Peng Jie, known to many as "Grandma Pudding," once navigated a high-pressure professional life in Beijing. Confronted with severe burnout, she heeded an inner call to stop, leading her to Jingdezhen five years ago. "Coming to Jingdezhen opened a door for me to search inwardly," she reflects.

In this creative sanctuary, she discovered jiao tai (mottled clay), a technique that bridges her past and present. The intricate patterns of the clay evoke memories of the hand-knitted sweaters her mother made from repurposed thread during her impoverished childhood. For Peng, these ceramic pieces serve as vessels for that early warmth. Now, through her art space, she encourages others to move beyond the "autopilot" mode of modern life. "Handiwork connects the hand to the heart," Peng said, offering a space where focused creation allows one to silence the noise and recalibrate their true purpose.