Studio Stories

Some places are chosen with your head, and some are chosen with your heart. For me, Pilot Mountain was the second kind. I believe handmade can bring a small town home again in the best way — slowly, meaningfully, and by hand.

Meet Laura Wood of Laura’s Brushes, an acrylic painting instructor at Crisanthemum Studios. Learn about her story, teaching style, and what students can expect in her classes.

Handmade custom logo pottery offers something most branded products do not: usefulness, beauty, and a lasting sense of care. For client gifts, employee appreciation, hospitality, and custom business branding, a handmade mug or pottery piece feels more personal, more memorable, and more worth keeping than something mass-produced. It is a practical gift that also tells a story about quality, thoughtfulness, and connection.

We make it by hand, and then you make it your own. That’s the heart of Crisanthemum Studios. Every glaze choice, every brushstroke, and every personal touch transforms a handmade piece into something completely unique. No two finished pieces are ever exactly alike — just like no two people are exactly alike.

Meet Deborah of DKS Studios, instructor at Crisanthemum Studios in Pilot Mountain, NC. Explore beginner-friendly watercolor and pen & ink classes designed to help students relax, have fun, and try something new.

Get to know Cindy, a warm and welcoming member of the Crisanthemum Studios team in Pilot Mountain, NC. Read our latest team spotlight and discover what creativity means to her. At Crisanthemum Studios, creativity is not only about pottery, painting, and handmade experiences. It is also about the people who help make the studio feel welcoming from the moment someone walks through the door. Cindy is one of those people. She helps wherever needed, especially with front-of-house

At Crisanthemum Studios, we believe creativity should feel welcoming, approachable, and deeply human. That is exactly what Benita Wilson brings to the studio through her knitting and crochet classes. Benita’s story began at age 12, when her grandmother taught her to crochet. Over time, she became a self-taught knitter as well, building a lifelong relationship with fiber arts that now shapes the way she teaches others. These days, there is rarely a day she does not knit, and t

When you pick up a handmade piece of pottery, you’re holding far more than clay. You’re holding time. Patience. Skill. And a process that unfolds slowly — one thoughtful step at a time. At Crisanthemum Studios, we believe that understanding how pottery is made deepens the appreciation for why handmade matters. So today, we’re inviting you behind the scenes to see what it truly takes to bring a piece from raw clay to something you use and love every day. It All Begins with Cla

Some people walk into a space and instantly make it feel lighter. More welcoming. More alive. That’s Gretchen. From her friendly smile to her natural charisma, Gretchen brings warmth and creativity into Crisanthemum Studios every time she walks through the door. She’s someone who genuinely loves people, animals, and the magic that happens when creativity and community come together. A Creative Spirit (with a Big Heart for Animals) If there’s one thing you should know about G

There’s a reason most of us have a favorite mug. It’s not always the biggest one. Or the newest. Or the most expensive. It’s the one that feels right in your hands — the one you reach for without thinking, especially in the morning. At Crisanthemum Studios, we believe mugs are more than vessels for coffee or tea. They’re part of a ritual. A pause. A moment of comfort before the day unfolds. And when that mug is handmade, it carries something extra. The Art of the Mug: Why Han

Hi friends, February has a way of putting love in a very specific box. It’s everywhere this time of year — hearts, flowers, grand gestures, and the idea that love has to look a certain way to matter. And while there’s nothing wrong with romance, I’ve learned that love shows up in far more meaningful — and lasting — ways. At Crisanthemum Studios, love looks a little different. It looks like people showing up as they are. It looks like creativity shared across a table. It looks

At Crisanthemum Studios, creativity doesn’t always show up as clay on the wheel or glaze on a brush. Sometimes, it shows up as care. As presence. As someone who quietly makes space for others to create. This month, we’re honored to introduce Suzanne—a retiree, a go-getter, and one of the people who helps keep the studio feeling exactly the way she describes it in one word: welcoming. A New Chapter, Softly Opened Suzanne came to Crisanthemum Studios in a season of rediscover

Hi friends, January has a funny way of showing up with a lot of expectations. New year. New goals. New plans. New energy. And sometimes... a whole lot of pressure. At Crisanthemum Studios, I like to think of January a little differently. Instead of asking myself, “What do I need to change?” I ask, “What do I want to come back to?” That’s where the idea of a Word of the Year comes in. A Word of the Year isn’t a resolution. It’s not a to-do list or a rigid promise to be better,

There’s something timeless about clay — the way it holds history, memory, and meaning all at once. In North Carolina, that truth runs deep. Here, pottery isn’t just an art form; it’s a living tradition woven into the soil itself. From the red clay of the Piedmont to the rolling hills of the Yadkin Valley, every handful of earth carries a story of craft, creativity, and connection. At Crisanthemum Studios, we’re honored to be part of that story — continuing a tradition that be

A Year in Review from the view of our Potter. As the year comes to a close, I find myself sitting with a feeling that’s hard to put into words — a mix of gratitude, pride, disbelief, and deep appreciation. This year marked our first year in downtown Pilot Mountain on Main Street, and what a year it has been. Crisanthemum Studios didn’t just open its doors — it found its people. From the very beginning, this space was imagined as more than a pottery studio. It was meant to be

Hi friends, As the year winds down and the days grow shorter, I find myself drawn to the gentle glow of the kiln — that quiet heartbeat of the studio that keeps burning through even the coldest days. The orange light spilling from its door feels like a reminder: there is warmth in the work, and transformation in the waiting. Clay has always mirrored life for me. It begins soft and uncertain, then hardens in the fire into something strong, enduring, and full of purpose. Every

At Crisanthemum Studios, every piece you see on a shelf or in someone’s hands carries the care of many hands—some you see, some you might not. Over time, I’ve come to lean into a vision where learning, growth, and shared creativity are just as meaningful as the finished pottery. This month, I’m excited to introduce you to Jerica, my apprentice potter — someone who’s quietly growing with me in the studio, making things behind the scenes that bring color, charm, and meaning to

There’s something timeless about receiving a handmade gift. It carries a warmth that no store-bought item ever could — a sense that the giver took the time to choose something meaningful, something that tells a story. At Crisanthemum Studios, we believe handmade pottery is more than a gift. It’s a piece of art infused with love, patience, and intention. Each mug, bowl, or ornament is shaped, glazed, and fired with care — turning raw clay into something that will be part of so

At Crisanthemum Studios, we believe that creativity connects people. Every person on our team brings their own light, laughter, and heart to the studio — and that’s what makes this space so special. This month, we’re excited to introduce you to Magon Sechrist, one of the creative souls who helps make Crisanthemum Studios the warm, welcoming place our customers love. Bringing Art and Joy to the Studio If you’ve ever been greeted with a friendly smile or found yourself laughing

At Crisanthemum Studios, one of the most joyful parts of what we do isn’t just making pottery — it’s watching others discover the magic...