We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carly Cuthrell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carly below.
Alright, Carly thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
From a very young age, I showed a strong interest in creativity and building things. I was a very hyperactive kid, but when I was doing art, it grounded me. My parents saw that and chose to nurture it. Throughout every phase, whether it was drawing, Legos, cooking, or making art out of dirt and sticks, they were always cheering me on. They never treated any creative interest as a passing phase. They saw it as a core part of who I am. One of their favorite stories to tell is how, at nine years old, they found me on our old family desktop, teaching myself how to knit by watching YouTube videos. I had dragged a ball of yarn and some mismatched needles onto the desk, both of which came from a big basket that belonged to my grandma, and I was fully locked in. No one had shown me how. I just decided I wanted to figure it out. That mindset has stayed with me ever since. Hobbies and crafts have always been my form of entertainment and self-expression. A huge part of that comes from my mom’s attitude. She’s the queen of saying, “We could make that.” Whether it was something we saw in a store, a recipe, a piece of furniture, clothes, or art, she always said it with total confidence. That way of thinking was contagious. It taught me that trying something new isn’t scary. It’s exciting. That mindset shows up constantly in my work as a ceramicist. Pottery, especially wheel-throwing, is all about failing, fixing, and trying again. It’s easy to get discouraged, but I grew up believing that if something didn’t work the first time, it was no big deal. You just keep going. After I graduated college, my parents encouraged me to continue with ceramics. They gave me a few hundred dollars as a graduation gift, and I somehow scored a kiln and wheel for way less than market price on Facebook Marketplace. I set up a home studio in their garage, and that’s where I really started experimenting, learning, and building my brand. They gave me the creative freedom to explore and the confidence to believe I could actually do something with it. That’s probably the greatest gift they’ve given me.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hi! I’m Carly. I make playful, colorful pottery that’s meant to bring a little joy to everyday life. I want the things I make to be used and loved. Not just tucked in a cupboard, but out on your counter, holding your fruit, your coffee, your favorite snack, whatever. I first got into ceramics when I was nine at a summer camp in Yosemite. That’s where I first sat at a wheel, got my hands in clay, and felt the magic of making something from the earth. I kept coming back to it in high school, in college (I studied advertising and multimedia design at the University of Oregon), and eventually as a teacher at that same camp where it all started. I taught kids how to handbuild and throw, but more than anything I tried to share how special it is to take something from the earth and turn it into something functional, beautiful, and full of care. My work is really inspired by nature and feeling. I think a lot about how things sit in your hands, how they’re used, and how they look when they’re part of your space. I like soft curves, organic shapes, and bold colors. Green is my favorite. It always sneaks in, probably because I love the outdoors so much. Marketing myself on socials isn’t exactly my strong suit though I try my best. I’d rather be in the studio than behind a screen. I kind of just like letting the work speak for itself. That’s why I love selling in person. Seeing someone pick up a piece, turn it over, connect with it in a real way — that’s the best feeling. This whole thing started as a little spark when I was a kid, and now it has grown into a practice rooted in care, curiosity, and im very proud of where I am right now and my future in the this craft.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Something I’ve had to unlearn as I’ve gotten older is this pressure to have everything figured out. To find the perfect job, the perfect path, to wait for the perfect moment before taking a step. I’ve always struggled with perfectionism. If something doesn’t feel just right, I tend to freeze or avoid it altogether. It becomes this cycle of waiting and second-guessing, like I can’t move forward unless everything lines up exactly how I imagined it. But working with clay has helped shift that. Clay is never perfect. It wobbles, it cracks, it surprises you. And at first, that frustrated me. I’d want to start over or scrap a piece completely. But over time, I’ve learned to see the beauty in the imperfections. A wonky curve or an unexpected texture can make something feel more alive and genuine. Letting go of the need for everything to be flawless has made my work better, but it’s also made my life feel a lot more open. For a while, I thought I had to pick between pursuing pottery and having a “real” career. But over time, I realized pottery is actually what keeps me grounded. It gives me clarity and space to breathe. Making room for it in my life didn’t hold me back.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Something I think non-creatives often miss is just how much time, thought, and care goes into the work. I don’t need everyone I know to buy from me or show constant support, but I’ve definitely had people give unsolicited tips on what I “should” make or how I “should” price things, and it can be frustrating. There’s this disconnect sometimes, like people forget that handmade things take real time, energy, and skill. I think society has gotten so used to mass-produced stuff that it’s easy to overlook what genuine craftsmanship actually looks like. Take a mug, for example. A good, comfy mug that fits just right in your hand probably took me at least two weeks to make. That includes throwing the form, trimming it, stamping the bottom, perfecting and attaching a handle, sometimes carving and hand-painting details, then firing it once, glazing it, and firing it again. It’s not just an object, it’s hours of attention, care, and intention. That’s what makes handmade work special. What I really love is when people show curiosity. When they ask questions, when they want to understand how it’s made, that’s when I feel the most connected. Because to me, it’s not just about the finished piece. It’s about the process. That’s where the value is. And getting to share that with people is one of the best parts of what I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carlycuthrell.com
- Instagram: @crittercrafted @carlycuthrell
- Linkedin: Carly Cuthrell
Image Credits
IMG_0845.JPG taken by @gabriellacreanphoto
IMG_0862.JPG taken by @gabriellacreanphoto