Meet the maker
“Centering is a verb… an ongoing process… a way of balancing, a spiritual resource in times of conflict ... an integration of purposes, an integration of levels of consciousness.”
I’m Julie - the heart and hands behind The Mindful Potter, an independent, woman-owned business, making small batches of functional, stoneware pottery out of my sunny studio in Athens.
Designed with intention and curated with care, my collections are slow-made and made to last. They reflect my commitment to slow living, conscious consumption and my belief that objects and spaces have a direct impact on our energy and well-being.
For me its all about finding balance - consuming less but doing it “better” by selecting objects we love, with the intention of using them daily for years to come.
Objects for life.
Clay as a practice in mindfulness
Born in France, I had a nomadic childhood. Over the years my family moved between Morocco, Botswana and the Middle East. When we weren’t on the move, Brighton in the UK was home.
I studied Social Anthropology at SOAS and then spent the next 12 years working with refugees in many beautiful -occasionally challenging- corners of the world. In 2017, my work took me to Greece, as refugees seeking protection from persecution and war -including thousands of unaccompanied children- flowed into Europe.
Burnt out by the brutality of it all, I turned to clay. Generous potters welcomed me into their studios and encouraged me to put my hands in the mud. They helped me reconnect to my creativity and quiet my exhausted mind. Working with earth and water on the pottery wheel became a moving meditation: a mindfulness practice which healed my mind and nourished my soul.
Finding flow: a pottery studio in the heart of Athens
In 2018 I founded The Mindful Potter - my heart-work and a focus for my creative energy while I healed. Slowly my practice outgrew my small, home studio and I moved my pottery wheel to Sektor30 - a beautiful community space run by artists for artists. For two years the Sektor30 community supported my creative practice and nurtured my growth as a maker and small business owner.
By 2021, I was ready to open my own studio. I found a sunny, corner shop in central Athens. Built in the 1960s with soaring ceilings, lots of light and heaps of vintage charm - I fell in love. In June 2021, I moved in.
As well as housing my own production of mindfully designed functional ware, the studio has grown over time into a hub of creativity, welcoming everyone from first time potters to experienced throwers looking for a serene space to connect with their ceramics practice.