I am a veteran potter of 18 years and follow a 200 year old tradition making the time honored wares of the Catawba Valley in North Carolina. I dig my own clay and mix wood ash, clay and glass to form the runny alkaline glaze typical of the region. I also continue another Catawba Valley tradition by creating swirl ware formed by two colors of clay. The wares are fired in a wood fired ground hog kiln. I produce vessels that range from pint size to 15 gallon storage jars.

Experience: Full time potter since 1981, owning and operating three different potterys including the current Ellington Pottery, in 1987 constructed a ground hog kiln at Hart Square, a reconstructed 19th century village in Plateau, NC.

Handmade pottery is not only useful, but adds to the creativity in the daily routine of cooking and dining. The pots at Hillcrest Pottery are fired to stoneware temperatures of 2350 degrees Fahrenheit and contain no lead. They are dishwasher safe and ideal for the oven and microwave.

The process of firing takes from 16 to 20 hours in a wood burning kiln. During this time the kiln requires constant attention and timely stoking. Between 1 1/2 and 2 cords of pine are used to reach a temperature of 2350 degrees Fahrenheit. The kiln is then allowed to cool for 48 hours before the pots are unloaded.

The pots are made using techniques that are thousands of years old. They are formed by hand on a foot powered wheel and individually glazed, loaded into the kiln, and fired. Because of these processes each pot is unique.