Handy Tips: 4 Ways Makers Can Tend To Their Most Precious Tool
I’m not sure if it’s the colder weather, the extra hours spent in the studio, or just age (as I slip into my last years of my 30s), but my hands are definitely starting to show (and feel) the wear of being my most used tool.
And while I do regret not taking better care of them during my early days of potting, I’m doing what I can now to show them the love they deserve, especially during the peak making season.
Here’s a few things I’ve found useful, so perhaps you will too.
1) Stretching & Building Strength
This is a newer addition to my regular hand care practice, but one that I hope will help me continue making pots for many years to come.
I attended an online workshop this fall with Wellness For Makers called “Crafting Stronger Hands” and took away some simple stretches and strengthening exercises that I’m trying to incorporate at the beginning of each studio session.
Especially on mornings where my studio is quite chilly, it feels extra important - like doing a warm-up in the same way as you would before exercising!
Here’s a few that I try to do most studio days:
(L) Holding your arm in front of your body at shoulder height, point your palm away from you, fingers pointed toward the ceiling. Use your opposite hand to gently apply pressure to the top part of your hand.
(R) Same position, but point your fingers towards the floor, palm toward you. Use your opposite hand to gently apply pressure to the back of your hand.
Hold each stretch for 15-30 seconds. It shouldn’t feel painful, and if it does, apply less pressure or just stop.
Using a small hair elastic (or a larger one with a knot tied in the middle), loop it onto the ends of your thumb and pointer finger. Slowly open and close your fingers, keeping the elastic near the tip of your fingers. The elastic should act as some resistance when you do this motion. Do a set of reps (anywhere from 6-12 depending on your current hand strength and the resistance of your elastic) for each finger on each hand.
I’ve been trying to also do these hand strengthening exercises when I’m reading in the evenings.
Not hand related, but here’s an upper back stretch that I’m loving lately (especially as I’ve always struggled with the “Eagle Arm” pose, which targets similar muscles).
Put the edges of your forearms together, elbows touching, with the outer edges of your hands together and palms facing toward you. Your elbows should be around shoulder height. You can slowly move your elbows slightly higher or lower (keeping everything touching) until you find the tight spots.
2) Varying Tasks
My studio practice used to be primarily based on the wheel, but in the last handful of years I’ve incorporated a lot more handbuilding work.
A big part of this decision was to help vary the movements that my hands and body were doing, which will hopefully prevent repetitive use injuries.
I’ve also kept this in mind as I grow my business, knowing full well that it can’t mean just making more pots as my body won’t sustain that demand for long.
Along with teaching workshops, I’m starting to offer mentoring services, which will mean my hands will get the rest they need while I start taking on some service-based client work.
3) Warmth
I try to only use warm water when working in my studio - whether it’s the water I’m using for throwing at the wheel, for pulling handles, or just tidying edges of hand built pieces.
My sink drains into a 5 gallon bucket so it means the somewhat cumbersome task of filling up containers with cold water, going and tossing them outside on my plants, and repeating until the water runs warm from the tap, but it’s so worth it.
The warm water just feels so soothing, and I have noticed a real difference in how my hands feel after throwing sessions since making this change!
If you’re not a potter, perhaps just remember that joints and muscles move better when they’re warm, so try to keep your studio toasty, or perhaps wear some handwarmers while you work.
4) Potions
Clay is super drying to the skin, so I go through a lot of handcream in the studio. I always try to give my hands, wrists and forearms a bit of a massage as I rub it in.
My favourite slightly “stronger” hand potion is called “Joint Jelly” by a local body care company. It’s a comfrey-based salve that works to relieve pain and inflammation and I slather it on anytime my hands feel achy, or before bed after a big carving day. (Be sure to look into the risks related to extended use of comfrey before you start using it yourself).
I’d love to know what things you do to take care of your hands in your studio practice!
Please share and comment below.
