We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emily Tippett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Emily, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
I started taking a ceramics class in High School, at Hoggard, with Mrs. Hunt. and just fell in love with it. I took 5 semesters and my parents encouraged me to continue it at CFCC. I was very hesitant but I’m glad I did, my instructor Geoff there was amazing and helped me grow so much. As my time came to an end there I started thinking about going to get my 4 year degree (because I thought that was the next step). My parents asked me a question what would you do with this degree? I didn’t have an answer I didn’t know what I was going for I was going because I thought that’s what you did. They said, why don’t you travel the world, and try this pottery thing out you like so much. I looked at them and laughed and said artists don’t make money!! Yall our roles were reversed. I traveled a lot, I worked, I didn’t start my business but I did pottery here and there! However my parents kept on asking good questions and encouraging me to chase what I love. I eventually started More Than Clay!!
Emily, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I started in high school, it was an outlet for me. A little over 4 years ago from all the encouragement of my family and friends More Than Clay was started! I make mostly functional simple speckled white pieces with little pops of color here and there! From coffee mugs where you can enjoy quiet moments in the morning or maybe loud crazy moments to enjoying salad bowls and laughter around the dinner table with loved ones. In 2023 I started pottery nights where 2-4 people could come into the studio and take an hour and a half pottery class! A girls night, double date night, date night, what whatever it may be it has always been full of laughter and cool pieces!!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
When someone comes up to you and says “I use your mug everyday!!” And you are able to help someone find that perfect mug that’s works for them. I’ll be honest, I will talk someone out of a sell. I want someone to buy something that they will love and use. I tell them “l will be around with more options next event! If you need a different handle just wait.” The amount of people that have waited and for “their mug” and have been over the moon about it, it’s just amazing to think about it.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
To enhance little moments with loved ones around a dinner table. To bring people together over a clay date full of laughter and a new experience!
Contact Info:
- Website: MoreThanClay.com
- Instagram: Morethanclay
Image Credits
Maggieb.photo