In today’s episode of Material Whirl, Kelly is joined by Ciara Adams, co-founder of Cici Studios, a London-based creative workshop series offering painting and ceramics experiences for all skill levels. Together, they take on a DIY challenge using three surprise materials and talk about their creative process.

Ciara shares what it’s like to let materials dictate the outcome instead of starting with a finished idea. She opens up about iteration, scrapping first attempts, and learning to adapt when a project doesn’t turn out as expected. The conversation dives into how creativity actually works behind the scenes — messy, nonlinear, and full of problem-solving.

Kelly also walks through her own project and reflects on using everyday and upcycled materials, hiding mistakes creatively, and designing something meaningful rather than perfect.

Throughout the episode, Kelly and Ciara discuss:

• What happens when you start a DIY without knowing the final result
• Letting go of perfection and embracing iteration
• Using unexpected materials in unconventional ways
• Making functional, personal projects instead of “Pinterest-perfect” ones
• Why creativity often works better when you trust the process

By the end of this episode, you’ll feel encouraged to experiment, pivot, and make something — even when the plan changes halfway through.

Want to join the challenge? Try creating something with this week’s materials and share your project by tagging @MaterialWhirlPodcast or using #MaterialWhirl.

Follow @cicistudios_ to learn more about Ciara and Imogen’s creative workshops in London and Manchester.

This episode — and Material Whirl as a whole — was brought to life using Google tools, including filming on the Google Pixel 9 Pro, planning and prep with Google Gemini, and production notes on a Google Pixel Tablet.