This week, I set myself a really specific challenge: make mugs for seven days straight—not to sell, not to nail a “perfect” design, but purely to practice. I talk through why I think it’s so important to make work that isn’t great (and to let it be not great), because repetition is honestly where the skill-building happens. When I stop trying to make every piece precious, I get faster, I see patterns in my mistakes, and I learn what actually needs attention. I also do a little quality control moment with bisque-fired bowls and plates and walk you through why certain pieces don’t make it into the collection. It’s not about being harsh for the sake of it—it’s about learning to spot what’s structurally off, what doesn’t feel good in the hand, and what won’t hold up to real use. This episode is basically my reminder to myself (and to you) that giving yourself permission to make “bad pottery” is part of the process, and it’s often the most direct path to making better work.