michaellaroche
Blacksburg, Virginia ·
michaellaroche
Michael LaRoche Dirtworks PotteryBlacksburg, Virginia 27 Sales On Etsy since 2011
michaellaroche is taking a short break
Reviews
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zinexo on Feb 26, 2015
5 out of 5 starsA gorgeous mug, and it feels very well made. Shipping took just 2 days and the box had more than adequate packaging. Overall an excellent transaction!
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Samantha on May 9, 2014
5 out of 5 starsI had purchased a mug from him at the Maple Festival in VA. My boyfriend loved it and kept trying to steal it! So, I asked Michael if he could make a mug for my boyfriend. Sure enough, he did! He said it would take about two weeks to complete. He had it finished on time and it shipped quickly. The work is beautiful and the mugs have a nice sturdiness to them. I highly recommend his products!
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K Bennett on Jan 15, 2014
5 out of 5 starsThis is simply a gorgeous bowl! It was quickly shipped and communication was great.
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K Bennett on Jan 15, 2014
5 out of 5 starsThis is a beautiful small colander that I ordered as part of a gift. I received an immediate email about the order and it was shipped that same day. Lots of attention to detail both with the pottery and our order--
About
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Pots for Fall 2013 Shows
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Pots for Fall 2013 Shows
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pottery inventory in the alley
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pan of the Y pottery studio 1 of 3
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pan of the Y pottery studio 2 of 3
form loves function #landscape #ceramics ~ abstractions ~ poetic markings
Michael LaRoche Pottery
www.MLDirtwoks.com
* form loves function *
landscape + ceramics
~abstractions ~ poetic markings~
My career began in Landscape Architecture and has shifted toward making pottery for my livelihood, and I LOVE IT!!!
Pursuit of color, abstractions from the world around us. Making the literal beautiful. So much can be found in the world to give us hope for a brighter future. Finding forms that keep me inspired and making new pots is what makes me tick. Finding art in the functional kitchen wares with graceful forms.
Sustainability, each piece made is a commitment to quality and once fired in the kiln at such high temperatures this cannot be undone, so I want my work to be good before I fire it into that forever state of stone vitrification.
other inter-webs:
https://www.myswva.org/rtm/member/michael-laroche-pottery
email inquiries to: Michael [!at] mldirtworks.com
Shop members
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Michael LaRoche
Owner, Maker, I Make The Pottery
It has taken time to get here but I love it, to make clay into forms that inspire me. Reconnecting to the process of making excites my being. Design and its subtle evolution of each decision I make as my eye for detail blooms.
Shop policies
Patterns found in nature both precise and random, and that expression becomes an interpretation of life experiences into pottery. Not to separate ourselves from nature, but to capture the interactions of being human and alive and a part of nature.
As I try to capture a moment, a place, my thoughts, this awake and aware contrast to this reality, I hope some beautiful things are made. As I gain that intuitive control in the process of making with clay, watching the work bloom, our lives expand into an overwhelming appreciation of all things. I want to share this joy of keeping art in our lives thank you for visiting my pottery shop.
QUALITY~
My end product is a focus on quality, on that smooth bottom that will not scratch a table. The quality of a clean line, or a carefully controlled randomness.
TESTIMONIALS~
As one of my customers in Alexandria noticed and quoted saying: "your pots have such smooth bottoms". Well I sand them smooth, but also create pots with feet with soft beveled or curved edges to protect your table, and encourage daily use!!
HEALTHY LIVING~
Eating from glass and pottery and avoiding plastics, my pottery uses glazes free of lead and barium and are food safe, dishwasher safe, and can be put in the microwave.
COOKWARE and BAKEWARE~
My work is NOT suitable for open fire/flame. BUT my work CAN be heated in the oven with even heating up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, this is typical of all the stoneware clay I use. Use slow cooling and avoid dramatic temperature shock. For instance if you left your mug in the freezer or in the snow let it warm up a bit before shocking it with extremely hot coffee.
I APPRECIATE YOU~
Upon your purchase I will give back to you a discount for future purchases with a coupon code that is good for a season or three. Please favorite <3 my shop and come back often!
Accepted payment methods
- Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
Returns and exchanges
Refunds are available within 7 days of receipt once I receive the item back in its original condition. Shipping costs are non-refundable. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer. Please notify me before returning an item.
Damage during shipping: Email me as many good pictures you can of the damage first, I will gladly ship you another item as closely replicated as possible to your order, or refund your order and we can start the process over again.
Payment
* You don't need a PayPal account to purchase through PayPal; you can use a credit card or debit card to make purchases through PayPal.
Shipping
Thank you for your Purchase! I will promptly ship your item the next business day with a two-day priority mailing with the US Postal Service.
Packaging for pottery is critical, so I use bubble wrap and usually double boxing. It may not be elegant, but I plan for it to arrive intact as best I can! I use recycled shredded packing paper and when I can get my hands on previously used bubble wrap or peanuts I will re-use them as well. Three R's!!! Recycle, Reduce, Re-Use
Custom Orders: look for the timeframe on the order, if it states custom order, there is a making process period of usually several weeks (1-2 weeks depending on the item)
Once your custom order is made, I will email or convo you with more details and usually include a photograph of the completed pottery.
I insure my shipping with USPS, I am open to international orders, but do not currently have them set up to ship.
International Orders: the customer is responsible for custom fees and paying import taxes
Additional policies and FAQs
1) you bought from me at a craft show and want more similar* or as closely replicated/related as possible... pictures/pictures/pictures emailed a must! Take the pottery outside on a cloudy day to take a picture or in the shade/shadows of a building for best lighting. Indoor dark pictures are difficult to see.
2) you received a gift and my business card was with it and you want more!!! gladly email me pictures!!!
Wholesale Orders:
Email or convo me to begin a discussion for buying wholesale. I only wholesale in sufficient quantities or volume of order, specifically to art galleries, mom-n-pop physical retail gift shops.