An Interview with Team SC's November Creative Challenge Winner: Plays With Mud

Cookies for Santa
By, Plays With Mud
The winning entry in Team SC's November Creative Challenge: Celebrating the Holidays

Team SC's shop of the month is Paula from Plays With Mud! Here are some fun and interesting facts about Paula and her shop:

Tell us about your winning entry for Team SC's November Creative Challenge

This is my "For Santa" platter. It's hand stamped with a fun scrapbooking tool I have. I really wanted an heirloom piece for our family to leave goodies out for the big guy each year. This one is just right.

What can you tell us about your Etsy shop, Plays With Mud?

Plays With Mud started as a way to sell all the pottery I was making in a local studio, and has grown to a very fulfilling part-time business. I specialize in personalized pottery, and crafting the perfect piece for weddings or anniversaries. All of my work is food safe, so you can love it and still use it every day.

How long have you been selling on Etsy and how long have you been making pottery- how did you get started?

I signed up for Etsy long before I added anything to my shop. I've only been actively selling for about a year now.

I started taking pottery classes with my best friend in 1997. We went to one of those "paint your own" pottery shops and, while we had fun, we couldn't find a lot of pieces that we were really looking for. So we decided to take a class and learn how to make our own. After about 6 years in the studio, I got married and set up a studio in our home. I'm slowing returning to classes to get more 'formal' training in clay.

What is your favorite item from your shop?

Hmmm ... my favorite actually just sold. It was a set of three pinch pots that I just adored. I was secretly hoping they wouldn't sell so I could use them in my kitchen! :)

Where do you draw your inspiration from to create the type of works you produce?

I find inspiration everywhere, but usually on the other side of my studio. I have a passion (obsession) with paper and crafts, so I try to incorporate as much of that into my work as possible. Also, there are some amazing potters in our local studio and online using techniques I'd love to learn.

Are you involved in any other crafts/ hobbies that you would like to share with us?

I love everything crafty. I've always had an interest in crafts and handmade, and am finding way too many things that I'd like to try. I've been upcycling most of our garbage lately ... I'm hoping to post some tutorials on my blog at some point.

Anything new in the works for your shop?
Are you going to be participating in any shows?

I try and do one or two shows a year. With two kids and a full time job, it's hard to carve out the time to create enough inventory to do a large show. Some new products I'm working on include wheel-thrown mugs and bowls; a cupcake stand (soo excited about this one), and a sculptural piece for new moms (still figuring out the logistics on this one).

Tell us about your town/city and share what you like about South Carolina.

I moved to Fort Mill in 2003 when I got married to my amazing husband. It's such a sweet little town; one of those places that you see someone familiar wherever you go. While it's small and quaint, it's close enough to Charlotte (where I work with the "day job") so most things are easily accessible.

Tell us a little about yourself

A couple of random things about me: While I don't like classifying anything as a "favorite" (so limiting), I love brie cheese & fried shrimp (not together of course). I enjoy making anything from raw materials and having something tangible at the end of the process. I am obsessed with design and scrapbook blogs (I secretly wish I was a graphic designer) and I go into withdrawal if I'm not online every few hours. I have an amazingly supportive husband and two small children who are the loves of my life. I've also found an incredible community of handmade artists and customers online that make my life so much richer every day.

Be sure and check out Paula's shop to see more of her beautiful creations!