Welcome to Back Bay Pottery where you can find a collection of OOAK (one-of-a-kind) handmade ceramic art.
Check out my website to see events & shops I am in: backbaypottery.com
LIKE us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter for exclusive offers & coupons. I update Facebook regularly with pictures of new things I am working on.
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Back-Bay-Pottery/156922227699300
TWITTER: http://Twitter.com/BackBayPottery
TUMBLER: http://backbaypottery.tumblr.com/
I want your shopping experience to be pleasant so please feel free to ask any questions. Here are my shop policies:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BackBayPottery/policy
A little about myself…
My name is Christine, I am happily married and I keep busy with my 2 adorable little children & my pottery business.
I live in a little town at the back of the bay in California & always have. Growing up in this beautiful area I couldn’t help but be inspired by nature, birds, leaves, flowers, and the ocean. I was raised by artists and crafters and have been creating my whole life. I was taught how to look at things, not for what they are but for what they can become. Now I teach my children how to create. I can’t think of a better way to live.
How I got into ceramics...
When I was small my mother took some ceramic classes at the local collage & we even had a kick wheel on the back porch. My twin sister & I played with the clay while my mother was on the wheel. My Dad and his six sisters always taught us new crafts & made creativity a regular part of our lives.
I didn't really get my hands dirty with ceramics until I tried it out in High School art class (which was my favorite class). I only took the class for a semester but it had changed me forever. I have always loved clay & have been making jewelry out of poly clay for 20 plus years...but there was something about ceramics that inspired me. I dreamed of creating beautiful pots on the wheel, letting the clay slide through my fingers as I effortlessly created a beautiful form.
After high school I worked in the retail industry for 8 years, got married, to my wonderful & super handy husband, and we started our family. I've always had an abundance of ideas & kept myself busy making things. After my children were born I didn't want leave them to go back to a "real job" so I helped make ends meat by making a variety of things (mainly jewelry) & selling it at a local antique mall.
My husband, who is in the construction industry, had built a couple of pottery studios in the area. One day (in 2010) he offered to set me up for taking pottery classes. I jumped with excitement at the opportunity. I started going every week & discovered how diverse ceramics can be. Ideas kept flooding my head & soon I had to do it every day. I started taking clay home & working away on small projects like buttons & beads. The wheel however wasn't as easy as I dreamed it would be. But I am a determined person & kept trying even though at first I could barely make anything. I purchased a used kick wheel & practiced daily. Soon after, my wonderful man built me my very own pottery studio in the back of our beautiful beach house.
I absolutely love to experiment with different types of clay & glazes. I get exited every time I get a good result & I show everyone I can (I take lots of pictures & post them on Facebook). I am surprised my friends & family haven't banned me from talking about pottery.
I try to be a practical person (even though I am not, really). So I love the idea of making useful things. Things people can use every day.
One of my favorite techniques is called slip trailing. I use liquid clay & fill a squeeze bottle & draw. I love coming up with new designs to put on my pottery. It makes each piece special & unique. Check out my blog to see pictures of how I do some "slip trailing". Blog: http://backbaypottery.blogspot.com/
10 THINGS I LOVE...
1. I love to sit down in my studio and think of what to create next.
2. Try new things, though perfecting the old is not so bad either.
3. Use old things in a new way. It connects the past to the present.
4. Finding new textures and colors to play with.
5. Create one of a kind pieces. I make each of my pieces a little different so you know that you are the only one who has that exact one.
6. Create treasures of all kinds, pots, mugs, buttons, beads, ditty boxes, hair clips, jewelry, tiles, especially little things.
7. Watch my children create, I get lots of ideas from them (things I would never think of).
8. Have coffee or a tea party with my girlfriends and talk about what inspires us.
9. Share and give gifts to my friends & family.
10. Make people smile.
I create new things every week so come back often!
Thanks for looking!
-Christine
P.S.
I also love to answer any questions you may have. So feel free to convo me.
https://www.etsy.com/conversations?ref=si_con
Check out my Mother's etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BaysideCottage
