CSP FAQs

Yes, but please use it gently. Handmade pots are sturdy but if you drop a piece, expect it to break. I recommend handwashing. Occasionally it can go into the dishwasher. If you’ve been using pieces with matte glazes or raw clay finishes after a while, you might notice some scratches or scuffs. This is the nature of handmade wood fired pottery!

For most items there will be two boxes. The pot is wrapped in new acid free tissue paper and new recycled paper mesh padding and placed in a new appropriately sized box. That box is then placed in a larger box padded with heavy recycled paper mesh in place of bubble wrap. I like to reuse outer shipping boxes that are clean, if you prefer a new recycled cardboard shipping box, please let me know. Ceramics are breakable, I take the same great care in packaging work as I do in making my work. Double boxing insures the best protection for a safe arrival to its new home.

Gift packaging options will be available soon.

No, I don’t accept custom orders or requests. I am the only maker in my studio hand making pots and sculpture, making glazes, and firing the kiln.

Yes, I gladly accept returns in their original condition in their original packaging within 7 days of receipt. Purchase price minus total shipping cost will be refunded. For cancellations, they must be requested within 24 hours of purchase. Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.

I use commercially produced stoneware and porcelain for serving items and dinnerware. (Yay Sheffield Pottery supply!) I reclaim the scraps of clay, mix, and reuse it for sculptural work and garden items.

Yes.

Pieces are formed by my hands or thrown on a wheel. I often utilize a slab roller when I am working on larger sculptural pieces. I often delay the drying process for adding lids or knobs, feet, or handles. Drying the clay a bit further I’ll flip some over, trim away any excess clay. Using various tools and objects I’ve found or self crafted stamps to introduce texture to the surfaces. The pieces are allowed to air dry completely. Tableware and serving ware is biscuit fired in an electric (solar power assisted!) kiln to remove the moisture from the clay and become ceramic. I hand mix modern versions of ancient glaze recipes using available raw materials and apply them by hand to some pots. Sometimes I won’t apply a glaze at all. In a second firing in my wood burning kiln is where clay, glaze and ash meet to fuse and melt over the course of an 18–21-hour firing in my tiny dragon. I can’t get enough of the serendipitous patterns and deposits of ash on naked clay as well as the glazed surfaces. Each piece will be truly one of a kind.

Yes. All my ceramics are designed, handmade, glazed and finished by myself. I enlist family and friends for help with firings. Due to the nature of hand made and small batch firings, do expect slight imperfections and markings that make each piece unique and beautiful. I hope you think so as well.

No. Never place on an open flame or on a cooktop. Ever.

To ensure a long life, handmade ceramics should be hand washed. The biggest enemy to glaze durability is abrasion through scraping or stacking, harsh chemicals and prolonged use. Most pottery will grow dull or stained over time depending on frequency of use. Tableware should be rinsed clean soon after use, then washed with gentle dish soap and warm water.

Yes and no. When I make make pottery for serving, like casserole dishes, brie bakers, and apple bakers, these can go in a cold oven and slowly be brought up to temperature. Please do not exceed 350*F. I do not recommend putting plates in a hot oven ever.

Yes! Each piece is the item pictured.

This rarely happens, but if your order arrives broken or damaged, please make sure to photograph the item and the packaging. Please keep all the original boxes, packaging material and damaged item(s) until the claim process is completed. Every piece is insured against damage by the postal carriers. Please email me within (7) days of receiving damaged goods, and after determining the cause a refund or another choice will be provided. Pottery is fragile and must be handled with care. We cannot refund and/or replace an item that was received intact and later broken when handled.

In stock items will ship within 1-2 business days, via USPS. I will do my best to fulfill your order promptly. Occasionally, I may be away and unable to respond quickly. I will always do my best to acknowledge your purchase and process your order in a timely manner.

Yes. I regularly offer classes in beginning and/or intermediate/advanced wheel throwing and wood firing classes through the Worcester Center for Crafts in Worcester, MA. I have been part of the faculty there since 2003.

Please check WCC’s class offerings frequently as classes fill quickly. I am not currently accepting students for instruction in my home studio.

Yes. Within driving distance of the New England area of the United States is preferable… beyond that… let’s talk.

Generally, I am happy to make more of something similar to what you’ve got. Each piece is unique and will never be matched perfectly.

Everything is made by hand with raw materials that originate from the earth and slight variations are to be expected and the occasional iron inclusion or wad marking is normal. I embrace these slight variations as they're what makes my pieces one of a kind. These handcrafted pottery pieces are created with the utmost care and craftsmanship. However, due to the nature of the artistic process and the use of traditional techniques, each piece is unique and may exhibit variations in color, texture, and dimensions. These individual characteristics are a testament to the authenticity and artisanal nature of my products. Please embrace these subtle differences, as they reflect the hand of the potter and the inherent beauty of handmade ceramics. We appreciate your understanding that while pieces from the same collection share a common design, no two pieces will be exactly alike.

All pieces are handmade, and slight variations in size and color are to be expected.

No. Stoneware and porcelain are capable of very hot and cold temperatures. However, when a piece is taken from one extreme to the other quickly, it will cause the piece to crack or break (example: removing a dish from the refrigerator and placing it directly into a hot oven). We call that thermal shock. Remember to slowly transition your pieces from one temperature to the next.

I host Open Studio shows here at my home studio periodically where you can visit my studio and take a peek at the kiln. You can contact me by email to visit by appointment. Please look to my events page for updates on art fairs and festivals I may be attending. I don’t offer discounts or seconds at this time.

The best way to stay current is to sign up for my email list, read my blog, or frequently visit the website. I will never share your personal information.

Prices vary widely. My work is hand crafted and finished using glazes I’ve hand-mixed in my studio specifically for my clay bodies. I fire a beautiful single chamber wood burning kiln for 18-20 hours twice /year. Kiln preparation and cleanup are considered too. While my processes are time and labor intensive, they enhance color, depth and texture to my finished product that commercial glazes and other firing methods cannot.

I will do my best to combine shipping where possible, and if the total cost is more than $1 different from what you were charged for shipping, I will refund you the overages. However, due to the fragile nature of my work sometimes it’s safer for the piece to be shipped alone, in which case I will label your boxes “box 1 of 2” and “box 2 of 2,” etc., so that you know another piece is coming if they don’t all arrive on the same day.