FAQ

Do you do custom orders?

I’m not taking custom orders or commissions right now.

Shipping/pickup/returns questions

Visit the Shipping & Pickup page for details. 📦

Do you do this full time?

Nope! I have a full-time job at the company that hosts this website! I love both my day job and moonlighting as The Clumsy Potter. I honestly can’t do one without the other.

How long have you been doing this?

I’ve been making pottery consistently since early 2016. I dabbled a bit here and there before that.

Do you make mugs?

Nope. I hate making handles and don’t find joy in that process, so I avoid making mugs for now. This is actually the most frequently asked question. 😅

Is your pottery food/microwave/dishwasher/oven safe?

Unless otherwise noted:

  • ✅ Food safe

  • ✅ Microwave safe

  • ✅ Dishwasher safe, but please hand wash if you can!

  • 🚫 Not oven safe

When’s your next restock?

Short answer:

Whenever I feel like it. 🤣

Longer answer:

I wait until a bunch of new pieces pile up, and then I’ll work on a shop update. I’m prioritizing in-person markets and occasional retail orders right now, so online releases happen just a few times a year. Not being a full-time artist/craftsperson means I don’t feel pressure to produce and sell at a high volume. I get to make work that speaks to me and sell it at a pace that feels good. To stay in the loop on restocks and in-person events, sign up for my mailing list or follow me on Instagram.

What are “seconds?”

Seconds are pieces good enough to use but not good enough to sell at full price because they have small cosmetic imperfections.

For example:

  • A little wonkiness in the glazing

  • Slight asymmetry

  • Small and harmless surface cracks

  • Older or experimental work that no longer fits the potter’s aesthetic

  • Just an “off” design

Even if you don’t see the imperfections in a second, the artist did and believes in offering it at a discount.

Why seconds are great:

  • We can offer our work at more accessible prices.

  • Perfectly usable pieces don’t end up in a landfill.

  • There’s a special kind of beauty in imperfection.

How long does it take to make a pot?

The end-to-end process takes a few weeks to a month because of how my community studio works.

My actual hands-on time varies:

  • Throwing and trimming are relatively quick stages. I throw multiple pots in an hour, depending on the size and complexity.

  • For my hand-painted work, surface decoration can take anywhere between one and 5+ hours for each piece.

  • There are lots of steps in between — drying, waiting for the next kiln firing, and so on.

  • It’s all a labor of love!

Do you do wholesale?

I love collaborating with NYC-based independent shops who want to carry a curated selection! Flexibility with timing and volume is helpful because this is a part-time gig for me. My small-batch production schedule isn’t ideal for a huge wholesale arrangement, so small is key. Contact me to arrange something.

Where do you make your pottery?

I work primarily out of Clayhouse Brooklyn, a community studio in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. I do a lot of my surface decoration at home at my dining table.