna Here for a Visit (With Giveaway)

ton-topf.ch

This week's duo of interviews begins with Hanna from Ton-Topf.ch

Welcome Hanna :)


Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hi, my name is Hanna Frey. I am the manager of a company of six.....literally - I am a married mom of four teenagers and live in the beautiful canton of Aargau.
Since my childhood I have always appreciated working with my hands.
I have tried many things like knitting, crochet, weaving, spinning and tatting.
I also am a musician and a breeder of Greek Tortoises.

Pottery has always fascinated me and I had the opportunity once in Emmental to visit a potter at work. I knew then that at some point in my life I would give it a go!

Eight years ago I found an opportunity to visit a pottery course in my neighbour village. Since this time I have not let go of my love of clay and continue to visit various courses to enhance my design and heating techniques.

My equipment has also steadily grown over the years, from my own kiln to a electronic potter's wheel which I acquired this year.

"Practice makes Perfect" definitely also applies here, and the aching muscles that I had in my shoulders and arms in the beginning of my experiences have grown less with time :)

Many kilos of clay have since gone through my fingers and the finished products will be on display at this weekend's Swiss Wulle Festival

ton-topf potters wheel

What are you especially proud of?

I am delighted and proud of the fact that I have been able to master the turning on the potters wheel.

Who do you gain inspiration from?

Through the various courses I have visited I have met many inspirational people who willingly have shared their knowledge with me helping me to move forward in my honing my own skills.
Whether it be the local potter from my village or the internationally renowned potter and course instructor - Stefan Jakob

He especially impressed me by the quiet manner in which he shared his "Secrets" with us.

His Motto is " People have always worked with clay, thus everything has already been done at least once! Don't think you are creating something brand new! And so follow my work, and copy it!

pottery from Ton-topf

What does Handmade mean to you?

To make things by hand is in the nature of us humans. In modern day society we have lost touch with some of these skills.
We no longer need these skills for our livelihood and so they have been "degraded" as such to a form of art or a hobby.

I find making something with my hands completely relaxing and enriching.
I often withdraw myself into my studio where I can relax, reflect on difficult situations or just enjoy the process of creating something with my hands.

What other hobbies do you have?

I enjoy knitting immensely. I knit often, and enjoy simple things.
Lately though I have found myself ready to engage enthusiastically in more complicated patterns. When the finished project has impressed me then the joy has been that much greater!

For this reason I am excited to be at the Swiss Wulle Festival because I get to untie my passions of Pottery and Yarn :)

If you had three wishes what you wish for the handmade movement?

The openness that Stefan Jakob inspired me with - I wish this for all people who include themselves in the Handmade Movement of Switzerland.
Be yourself, develop your talents - don't stand still!
Rejoice in your success and rejoice over other's successes too!

Thank you so much for visiting Marigolds' Loft, Hanna.

Where can my readers find you?






Hanna has been incredibly kind and has an amazing giveaway offer for all of you Swiss Residents (or from other countries but visiting the festival)

One of you lucky readers will be able to win yourself a yarn bowl of your choice!

That is right!

The winner will be able to choose their selection of bowl (worth CHF45) from her stand at the festival!
(Winner must fetch their bowl from the Swiss Wulle Festival taking part this weekend!)

All you need to do is enter yourself into the Rafflecopter below!

Good Luck!
Giveaway ends on Thursday 1st October at Midnight. Winner will be announced on Friday 2nd October!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for a lovely blog. I felt a bit lonely with my crocheting beginnings here in good old CH but not anymore :) I am so looking forward to the Wulle Festival this weekend!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting my site and leaving a comment, I really appreciate each and every one.
I will reply to each of your comments, sometimes it does take a while to get around to all of them, but I will reply within 24 hours of you posting. :)

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