I've always been a creative, artistic type, but I came to ceramics in 2023 when I took an introductory course in handbuilding at Portland Pottery Studio in Portland, ME.  I immediately fell in love with the medium and the handbuilding process.  I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by some incredible potters and ceramicists from the get-go, always finding support and advice wherever I needed it. A few more classes encouraged me to start making pottery outside of class, so I built a rudimentary studio in my home in Maine.

As a part-time floral designer and long-time outdoorsy person, I find inspiration in the landscapes that I know and love - the textures, colors, and movement found in the forests, meadows, lakes, and oceans of New England.  Working with clay feels like a direct connection to the earth, and it is my hope that the pieces I make today will be enjoyed for many years to come.

What makes Winterberry Clay distinctive is that each piece is created using handbuilding techniques - a method of pottery-making that predates the potter's wheel by thousands of years.  In particular, I tend to favor "slab building": rolling out clay just like pastry dough, cutting out a template from the flat slab, and forming the shape by connecting the edges.  This slow, methodical process requires patience, ingenuity, and a whole lot of appreciation for the craft.  Truly, it is a practice for not only the body, but the mind as well!

All clay is sourced from Standard Clay Company, located in Carnegie, Pennsylvania.  Glazes are sourced from Coyote Clay & Color, Mayco Colors, and Spectrum Glazes.  All pieces are made with durable stoneware clay and are dinnerware, dishwasher, and microwave-safe.