POTTER IN THE WILD: HOLLY CAMPBELL CERAMICS
There are days when I’ve wanted to quit but my little people are watching me and cheering me on.
I mostly create functional pieces using stoneware clay and simple, minimalist glazes taking inspiration from my Irish heritage and a modern Scandinavian style. I work hard to develop my own style, which is very basic really. But I love the idea that someone can use and enjoy a piece of my pottery in their every day!
Instagram@ potterinthewild
Hometown: Dublin, Ireland
Currently live: Lund, Sweden.
Family: Husband, two daughters and three sons ages 0-12.
Pets: We have a dog ( Roisin) and two cats( Sigge and Sam). Our daughter has four rats( Lingon, Manderin, Mary, and Poppins), and one of our 7 year old has an aquarium.
Reading: I’m currently reading Florian Gadsby’s ‘By My Hands’. It’s really interesting and motivating to read about how he has developed his brand and about some of the events and experiences that have shaped who he is as a person and a potter.
Greatest strength: I tend to think outside the box. A blessing and a curse.
What emotion most often inspires your work? On a good day, Joy!
Listening to: The Mel Robbins Podcast and Diary of a CEO. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by background noise, but I have an app that plays birdsong.
What book has impacted you the most and why? As a teenager, I remember looking through a book on my mum’s bookshelf called ‘Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway‘ by Susan Jeffers. It inspired me to make a move to England, where I then met my husband. I ‘borrowed’ the book (sorry mum!)years later and flick through it every now and then. It also inspired me to shave my head, which had been on my bucket list for years, but fear of other people’s judgment held me back. Shaving my head forced me to be comfortable in my own skin and not care what other people think. This book has also inspired me to do many other things, like start a pottery business and take on various challenges that I might otherwise have backed away from.
Tell us about some of your personal goals: Oh, so many to choose from! In general, I aim to live in a way that’s true to my values. Leave the world a better place. Be the best person I can be and add value.
Do you have a favorite quote? I have loads! I’ve had the same handwritten quote for over twenty years. It’s become my motto.
Maryanne Herschey
‘The distance between where I want to be and where I am is great. But because of all I may become, I will close my eyes and jump!’
Are you competitive? Nope. Not at all. I sometimes don’t want to win because I know that someone else will be disappointed.
What motivates you? :
My kids are probably my biggest motivator in life. I want to show them that we can be part of creating a better world and that starts with me. I’m determined to model self esteem and strive to be the best version of myself but also that it’s more than ok to be human.
What challenges are you working on at the moment? I’ve been struggling with feeling like I need to put down roots, to feel like there is a place that I call home. Having lived in Sweden for nearly 20 years, I still miss my home country, family, and old friends. That’s not to say that this beautiful country doesn’t feel like home because it really does, kind of. It’s become comfortable, with wonderful friends and a life that is in many ways perfect. But as my parents age and my children grow, we feel a pull to be in Ireland. I am learning to embrace where I am at and find ways to feel at home in myself.
What holds you back?: Self-doubt creeps in when I’m tired. And in this phase of life, with little ones, some days I feel really tired. So I’m learning to adjust my goals and take baby steps with my business and in general. There are days when I’ve wanted to quit but my little people are watching me and cheering me on.
Hobbies: I love hiking, crafting, pressing flowers, painting, sourdough, photography, cooking, gardening, blogging, and, of course, pottery!
What advice would you give to younger you? I would tell my younger self to aim for excellence, not perfection! Trust your gut. Don’t spend time with people who don’t see your value and instead focus on finding joy!
Who inspires you in life? I have strong women in my life who inspire me to reach higher and forget about perfection. I’m also really inspired by my children! They don’t have a fear of failure. They just try! Again and again and again. And if they fail, they get mad, which fuels them to try again.
My greatest fear: My greatest fear is that I will reach the end of my life and realize I didn’t give it my all.
My favorite life hack: I’ve learned to keep a running to-do list and recently learned how to time block effectively, which has been a game-changer! Also, I plan my day the night before and do the most important things FIRST!
Favorite music: I love U2 and I’m a huge Laleh fan!! I’m listening more to First Aid Kit recently and love Kraja!
Favorite joke: I can never remember jokes, and if I do, I tend to forget the punch line. I recently wrote one down to tell my kids, though.
‘What do you call a hen that is looking at a pile of lettuce? A chicken sees a salad!’
Do you collect anything? I love old furniture and curiosa. You will see a thrift store label still attached to the underside of most things in our home. Our house is full of things I’ve picked up at car boot sales and pulled out of skips. I actually wonder if it might be an addiction! I’m torn between needing minimalism and loving all of my stuff…
(..My house is not often this tidy!)
Dream of: Life on a farm, I desperately want hens, sheep, some cows and a pony( or two)!
Words of wisdom? : Just take the next right step, even if you can’t see the whole road ahead. It’s something I’ve learned from my mum but often forget.
Grateful for: My husband for believing in me and all his support!
Favorite recipe: I love cooking, and though I share recipes, I very rarely follow one myself. We cook alot of soup, and most often, it’s a variation of this Irish farmhouse soup.
Traditional Irish Farmhouse Vegetable Soup Recipe
Root vegetables are the star of the show in this soup, but honestly, this recipe is so flexible that you can substitute it freely. It makes a great lunch all year round, so it's not surprising you'll find a cream of vegetable soup on the menu more often than not at most pubs and restaurants in Ireland.
Enjoy this soup chunky or ue an immersion blender to creat a smooth and creamy soup!
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp / 60g Butter, olive oil, or coconut oil
- 1 medium-sized onion or half a leek
- 1 or 2 cloves of garlic crushed
- 2-3 Sticks celery or 1/4 head of celeriac
- 2 Small Carrots
- 1 large potato
- 2 Parsnips - peeled or unpeeled.
- 1/2 Small turnip( or Swede as its sometimes called)
- 1/2 Head of broccoli - added towards the end of the cooking time to preserve its flavor and color
- 5-6 cups/1.5 l Vegetable stock. Chicken stock adds a lot of flavor, but you can also just use plain water and add 2 tsp sea salt!
- 1/4 Cup/ 60ml Cream
Instructions
Method
1. Wash, peel, and dice the vegetables.
2. Melt the butter or oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and add the onions or leeks. Stir occasionally until softened and translucent ( 4-5 minutes)
3. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, allowing the flavor to bloom.
4. Add the rest of the veggies( except the broccoli) and mix thoroughly to coat them in oil before lowering the temperature. Place a lid on the pot and sweat the vegetables over low heat for 5-6 minutes.
This allows them to soften slightly without browning
5. Pour in the vegetable broth, add bay leaves, if using, and broccoli, and bring to a simmer for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
You want to add enough liquid just to cover the vegetables by a few inches.
6. Remove bay leaf and blend the soup until smooth. Add the cream and mix thoroughly.
If the soup is too too thick you can add a little hot water or broth. If you prefer a chunky soup, you can skip the blender and serve as is or partially blended. Remove some of the mixture, blend until smooth, and add it to the rest of the soup.
Season to taste with black pepper and sea salt and serve with Irish soda bread and butter.
Hi, I’m Holly. Welcome to my site!
I love sharing my knowledge of foraging and simple, back-to-basics cooking so you’ll find some great recipes here, many inspired by my life in Sweden and my Irish roots.
I’m also a potter, passionate about connecting with other artists so you’ll also find inspiring interviews with fellow potters from around the world!
Whether you love pottery or simply looking for a new recipe, I hope you’ll find inspiration here!
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