MAKER:
Heidi Jacobs, potter at Whitehall Pottery.
NEIGHBORHOOD:
I am located in Whitehall which is in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. We have a small little home on a decent bit of property and have our studio in our home.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BRAND AND WHY IT’S THE BEST:
Whitehall Pottery is all about taking chances and learning in clay. Pottery is so vast and the things you can do and create are amazing. I love incorporating client's visions into custom pieces and I love the product line I've developed specifically for love, Pittsburgh. The designs are simple enough, but every piece is just slightly different because they are all handmade. Each step of the ceramic process can leave unique fingerprints that you don't find in mass produced functional wares. I love hearing from folks that they spent time picking out which mug spoke to them the most. From the slight over-splash of inside glaze dripping on the rim to the variations in handles--people seem to love to find which piece fits them best! I love being able to provide something unique as gifts for any occasion.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND AND THE STORY BEHIND WHY YOU STARTED WHITEHALL POTTERY?
In 2016 I had my son, Carver. I was really struggling to find an activity that I could do that wouldn't take me away from my infant son, but would also be a creative outlet. Ben and I had started our primary business Slap Stuff Together, but it was mainly focused on what Ben was doing in the wood shop. For years I relied on writing and playing music, but quickly after I had my son I found out he wasn't too thrilled with the sound of guitar. Fortunately, we had already purchased a kiln for my husband's sculpting passion and I had built a handmade wheel a few years prior and my husband suggested I try to get back into pottery. Fortune spoke when shortly after that seed was planted a friend posted on Facebook that her sister and her mother were starting a little pottery business. I quickly reached out to see if they could help me learn and it was off to the races. Pottery has become such an amazing outlet and passion, my 2016 self probably never could have imagined.
WHAT ONE PRODUCT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AND WHY?
For the last year, my mugs and mini cups have been really popular. This year we've added Pet Bowls to the list of items available in the shop and they have been a big hit in my circle of friends. As I develop a new product, a lot of them get the benefit of my experiments and these were definitely received with ovation.
IN THREE WORDS, WHY DO YOU LOVE PITTSBURGH?
Community, size, bridges.
HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHITEHALL POTTERY?
Website: www.whitehallpottery.com
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/slapstufftogether
Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/slapstufftogether
IG: @whitehall_pottery
Facebook: @whitehallpottery