The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Charlotte Danreuther knows clay. She's hand-thrown clay with perfection for years. When you see her work (art), you'll think they're made from a form. Each one is perfectly made. She is opening her shop in the Lift (odd fellows) building on the left side. She will be open during the Christmas stroll from 8-4. If she decides to open before then, it will be on Facebook for a soft opening.

I can tell you I have waited for years for someone to do pottery in our town. I went over before anything was fired, but there were shelves of fired pottery not yet glazed. Different kinds of cups, glasses, hundreds of pieces of jewelry, and a few vases are all on shelves. She told me the color of the glazes, and I was excited to see the finished product.

Charlotte graduated with a degree in ceramics before she went to work for two different well-established pottery places. Her job was to ensure the products met specific criteria, so perfection has been her stock and trade since the beginning.

Charlotte moved to Big Sandy to help her husband Josh run Pep's and waited for the right timing before she started throwing clay again. It takes a lot of inventory before you can finally go into business again. There are lots of different clays, glazes, and tools she would need before she could once again do what she loved. I also knew it was a lot of work, but I still did not understand how much till she told me how she worked to get a finished product. Throwing the clay is just the start; each piece must be fired once before she places it on shelves. She then applies the glaze. While the glaze is firing, she can't be in the building because the fumes are toxic. Then she uses another glaze, and she can't be there either.

I'm excited to see the finished products. I've known Charlotte was artistic, and I'm glad she is finally back making what she loves!