Pleasant Home Studio is a one-woman business run by me, Julie Ray, in Oak Park, Illinois.
I create all of my ceramics from start to finish at a lovely community studio called ViaClay, located just a block from my home.
My love affair with ceramics began in the mid-70s at Wittenberg University, where I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree - but then life happened and I didn’t touch clay again until 2021, when I moved to Oak Park and discovered ViaClay. I am now addicted to the daily practice of throwing, trimming, and glazing my pottery, and I am happier than I imagined possible at this stage of my life.
I love the feeling of immediate gratification that comes from transforming a lump of clay into a functional object with my own hands; I also love the delayed gratification that occurs when the finished object emerges from the kiln as a beautiful glazed piece of art.
Thank you for taking the time to visit my website and shop through my creations!
About my pottery
Because my pottery is handmade, no two pieces will be exactly alike. While I make every effort to exactly replicate pieces in a series, there will always be slight differences. Please carefully read the descriptions for dimensions and/or volume capacities to be certain you are happy with the item’s specifics before ordering.
Can I eat off of, drink out of, microwave, and dishwash my piece?
Every piece in this collection is microwave and dishwasher safe, and food safe unless otherwise stated.
How will my piece be shipped?
When packing and shipping items, using sustainable packaging is important to me. Please don’t be offended if your pottery arrives in a recycled box! I make every effort to use recyclable or biodegradable packing materials; occasionally I will reuse traditional packing materials I’ve received from elsewhere. I encourage you to reuse and recycle the materials you receive from me.
What if my piece arrives damaged?
While I package each item with as much protection as possible, there is always a chance it may be damaged in transit. If this should happen, please email me a photo of the damaged piece in the packaging as soon as possible (within 3 days of receiving) at pleasanthomestudio@gmail.com, and I will either issue you a refund or replace the piece.
How do you set your prices?
In respect to pricing, please remember that handmade pottery will always cost more than mass-produced ceramics. Each piece is a unique and handmade item, involving a considerable amount of time and work.