Studio update, grand opening, and why it has taken so long

Hello everyone, Chase here:

I wanted to take a moment and answer some questions many of you have, and clarify a few items that have come up during this transition to the new space.

When are you opening?

Sorry to sound like a broken record - but about 2 or 3 weeks tops. We plan to have a large grand opening day, with some food and drinks. There will be a WJHL story about it, you'll see Katelyn and I yapping online some point soon.

What is taking so long?

I wish I could say it's a bunch of things, but really it's only a couple. Our first major delay was the city approving our plans for the build out. Typically they reply and get us an answer in about 10 days, but this stretched out to about 3-4 weeks due to a single city staff member simply not replying for a long long time after asking a super easy to answer question. Our contractors were ready to start work back in December. We didn't get building approval until March 16th.

Unfortunately, once the plans were approved, our plumber didn't start work for 3 weeks. This held up all other contract work (HVAC, Concrete, ADA accessibility) because this relied on sewer line work by this plumber to be finished.

Regardless, the plumber eventually showed up and did a good job. We then had the concrete poured immediately after, and that is finished. This week (4/20) we are building the bathrooms, and installing the HVAC. That's about 7 days of work. Beyond that, we'll be awaiting city occupancy approval, which will be the final hurdle. I say 3 weeks until we open because who knows what inspectors and fire marshals will say. 

We realize this is a lot of information, and probably too much information, but we hope you can empathize and understand none of the delays are from our poor planning. We began the build out back in December, and were supposed to be able to move in and open the first week of Feb. 

You've been charging us all this time despite being closed?

Yes - all your money belongs to us now. Wait, actually no. We've been auto-refunding all membership dues and fees since the 1st week of March. If you don't see a refund, or something doesn't seem right. Please email us as soon as possible. If you cannot access the spaces, then we shouldn't collect any membership dues. Simple as that. Some of you have generously offered to just let us keep charging your dues, but we cannot accept that. Thank you for your caring and understanding. It means a lot to our family. As always, you can cancel your membership at any time.

How are things going at the new studio?

It's ok I guess. Here's the concrete being sealed last week.

How is the clay production going?

Slow going at the moment; our main focus has been opening the new studio asap. That being said, we did procure a machine that will increase the speed at which we can make clay. It's in the maintenance phase right now. It needs some TLC, but will be an impressive addition to our operation.

Chance has also been hard at work over at ETSU, and did some clay body reformulations for us, and this has brought down our cost and shrinkage rates on our clay bodies.

We currently have speckled brown, brown, white, and speckled white stoneware for sale. 

The boxes are also really nice.

Side notes and topics:

• In June, we will have a limited space Raku class for those interested. That'll be fun!
• We will have a large KY Mudworks shipment coming in to restock our shelves, along with our own clay bodies.
• Speedball makes fluxes now? Cool, we've got some samples in already to try.
• We are figuring out if we want to carry Amaco or Mayco glazes when we open. Tough decision, but leaning towards Mayco. We'd love your input.
• New studio amenity: Hot Girl Little Treat Cantina (working title). We'll have a fridge with snack trays, sodas, and other concessions with a suggested donation menu next to it. Beats having to get all cleaned up and drive home/fast food/wherever. We'll also have lazy lady bakey menus in the space if you all ever get a itch to go get some fresh coffee/pastries from down the block.
• We sell wheels now online. Let us know if you ever want a portable one for home, we will give you a discount for being a member, too.
• Want to come see the studio before we open? Just email us, we don't mind showing you around while it's getting finished up.
• More open hours soon for walk in customers.
• Over 20+ new items for sale in the store up front including transfer papers, mini wheels, RAC pens, underglaze pencils, wooden rollers, and more.
• Bucket upgrades (you'll see)
• Stickers/merchandise.
• We have pottery aprons coming in for sale for those of you that want a dedicated one with more bells and whistles (pant legs), and a ton of new tools and things to try out.
• There's a stray cat that lives in the abandoned building next to us. We've named him slippy. He has food and water we leave out for him. Please don't try to catch him.

 

Lately we've been feeling a bit like we've failed hard with this transition. We started planning this back in October of 2025, and every step of the way has just been a tremendous hurdle with so many unforeseen pitfalls. Katelyn and I both are so very sorry that the new space has not opened yet. We will see you all in the studio in May. Your patience is appreciated.