E S T H E R D R O N E

Statement of Work

I started taking pottery lessons in high school at the Willistead Manor Coach-house in the early 70’s. With money I earned selling functional pottery I bought my first wheel and kiln while attending high school. In 1980 I graduated from Sheridan College School Craft & Design with a Ceramic’s Major.

Teaching many children clay classes over the years has inspired me to make ornamental clay animals and learn new project ideas such as clay whistles. The functional pottery I do is inspired by the needs of my family for durable, chip resistant pottery that can withstand being microwaved and put through a dishwasher. It is very important to me that my work be affordable and that I also have products on the table for that would interest children and be in their price range.

The business is comprised of myself, my husband Ray and son Louis. I throw and hand build functional pottery using cone 6 clay. These are bisque fired, dipped in glaze then electric kiln fired to cone 6. The ornamental animals are hand built, bisque fired then glazed. The whistles are hand built, bisque fired then either smoke fired in my fire place or glazed with low temperature glaze. Ray does the office work, assists at shows, watches the kilns and makes the aroma stones. These are bisque fired clay shapes that can be scented with essential oil. I create the stamps that Ray uses for the aroma stones.