If you were to step into my cozy pottery studio on any given afternoon, you would likely find me with clay under my fingernails, a cup of tea gone slightly cold on the workbench, and the steady, rhythmic whir of the potter’s wheel humming in the background. Here, surrounded by drying boards and wooden shelves lined with hand-painted cups, I craft the pieces that eventually find their way to your home. But the road that brought me to this wheel was a winding one, paved with a long-held dream, a leap of faith, and a deep love for the place I call home.

Returning to my Roots

I was born and raised right here in Canada’s beautiful Okanagan valley, in a town call Penticton. After spending some time traveling and exploring different corners of the world, I felt the familiar pull of the white clay cliffs and sun-baked orchards, returning home to settle down and start a family.

  • A few years later, as my son and I settled into the quiet rhythms of home, I felt a deep desire to carve out a creative space just for myself. Looking for a meaningful way to ground my hands, focus my mind, and explore a new avenue of self-expression, I began searching for a medium that spoke directly to my soul.

    That search led me straight to a local pottery class.

  • I don’t know if there was a single, lightning-bolt moment where I realized clay was my life’s calling. In truth, pottery was something I had always wanted to do, but I had spent years stacking up sensible excuses as to why I couldn't start. When I finally turned thirty, I decided it was time to stop waiting. I set aside the time and the money, signed up for a beginner's wheel-throwing class, and stepped up to the clay.

The learning curve was steep. As someone who usually picks up new skills with ease, the stubborn, humbling nature of wet clay was an immense challenge. It collapsed, it wobbled, it flew off the wheel. Yet, I was entirely captivated. I couldn't get enough of the tactile, muddy process, and I knew instantly that I never wanted to stop.

Throwing pottery on the wheel at the cannery trade centre in penticton bc. BC artist british columbia

Claiming My Creative Path

Determined to build a life centered around this craft, I initially found myself looking outward, waiting for someone to give me "permission" to call myself an artist or do this as a career. But I quickly discovered a vital truth: there is no grand authority that hands out permission slips to potters. You simply have to begin, trust in your hands, and leap.

I began bringing my early creations to the Penticton Farmers’ Market. The warmth, encouragement, and immediate embrace of our local community filled my heart with such gratitude. Seeing neighbors and visitors hold my mugs, run their fingers over the painted glazes, and take them home gave me the courage to keep challenging myself. Today, I am incredibly grateful to work as a full-time potter, balancing the beautiful, busy rhythm of running a creative business while raising my young son.

The Ripple Effect of a Morning Ritual

I often find myself wondering about the quiet lives of the pieces that leave my studio. As you go about your morning, how many of you are standing at a sunlit window, cradling your coffee or tea in a mug that once sat on my wheel as a simple lump of earth?

I love to think about the small, positive ripple effects of a single, happy morning moment. When you reach into your cupboard and choose a cup that brings you a flash of whimsical joy, does that tiny vessel of comfort settle your spirit for the rest of the day? Does it make your interactions with your family, your neighbours, or coworkers just a little warmer? Plus, coffee and tea simply taste better when sipped from handmade stoneware. (I’m quite certain there’s a scientific study confirming this somewhere!)

My designs are love letters to the vibrant land and community that surround us. I am endlessly drawn to hand-painting motifs that celebrate the beauty of food and the seasons of plenty. In our valley, when the stone fruits ripen in summer, peaches and cherries are abundant and shared freely over back fences with loved ones and neighbours.

It brings me immense joy to contribute to these gatherings. By shaping the stoneware that sit on your table, I get to play a small part in your shared meals and family celebrations. I also draw deep inspiration from the garden flowers that grace our harvest tables: golden sunflowers, fragrant lavender, and delicate summer roses.

Each piece I make is designed to bring a touch of the meadow, the orchard, and the slow, beautiful rhythm of handmade craft into your everyday life. Thank you for welcoming my work into your home and for being a part of this beautiful, clay-dusted journey.

With love from my studio to your table,

Molly

Come and Say Hello!

Our absolute favourite Saturday morning routine is packing up our sturdy wooden crates to head out to our local farmer’s market. We love standing behind our tables, surrounded by rows of beautiful mugs and plates, waiting to greet old friends and meet new ones. We would be so pleased to have you join our little family circle at our next weekend market, where you can feel the weight of the pottery for yourself and perhaps discover a special piece of your own to take home.

Come visit