DandelionPottery

One night in December of 2011, I casually said to my husband, “What do you think of me quitting my job?” He immediately replied “I was thinking the same thing.” So, after a mere 10 days of prayer, thought and some loose financial calculations, I wrote a quick resignation email to the Personnel Director at my “hard-to-get-a-job-in” school district in a suburb of Philadelphia, PA. After 9 ½ years of teaching art (mostly elementary) I decided to stay home with my two little boys, start teaching Sunday School and..... make pottery! While a full time teacher I was frustrated that I couldn’t find time to for my own artwork (unless you count my amazing tissue paper butterflies, paper mache masks and watercolor-over-crayon masterpieces). I used my last precious paycheck to buy a small kiln. I had already purchased my own wheel a few years back while in Graduate School at Tyler School of Art, earning a master’s degree in Art Education. Our basement was now my studio! My goal was to spend about 1 day a week making pottery and eventually try to sell a bit of it here, on Etsy.

I opened my itty bitty business, Dandelion Pottery, in late April, 2012. I made my first sale on my birthday in early May to a total stranger. Since then the sales have been coming in at about the same pace as I am able to get the work done. I haven’t worn my “teacher clothes” in months, have short ugly fingernails nails, rarely wear my wedding ring (sorry Pete!), and we have a faint trail of clay footprints in varying sizes all through our house. I am one happy Mommy.

UPDATE: Now, in 2022, I am heading BACK into the art classroom in that same district I left in 2012. I am looking forward to this new change but will have very little time for pottery. I'll post whatever I can here. I am so grateful for everyone who has supported my business over the past 10 years and have made it financially possible for me to be working from home while spending more time with my family.