Hi, my name is Patty and I started grit/CLAY in 2020 after coming back to the wheel after a 25-year hiatus. In college, as an art major, I loved spending time in the ceramics department and dreamed of making pottery for a living. My practical parents thought I was insane and pushed me to get a real job. I started as a production artist for a manufacturing company before eventually starting studioxphl.com in 2003.

I love Studio x. and am proud to be a woman-owned, 20+ year-old company with more than ten employees around the globe. We’ve won awards and work with amazing clients. I get to use the left side of my brain, solving technical problems with elegant design solutions for pixel + paper. It’s perfection.

During the lockdown, I found an old bowl I made in 1994 and gave it to one of my friends. It matched her home perfectly. It was the first time I had really looked at one of my pieces in 20+ years. When I saw it, I thought, “I wasn’t half bad” back then. So, I figured I’d take a class for fun.

I signed up for a local class with Bob Deane and fell instantly back in love. I often feel elated when I create something new, and seeing my pieces out of the kiln is euphoric. I want to show everyone I know - I’m confident they are sick of my Facebook posts and text messages although they’ve always been supportive.

My husband loves my hobby. It makes no mess. None.