Our artist creates affordable, useful, beautiful, hand-crafted pottery for the home and office. A piece of pottery also makes an excellent gift for any occasion. Each piece is wheel-thrown or handbuilt and then decorated and glazed so that no two pieces are ever exactly alike.

The glazes that are used are hand mixed by our artist and do not contain any lead for safety.

Our pottery is made from durable stoneware clay which is high fired to 2300° F, cone 6, in an electric kiln. Our potter has perfected the use of the electric kiln to produce the appearance of exquisite gas fired pottery.

Beth Fallaize, our potter, started her annual Christmas ornament tradition many years ago. Here is her story:

"I think, if memory serves me correctly, the year was 1981, the first year I opened a pottery shop in Stone Mountain, Georgia. My partner and I exchanged Christmas ornaments. I created a small round disk with the date on it. As the years have progressed, the ornaments have become more detailed. At first, I attempted to make a different ornament for each friend. My friends grew in numbers and it became quite a task. One year, the Atlanta Braves baseball team did really well and everyone received a Tomahawk. I decided that year to make each ornament the same.

The first angel I created came about as an effort to reuse the clay that was left on the wheel after a pot was cut off. The leftover flat clay seemed too nice to waste so I played with the idea to make what I now call my folded angel. That year the angels were small and did not have a date. They went over very well so it was easy to repeat the process the next year. I now create a flat angel one year and alternate with a three dimensional angel the next. The angels continue to be very popular with my friends and family as well as through retail sales.

In creating my angel designs, I experimented with different shapes, cookie cutters, and textures. At this time, I use high fire white stoneware clay with a clear glaze. This type of clay and glaze requires two firings. The luster and gold are added in a third low firing if I choose to use these highlights. I have produced some angels without a glaze and on others I have added color. I play with a new design idea each year.

The designs that are most popular I continue to make each year without a date. My friends and family base have grown to the point now that each year I make around fifty ornaments as gifts. Several friends have the complete collection. I, however, never seem to be able to save an angel for myself as there is always someone who I forgot a gift for or someone who shows up on the doorstep with a little something. The 'extra' angel that I put aside goes out the door. When this happens, I always think I will just make another one, but I never seem to get around to it. Before I know it, the next year is upon me and I need to design a new angel. I must say in January, I have no desire to work on angels.

I play with new ideas each year. I like some designs more than others but all are made with love and the hope to spread love throughout my world."

• DO remember pottery will remain hotter for longer periods of time.
• DO avoid subjecting pottery to sudden changes in temperature.
• DO warm pottery to room temperature after removing from refrigerator.
• DO microwave pottery with care. It may be best to microwave your food in a microwave safe dish and then transfer the food to your pottery piece.
• DO keep your heat source least 2½ inches from the closest edge of your pottery.
• DO place pottery items taken from a hot oven onto dry, room temperature surfaces - A wood trivet is ideal.
• DO wait for your leftovers kept in pottery to cool to room temperature before putting them away in the refrigerator.
• DO not put a hot pottery piece directly into cold water.
• DON'T preheat the oven before baking with the pottery.
• DON'T heat pottery on a stovetop burner.
• DON'T put pottery on any open flame or directly on a heat source like a hot plate.

Our best advice ... slow down ... and enjoy the look and feel of your handmade items while using them.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover cards.

If we can answer questions or assist in any way, contact us at info@TUIHome.com.

We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase, so we have an unconditional guarantee: if for any reason you are unhappy, we offer a full refund within the first 30 days of purchase for returned undamaged products.