Ceramics Handmade With Love By Shea The Maker

Meet Shea The Maker! When she’s not working as a UX designer, Shea designs beautiful ceramics filled with color and texture. From cups and bowls to garden planters, every piece is carefully crafted by hand. Join us in welcoming Shea to her first Firefly Handmade Market this fall on September 10th-12th. 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m originally from Chicago, where I was born, raised, and attended art school. I moved to Denver in 2017 after living in Indianapolis for a few years, and I love it here. When I'm not working my full-time job as a UX Designer or making ceramics, or teaching pottery for Denver Parks and Recreation, I like to travel, spend time with family and friends, hike with my dog, Chloe, attend live concerts, and draw.

What led you to start making ceramics?
After art school, I wanted to have a creative outlet. I started taking classes at Lillstreet in Chicago and fell in love right away. As I moved from Chicago to Indianapolis, I continued to take courses, grow, and even teach one-night classes. Now ten years later, I'm a guild member at the Colorado Potters Guild, teach pottery classes for Denver Parks and Rec, and run my own retail business where I make all the ceramics myself as well as other fun things like polymer clay earrings and stickers.

Have you ever made a piece that you refused to part with?
Yes, below is a photo of my favorite vase, that I use as a pen holder on my desk. It was one of the first things I made that I love everything about it, and I'm so proud of what I created (made in 2013). The shape is beautiful, the vessel is perfect width (something very hard for potters), and I love the slip trailing design I did on the outside of the vase. It's my number one item that I would never sell. 

What has been the biggest challenge of starting your business? The biggest reward?
Biggest challenge: Scaling my business and my craft. It's hard to make a lot of inventory as a one-woman shop while also doing many other things with my career. One day, I'll have a whole team helping me (or so I hope). 

Biggest reward: meeting my customers! I love doing live events and meeting the people who love my ceramics. It's so cool being able to meet the smiling faces of the people purchasing my artwork, and connecting with them IRL and then continuing that relationship through social media.

What inspires your designs?
Nature, history--primarily 70s and 90s aesthetic, and pop art. 

What are you most proud of in your handmade journey so far?
Starting a business! In 2020 when the pandemic hit, I wanted to be creative. My ceramics studio was shut down, and I didn't have a creative outlet any longer. I decided to start making polymer clay earrings and selling them online through my Instagram, and donating 50% of the proceeds to BLM. Now over a year later, I'm running a 5 figure online shop selling ceramics, polymer clay earrings, and stickers. I have a pottery studio in my basement, and I can do this part-time with everything else I have going on. And I couldn't be happier! 

Any advice for those looking to get into ceramics or the handmade world?
A few words of advice... take a pottery class. And keep trying even if your teacher isn't the greatest. Learn digital photography. Use Shopify (best platform ever). And have fun! 

What are you looking forward to most as a new Firefly Handmade artisan? 
Meeting all the wonderful folks who live in Boulder! 

​​Visit and shop with Shea The Maker at Firefly Handmade Fall Market, September 10, 11, & 12, on the Pearl Street Mall, Boulder.