The maker
Hello, I'm Julia.
claythings is my studio — a small, unhurried place where I make pottery one piece at a time. What began as an evening class and a lump of clay has become the therapy that keeps me grounded: turning something soft and formless into an object you'll reach for every day.
- Since 1992
- A vendor at the Old Town Farmers Market in Alexandria, VA.
- Two kilns
- In the garage, fired in small batches, never in a hurry.
- One pair of hands
- Every piece thrown, trimmed, glazed and fired by me.
claythings began as a hobby to fill time while I was between jobs. My first classes were at a local recreation center. A year later, I was teaching, which lasted 4 years. Meantime, I applied to the Old Town Farmers Market, where I was told to expect to be on the waiting list for 2 years. Five years later, I was offered a slot, just as my mugs and bowls and baking dishes were starting to look good. Perfect timing! That was 1992.
These days I throw, trim, glaze, and fire everything myself in small batches. I'm drawn to warm, earthy glazes and simple forms that feel good in the hand: the weight of a bowl, the balance of a mug, the way a vase catches the morning light. I'd rather make fewer pieces well than many in a hurry.
Because each piece is made by hand, no two are identical. A glaze may pool a little deeper, a rim may carry the faint print of a thumb. I think of those as signatures, not flaws — the quiet proof that a person, not a machine, made the thing you're holding.
“I make the kind of pottery I want to live with — honest, warm, and built to be used.”
from the archive
A few photographs
may his memory be a blessing
You can pick ’em up. I promise they don’t bite.
Start to finish
The Making Process
- 1
Soft clay is wedged by hand to remove air and ensure consistency (think kneading bread dough).
- 2
Prepared clay is thrown on the wheel or handbuilt with slabs and set out to firm up.
- 3
When pieces reach leather-hard, they are trimmed, decorated, handles attached, and set on shelves to dry completely.
- 4
First trip through the kiln (8-12 hours firing, 12-15 hours cool-down).
- 5
Application of glazes.
- 6
Second firing.
What I care about
A few small promises
Made by hand
Every piece is thrown, trimmed, and glazed by me — never mass-produced or outsourced.
Made to be used
These are objects for everyday life, not the back of a cupboard. Food-safe, sturdy, honest.
Made in small batches
I work slowly and in limited runs, so the collection stays personal and the quality stays high.