Hi, I’m Heather

A (not so) brief history

The first time I touched clay was in high school, probably 2008 or 2009 but back then I never could’ve pursued something like art. I was far too full of self doubt and insecurity to even consider such a thing. It wasn’t until 2015 when I had a full time job at a bank that was slowly draining my humanity and my sanity that I felt I needed a hobby. That’s when I signed up for a pottery class at a studio called Purring Pottery in Colchester CT. Heather was my teacher and she truly changed my life. She created such a peaceful, supportive, and creative environment to learn in and her studio quickly became my happy place. I took her classes over and over again because I simply couldn’t get enough.

Eventually, I decided it was time to invest in my own wheel. I set up a tiny studio in the apartment I rented with my boyfriend and very slowly started to collect equipment and materials to get me going. Heather generously gifted me a small kiln she hadn’t been using and I was able to fire small pieces on my deck as long as it wasn’t raining. Money was tight and the process was slow but eventually, I had a nice little setup and could explore my new found passion from the comfort of my home. In 2017 I started Cote Clayworks and began selling my work, mostly to supportive family and friends.

My first in-person pottery booth was in the summer of 2017. It was called Eco Fair CT and much like my experience thus far on Etsy, most of my sales went to my lovely friends and family who came out to support my budding small business. I remember feeling so loved and so honored to receive their support and the thrill of selling my work, even to my loved ones, was very fulfilling.

At some point around that time, I decided to go back to college and although I studied Business Administration, I was able to fill my elective requirements with pottery courses and expanded my foundational knowledge of all things clay related. Eventually, I moved to a new apartment that was too small to setup my wheel so I had to temporarily retire my home studio and found myself back in classes at The Studio in Fairfield CT. There I learned even more new techniques and methods from their potters.

In 2021, my boyfriend and I bought a house and I immediately broke my wheel out of retirement and claimed most of the basement as my studio space. A few months later, I found a listing on Facebook Marketplace for a kiln at an affordable price that seemed to be in great shape. The only catch was that it was located in Niagara Falls. So, my friend, Fox and I hopped in my SUV for a 16 hour round trip. When we got there, we couldn’t believe how lucky I had gotten. We entered the lovely home of an elderly man with an extensive model train collection. The man’s wife, who was a ceramicist, had died some years before and left behind her kiln which had been gently used and functioned as if it was brand new. He was looking to clear out the space and wanted it to go to a good home. So we loaded it up, stopped in Buffalo for some chicken wings, and headed back home. Having it wired properly in my basement ended up costing more than the kiln itself and with money still pretty tight as a brand new homeowner, I couldn’t have been more grateful to the man and his family. He gifted me a small bud vase his wife had made that now lives in my studio as an homage to her. It really felt like it was meant to be.

And just like that, I had the last piece to my ever-evolving, largely-thrifted, home studio I had started 6 years before. And this time, I knew I wouldn’t have to break it all down to move to another apartment in a year or two. I could finally get nice and comfy.

In 2023 I signed up for yet another pottery class at Brookfield Craft Center right around the corner from my house. I felt it had been too long since I was in a class setting and wanted to do it for fun even though I was very active in my home studio and on social media. As always, I learned a lot from the new setting and the new instructor and as always, I was glad I took the class.

My Etsy shop has picked up some steam over the years and I’ve made sales all around the country. I still sell at markets when I can work them into my schedule. Once I got on TikTok, I gained a wonderful, supportive following and started taking commissions. Now, I’m ready to finally break up with Etsy and move my business to my own website (congrats, you found it!)

In the summer of 2024, I started teaching my own class at Brookfield Craft Center. Very quickly after that, I also met Robin and Heather at Create Escape Studio (I know, another Heather?!?) and started teaching wheel throwing classes there too. I have absolutely loved teaching and sharing my passion for the art with others. I plan to continue the classes I already have and I hope to expand my teaching offerings in the future.

I will continue to make unique handmade pottery on my own and I’m looking forward to offering it here. My husband, Garrett who has been along for the whole ride, remains my biggest supporter. He demonstrates his patience often as I disappear for hours into our dusty basement, only emerging to track clay-dust footprints through the whole house, grab a meal that he probably cooked, and head back into my she-cave.

I feel extremely lucky to have been on this journey of self discovery and artistic exploration. I’m looking forward to uncovering what the future holds but I know one thing for sure, it will be covered in clay.

Love, Heather