I have a wheel and kiln at home and I make and fire most of my work there. I usually fire to cone 5 or 6 Oxidation which is about 2165 F (1185 C)

I use clay that has a 2.5% or less absorption rate and use food safe, microwave safe, and dishwasher safe glazes.

All functional ware I make is Food safe, Microwave safe, and Dishwasher safe. Other items that are never intended to come in contact with anything a person will ingest such as a vase or a lamp, may not be fully food safe. In short, if it is something that you would put something on or in that you then expect to be able to put in your mouth, it is food safe.

Occasionally I have work fired to Cone 10 Reduction at a local studio. These pieces will be specially noted but should otherwise be no different from other items.

As a small business shipping breakable items, the cost for shipping can be a bit higher than what you may be used to from a big box retail store or Amazon. Shipping pottery takes a lot of care and I try to use as sustainable packaging as possible without sacrificing the safety of the items.

The current rates I have set are for the 50 US states, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and US military bases.

I am willing to ship internationally on a case by case basis. Please purchase the item you wish and select the International shipping option and I will email you to work out the cost and payment.


Do you know me personally and live close enough for me to drop off your order and have a friendly chat? Contact me and I can give you a discount code for free shipping or I can refund the shipping to you if you already ordered.

I currently will not be able to accept any returns however I will do my best to ensure that any problems that arise with the order to be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. I understand that issues with shipping and breakage can happen. Each problem will be resolved on a case by case basis.

A couple examples to get an idea for how returns could go:

Scenario #1
Customer: I don’t need this item anymore, can I have a refund?
Me: I am sorry that you no longer need the item purchased but I don’t accept returns right now. I hope you can find a positive use for the item. Perhaps as a gift to someone who could use it.

Scenario #2
Customer: Hey my package arrived and the piece is broken and the box was all smashed. Here are some photos.
Me: Goodness that is awful! I am sorry that happened. I would be happy to issue a refund, send another item of equal value, or give you a commission slot where I can make something more personalized for you. What works best for you?

I have worked in customer service for a good portion of my life. I have dealt with all sorts of people. Some I wished I could give them more, and some I wished I could tell them to kick rocks. Now that I am the policy maker, please note that kindness and patience will get you a lot further than anger and rudeness. I will be much more inclined to bend over backwards for you if I believe you aren’t trying to screw me.

My prices are based off the time I spent making the item, the materials used, energy costs, and my experience and expertise.

If you are eager to support but may not be able to pay the full price, please reach out and explain your situation and we may be able to come to an agreement. I will be especially accommodating to those who are marginalized, disenfranchised, and/or oppressed under current systems.

For custom orders please email me at contact@potsbychops.com with a detailed explanation of your custom project idea. If I am willing to accept your proposal there will be a 50% non refundable deposit with the balance plus shipping to be paid upon completion. Due to my current workflow, please be aware that it generally takes 1-3 months to complete most commissions.