Profile: Jennie the Potter -- Knitty: Summer 2009

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by Amy R Singer

Looking at a finished piece of handmade pottery, I appreciate its form, its utility, its beauty. But there are hands behind every piece of pottery, and in the case of Jennie the Potter [also known as Jennie Lanners to her friends], these hands make magic with clay in a very unique way. Here's a peek at her process, from start to finish, and a look at the beautiful things she makes.

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Every mug, bowl and vase starts as a lump of hand-softened clay and
is hand thrown on the potter's wheel

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After the raw piece dries a while, Jennie trims the bottom

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Mug handles are built separately and then attached to the mugs seamlessly

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Scoring the area where the handle will be attached to ensure a strong bond

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Smoothing out the join

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Jennie paints the designs on freehand, choosing different colors for the sheep,
the yarn balls, the leaves and flowers

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Each design is accentuated by lines carefully carved by hand

A last clean up

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Signing her work

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Ready to dry and then into the kiln

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Everything gets fired twice in Jennie's kiln

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A custom mug made for a Vespa/rabbit fanatic

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Buttons, cookie jars, vases, spindle and knitting needle jars
and yarn bowls are now part of Jennie's line

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To contact Jennie the Potter, visit her website or write info@jenniethepotter.com