A bit more about hog shed studio pottery

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Our pottery opened for business in 1982, as a means for Elliott to have an outlet for her creativity, and as a way to supplement Michael's income as a Registered Nurse while staying at home to raise their two daughters.  The building  that now houses the pottery was once an old machinery shed, and was converted to the present usage.   At first we had only electricity and heat in the building and didn't add running water until almost fifteen years later. Incredibly, we carried a lot of water out to the pottery in buckets! Our first kiln was built by Michael on site, and fired dependably until a wood heating stove fire destroyed a third of the building in 1989.  The following year we reopened after reconstructing the building and purchasing a new propane fired commercial kiln.  

Until recently, we kept regular business hours from 10 AM to 5 PM, Wednesday through Sunday, from May until Christmas.  As we have reached our seventies, we have become much more relaxed about business hours, and now we are available at the studio by chance or appointment.  People have come to the pottery from all over, especially local visitors, who occasionally bring their family and friends from far across the country and even from other countries.  The result has been a incredibly loyal group of supporters some of whom have been with us from the very start, and many of whom we count as very dear friends.  The loyalty and generosity of these people has always been our greatest reward, and is the reason for the pottery's success. 

Our show room is packed with several varieties of pottery. Our main products are high fired stoneware, created and produced right here at our studio.  Our stoneware is fired in a reduction atmosphere in our gas kiln, and includes functional, decorative and sculptural work.  Additionally, as a member of the Chautauqua Area Potters group, Elliott also fires her work in the soda and wood fired kilns at Scott Creek Fire Place in Sheridan, NY.