Perfect weather for clay making
Paradise?
That’s right. We live in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin on 10 acres of antique apple trees in an old fruit barn. We live here in a fruit barn (home is behind the gallery)…..
First glimpse of our barn in early summer.
make pottery here in our studio
and sell it in our gallery.
As you enter the gallery
Paradise.
Our dogs are in the studio with us unless they want to sleep on the comfy couch, in which case they move right into the house, since we live in an extreme open concept home/studio/gallery.
Our lives are all about clay. Designs and glazes are in our dreams. We cook like we decorate our pottery. Everything we do, touch, read and eat end up expressed in clay.
Lids with no place to rest on arbor vitae stumps.
Ellison Bay Pottery 
Hi there, I love your blog! We have a studio in Sarasota, Florida. This February 6th & 7th we are having a workshop with Robin Hopper and I wanted to personally invite you! The workshop explores decoration processes such as colored clay work, neriage, millefiori style blockmaking, traditional slipware, mishima, majolica, brushwork, underglaze and other glaze application and decoration. Cost is $225 with registration prior to Jan. 15 & $235 after Jan. 15.
Email me or call Carla at the studio at 941.359.2773 for more information or to sign-up.
Hey Thank you so much for the invitation. We love Sarasota! It would be nice to be able to go down there and learn w/ you all but we’re here in WI preparing for shows and building inventory for 2010. I’ll save the contact info w/ the hope we can try it later.
Hello John and Diane: we were up in the Door last week and missed a chance to stop by to visit — New Year’s Day didn’t seem like a good time to drop in unannounced. You’ll be interested to know that one of your covered dishes (an old and treasured piece) was recently involved in my partner Sue’s traditional Anishinaabe naming ceremony, holding a ceremonial meal of boiled wild rice, grouse, and blueberries. There’s good medicine in that earth. Anyhow, hope you’re both well, and wanted to send my regrets for missing a visit — next time!!
Dear John,
We would like to place an order for two cannisters similar in design and color to a caserole piece we purchased from you two summers ago.
We have taken photographs of the piece we have so that you can make the new pieces similarly. Could you provide a direct e-mail address so that we can attach the photographs? Thank you,
Alan and Judi Spear
Hello John,
Six or seven weeks back I visited your studio and ordered a “modified” casserole.
No lid, intending to have it on my counter to hold my utensils.
I put down on it with the remainder plus shipping to be sent when the piece was finished.
Do you have any idea when this piece might be done?
This year yet?
I’m looking forward to having it!
Thank you and hope to hear from soon.
Renee Miller
N7829 Lakeshore Drive
Fond du Lac, WI 54937
Hi Renee,
I’ll send this to your email, too.
Your order is cooling in the kiln as we speak, and we will contact you Sunday to arrange payment and shipping. Then-in the mail it goes Monday.
Happy Holidays
John and Diane
Hi Diane… you responded a little while ago to a Linkden post about a pit firing book I am writing. I am wondering if you could provide me with an email address so that I can send you further information about what I require .
thanks Dawn
Two years ago we purchased a covered dish from you and now we have a chip on the opening of it. I would be glad to send you a photo as an attachment if I had an e-mail address. We are wondering if we could get a replacement but I don’t even know if you ship to customers. Or if there is some way to repair it? Thanks for any help you can give.
We do ship and we can make a replacement piece for you. I’ll send you an email with more details.
In the fall of 2010, I visited your shop and purchased three plates and a lamp. I have the lamp on a small table on the stair landing and the three plates hanging on the wall above it. I love this arrangement! Unfortunately, one of the plates got knocked of the wall and broke into several pieces (of course, it was my favorite one of the three). I’d like to send back some of the pieces and have you duplicate it — would this be possible? I’ll happily provide you my credit card info as I live in Minnesota and don’t know when I’ll ever get back to Ellison Bay.
Sorry for your loss. We would love to help you replace that plate. I sent you an email.
I’m gathering items for the Women’s Pampering Event Silent Auction to benefit the Family Center of Door County. I am wondering if you would be able to donate a piece of art. I’ve set a personal goal to help them double the funds raised last year. I will be able to provide you with a receipt so that your donation would be tax deductible. Thanks in advance!!!!!
We support all local organizations. I’ll email you.
I am happy to find your blog. My Green Bay family introduced us to Door County when we traveled from Georgia for an extended visit in the mid 90’s. I purchased my first pieces of pottery – a set of cannisters-from your studio on that trip. The canisters are proudly displayed (and used) on my kitchen counter. These pieces sparked a passion for collecting lovingly made, beautiful & functional pottery!
Thanks for finding us, Karen. And thanks for sharing your memory. We are happy to have sparked your pottery passion.
Hi Diane,
I’m happy to have found your blog. A life-long visitor to Door County, and a recent WordPress blogger, I was searching for WI artists who are also on WordPress. When I was young and vacationing in Door County, and it was my older sister’s day to choose an activity, she would always choose going to watch Abe Cohn work.
Your work is beautiful; best wishes to you both…
~Colleen
Thanks, Colleen. Abe is still working in his studio albeit slowly. Please stop in and say hi the next time you’re in Door County.
Will do; thank-you Diane 🙂
Hi Diane 🙂 I’ve been away from WordPress for awhile, working on my business and now have come to the part where I update my blog. As part of that, I’ve added a Page called Linking Wisconsin, specific to the arts and WI … people and places with a personal connection. I’ve added a link to your blog there… hopefully this is ok?
best to you and John,
Colleen
Thanks so much. Of course it’s ok. I’ll link to you, too.
Welcome back to the land of blogs. Upgrading and redecorating this blog is on my winter things to do list.
Thank-you Diane, and it’s very nice to be back!
We were at your studio this summer. Fantastic art and environment!
Thanks for your visits, real and virtual.
Beautifully written, Diane. You say it all!
Thanks, MaryKay for visiting and leaving a comment.
We have a ceramic vase that is signed john t Dietrich, and the date is 1942. Do you know who the potter is? I know it was in my aunts belongings in 1979. Thanks for any info.
MargRet
It’s not this John T. Dietrich, sorry. He was born in 1943. Now I’ll have to do a search. 🙂
Do you rent a little cabin next to the studio? Apple…?
Sorry to bother you if you do not.
We don’t rent it, but we know who you can contact. We’ll email you.