A Year Made by Hand, Held by Community

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 a

place where creativity feels accessible, where people feel welcomed exactly as they are, and where

handmade work becomes part of everyday life. Watching that vision take shape this year has been one of

the greatest honors of my life.

And it happened because of you.

This year, we welcomed so many first-time glazers through our doors — people who walked in curious,

sometimes nervous, often unsure if they were “creative enough.”

They left smiling. They left proud. They left saying, “Wow... I did that.”

Watching someone glaze their very first piece of pottery never gets old. Whether it was a mug, a bowl, a

spoon rest, or a keepsake, each piece carried more than color — it carried confidence, joy, and a moment

of pause in an otherwise busy world.

You trusted us with your time, your creativity, and your stories — and that trust means everything.

This year brought milestones we are incredibly proud of, including being recognized as an NC Destination

Business — an affirmation that what we’re building here in Pilot Mountain matters beyond our walls.

But the true milestones weren’t just official recognitions. They were the packed tables on busy Saturdays,

the quiet weekday afternoons filled with meaningful conversations, the families who made glazing a

tradition, and the visitors who found us by chance and left feeling connected.

There is something incredibly special about being a small business on Main Street in downtown Pilot

Mountain.

This town has welcomed us with open arms — neighbors who stop in to check on us, fellow business

owners who cheer us on, locals who bring friends and family to show them “their” pottery studio.

Everything we do at Crisanthemum Studios comes back to one simple belief: Handmade belongs in

everyday life.

Our pottery isn’t meant to sit on a shelf. It’s meant to be used — for morning coffee, shared meals, quiet

moments, and meaningful gifts.

This studio exists because of you.

Thank you for choosing handmade. Thank you for choosing local. Thank you for choosing creativity,

connection, and care.

This first year on Main Street has been more than we could have imagined — and it’s only the beginning.

With muddy hands and deep gratitude.

Cris

 The Potter