Faqs

Can I put my [cup, mug, bowl, platter] in the microwave?

With rare exceptions, all of my functional ware can be used in a microwave. When not advised, it will be noted on the price tag at the point-of-sale.

Can I put my [cup, mug, bowl, platter] in the dishwasher?

All of my pieces (bowls, mugs/cups, and vases) are dishwasher-safe.

Can I eat/drink out of my [cup, mug, bowl, platter]?

With rare exceptions, all of my functional ware can be used for eating and drinking. Food items, especially those with higher acid content, should not be stored in handmade pottery due to the possibility of metal(s) leaching into the food. When not advised, it will be noted on the price tag at the point-of-sale.

Can I put water in my vase for fresh flowers?

All of my pieces are fully vitrified (silica is converted by heat into glass) and/or glazed and can be considered “water-tight”.

What are those tiny cracks in the surface/glaze?

“Crazing” is a ceramic term for the tension between the glaze and the clay body that results in the formation of small cracks in the glaze and/or the clay body. Rarely, one can actually hear the sound of an isolated “craze” – a sort of “ping” or “tinkling” sound. Crazing can be visible immediately or even decades into the future without discernible diminished integrity of the vessel. Some artists include glazes that are specially formulated to create crazing as many consider those “cracks'' to be quite beautiful!

What should I do if my [cup, mug, bowl, platter, vase] is damaged in shipping?

First, save the packaging and take photos if possible. Second, contact me and I will provide instructions on who to contact (UPS vs USPS vs FedEx, etc.) for “possible” replacement cost/refund. Sadly, I can only guarantee that I will pack my pieces as if there was a piece of my soul included (which is the case!). Ceramic-ware/Pottery is inherently fragile and may not arrive intact. I will extend a “store credit” to replace if deemed a fault of packaging (or lack thereof).

Can I store food in/on my [cup, mug, bowl, platter?

Pottery/ceramic vessels have been used for thousands of years to store food under certain circumstances. In general, functional pottery is meant to be used for food service rather than food storage. I hope that you will want to display my pieces rather than store food in dark refrigerators or pantries. The commercial glazes that I use (with rare exceptions that are noted at the point-of-sale) are all “food-safe” as labeled by the manufacturers.

Does my [cup, mug, bowl, platter, vase] contain any lead in the glaze?

I only use commercial glazes that are deemed “food-safe” for finishing my pieces. To my knowledge, none of the glazes that I have used contain lead.

What is Scrafitto?

Sgraffito is an Italian word that means “to scratch”. In ceramics/pottery, we cover the greenware (unfired) vessel in a dark underglaze and then scratch it off with specialized tools that effectively exposes the white clay body underneath. It would appear that someone drew white lines on a dark/black surface. Often the artist will then overglaze in a clear/transparent glaze.

What is Mishima?

Mishima is a technique that is almost the opposite of “Scrafitto” (see above). After a vessel is created and is “leather-hard” (not wet/soft, not bone-dry, but somewhere in-between), fine-line scratches or grooves are made on the surface. A dark underglaze is then applied to the carved lines and the vessel is wiped clean except for the underglaze in the carved lines/grooves. This leave precise, clean lines of color to reveal the intended design. After bisque-firing, a clear/transparent overglaze is applied and glaze-fired at a very high temperature.

What kind of clay do you use?

With rare exception, I use Laguna B-mix, a porcelain-like stoneware clay body.

What kind of Glazes do you use?

I use a variety of glazes from several different companies. My primary source is Amaco Potter’s Choice line but I also have and will use Mayco and Georgie’s glaze lines. As I grow into my role as artist, I anticipate exploring other options including making some of my own glazes.

What temperature to you fire to?

Approximately 2300° Fahrenheit for a glaze firing.

How long does it take you to make a mug?

Approximately 60-90 minutes plus the bisque fire (~24 hours) and the glaze firing (~16 hours). All totaled, about 40-42 hours depending upon the complexity of the form and the detail/surface decoration.

Does your pottery scratch easily?

The first answer I will apply to the surface upon which you place your bowl/cup or mug/vase. I polish the “foot” of the vessel with diamond sponge which transforms the relatively rough ceramic to a buttery smooth surface. Sliding ceramic vessels across a polished surface of any kind (glass, granite, wood, etc.) is neve advisable because the end result will probably be a permanent scar on that surface. The second answer applies to the surface of the glazed vessel. Just like a pane of glass, glaze will also get scratched when not protected from sharp or granular objects. A soft, damp cloth with some water is all that is needed to clean/polish the surface of vases, and all of my pieces (including vases) can also be cleaned in a dishwashing machine.

Do you accept custom orders?

I will take some custom orders and plan to expand one of my specialties – making cremains vessels for the bereaved. I otherwise will be offering limited custom orders.

Why don’t you offer free shipping?

I, too, love to filter out all but “free-shipping” items on Amazon. Unfortunately, I am not Jeff Bezos and I am unable to ship my work for free. Some potters increase the price to cover shipping but I don’t know how much an item will cost to ship until I am standing at the UPS/USPS/FedEx counter. My commitment, however, is to never profit from the shipping charges; in other words, you only pay the cost the actual shipping.