How I came to ceramics – A journey of clay and passion

Sometimes the most beautiful things in life come to us when we least expect them. That's what happened to me and ceramics. My journey with clay didn't begin planned—rather, I stumbled upon it by chance. But since then, it hasn't let me go.

I first encountered clay creatively during my school days. Back then, it was just a curious experiment in craft class, but it didn't leave a lasting impression. My interest initially focused on other areas—until my nursing studies took an unexpected turn.

During an internship at a rehabilitation clinic, I accompanied patients to the creative workshop one afternoon. There, we worked together with clay to develop their fine motor skills. I still vividly remember the moment when I held clay in my hands again after years. We made plates with delicate patterns, inspired by old crocheted doilies. It was as if the clay had found me again in that moment—and this time I wanted more of it.

At the same time, I was furnishing my own home and was deeply involved in interior design. The desire to design my own tableware grew ever stronger, so I began to delve deeper into the craft.

What began as a hobby quickly became a passion. I first taught myself the slab technique, but quickly ventured into the potter's wheel, learning through books, videos, and discussions with other ceramists. Photography helped me capture my journey with clay—and it also led to my social media journey.

With the presentation of my work on social media, a new question soon arose: How should I call what I'm creating? I wanted every piece that left my workshop to bear not only my signature, but also a name. One that would convey the piece's origins. Thus began the search for a suitable name – and later, formfrei was born. You can find the detailed post about it here.

The growing response on social media prompted me to take the next step: officially selling my ceramics . But that wasn't as easy in Austria as I initially thought. I researched how I could start a part-time business alongside my full-time job in healthcare and quickly realized that selling everyday ceramics isn't considered a free trade. A long journey to obtain authorization to operate a commercial ceramics business began. It took several years, filled with bureaucracy, safety regulations, exams, and learning processes. I had to have glaze samples tested in the lab, implement occupational safety measures in my workshop, and also ensure that my showroom met all legal information requirements.

All of this took time, energy, and money—but it was worth every step. Today, I can officially call myself a ceramist and sell certified, high-quality, everyday ceramics. I'm proud to have taken this path, even if it was a rocky one.

Right from the start, I made my ceramics in my parents' small garden shed – using simple tools but with great enthusiasm. It's all the more wonderful that today I'm able to work in a spacious workshop at the Regner Winery . Here, I have the perfect space to shape my ideas into clay. And it's even better that I can now display and sell my pieces right on-site in our showroom – alongside my husband's wines.

I'm excited to see where this journey will take us – but I already know one thing: Clay will continue to accompany me. And with every new bowl, every cup, and every plate, I tell my story.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Your Anna Maria