We recently connected with Jordyn Brummett and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jordyn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I fell in love with art when my high school art teacher took me under her wing. She encouraged me, pushed me, and helped me see myself as an artist. I wanted to pursue art school, but my parents were hesitant, so I chose what we all thought was the “practical” path — graphic design.
It didn’t take long for me to realize I wanted something more tactile, something that lived beyond a screen. I switched gears and studied to become an art educator. After graduation, I landed what I thought was my dream job — teaching elementary school art. I loved the energy of a classroom, the light in a child’s eyes when they created something new, and the feeling of helping someone discover their creative voice.
One week before my first school year began, I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter. It was a joyful surprise, but it also shifted my career before it even began. My daughter was born with extra needs that made the already exhausting newborn stage even more demanding. I chose to stay home with her, and while I never regretted that choice, I slowly felt myself losing my identity outside of motherhood. I told myself it would be selfish to carve out time to make art “just for me,” but the longing to create never left.
Eventually, I gave myself permission to start again — even if it meant working in a dark, windowless basement storage room with just my pottery wheel. Later, I upgraded to the garage, which felt like a step forward, but I still missed the sense of creative community I had in art school. Owning a community studio had always been my dream, but it felt far away, something “future me” would do someday.
But that dream kept knocking. No matter how often I told it to wait, it kept coming back — until one day, I picked up my phone and made a call. That call turned into a business plan, and that plan turned into The Vessel, a community pottery studio in Huntsville, Alabama. We opened our doors in 2022, with two young children at home and no guarantee it would work. It was a huge risk — but one that quickly began to pay off.
In many ways, it felt like I had come full circle. I began my career teaching art to children in a school setting; now, I was teaching art to people of all ages in a space I had dreamed into existence. Only this time, I could shape the environment in my own creative way — a space filled with warmth, curiosity, and community, where art education didn’t just live inside the walls of a school, but was accessible to anyone who wanted to try.
The business grew faster than we could have imagined, becoming both our family’s pride and joy and, eventually, our livelihood. This year, my husband quit his job so we could both go all in. And now, we’re taking another leap — moving and expanding our studio to almost four times its current size by the end of 2025. It’s another big risk, but we believe so deeply in our mission to give people a place to find rest in creativity and connection in community that we’re willing to bet everything on it.
The dream that once lived in a basement now fills a light-filled studio — and soon, it will fill an even bigger one.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I often tell people that The Vessel was born out of both passion and necessity. My own journey with clay began years ago, long before we ever opened our doors in Huntsville. I started as an art educator, teaching elementary school students. But after my first child was born—and with her, a set of unique challenges—I stepped away from the classroom.
For a while, I poured myself fully into motherhood, but as fulfilling as that role was, I began to feel a part of me slipping away. I missed creating. I missed community. I missed watching people discover their creative voice. Eventually, I set up a pottery wheel in a dark basement corner just to have a space to make again. That simple act reignited something in me, and slowly, the idea of creating a space for others began to take shape.
In 2022, that dream became The Vessel—a community pottery studio designed to be a place of rest, retreat, and reconnection through clay. We welcome people of all skill levels, from those who’ve never touched clay to experienced makers looking for a supportive space. We offer one-time classes for beginners, multi-week courses for those wanting to build skills, open studio hours for members, and private events for groups who want to share a creative experience together. We also host community events like THROWN, a lively pottery market where people can shop handmade pieces, watch live demos, and even get their hands in clay themselves.
What sets us apart is that we’re not just teaching people how to make pots—we’re creating a space where people can slow down, connect, and fill their cups. I’m especially proud that we’ve made The Vessel not only functional, but beautiful—a place where you feel inspired the moment you walk in. Every detail, from the light-filled windows to the warm textures and thoughtful layout, was designed to make creativity feel natural and inviting. It’s a working studio, yes, but it’s also a space that feeds the senses, the mind, and the spirit.
Clay has a way of quieting the noise and grounding you in the moment, and we’ve designed everything about The Vessel to nurture that. Our studio is warm, welcoming, and community-driven, whether you’re here for an evening date night or months of dedicated practice.
I’m proud that what started as my personal way back to creativity has become a thriving hub for others. We’ve seen people find lifelong hobbies, spark new friendships, and even heal in ways they didn’t expect. And now, just a few years in, we’re taking another leap—expanding our studio to nearly four times its size so we can welcome even more people into this creative community.
At the heart of The Vessel is a belief that when your cup is full, you have more to give—to your work, your relationships, and yourself. That’s what I want people to know about us: we’re here to help you fill it.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
At the heart of my creative journey is a deep belief that everyone is capable of creativity—and not just capable, but that creating and experiencing art is essential to a well-lived life. I’ve seen firsthand how consistent opportunities to create can enhance a person’s well-being, a truth that recent studies in neuroscience continue to affirm.
For me, this understanding didn’t come from theory—it came from necessity. After stepping away from my work as an art educator to care for my daughter, I found myself longing for something that reconnected me to who I was beyond my role as a mother. I began creating again simply because I needed it for my own mental health. Working with clay gave me a sense of peace, purpose, and renewal that I hadn’t felt in years. It grounded me. It filled my cup.
That personal transformation became the driving force behind The Vessel. I wanted to share the same freedom I found in clay with others in my community—a space where people of all skill levels could make their own discoveries through the creative process. My mission is to make art accessible, inviting, and woven into everyday life, so that more people can experience the quiet joy and healing that comes from making something with their own hands.
When I see someone walk into the studio unsure of themselves, and then watch them leave with not only something they’ve made but also a glimmer of confidence and a lighter spirit, I know I’m living my mission. Creativity isn’t just about making objects—it’s about making a life that feels whole.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is the feeling of being fully myself in my work. When I’m creating—whether I’m shaping clay, designing marketing materials, or building a lesson plan—I feel a deep sense of alignment with who I was created and wired to be. There’s a wholeness in that, knowing that I’m living out the very thing I was meant to do.
It’s also deeply gratifying to know that my work adds beauty and creativity into the world. Sometimes that beauty takes the form of a finished ceramic piece; other times, it’s in the experience someone has in the studio—the way they light up when they create something with their own hands or discover a skill they didn’t know they had. Those moments remind me that creativity is both personal and communal.
As an artist, I get to live in that intersection—where my own fulfillment meets the joy of watching others find theirs. That’s the real reward: knowing that by staying true to my own creative path, I’m helping others discover theirs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thevesselstudio.org
- Instagram: thevesselhsv
- Facebook: thevesselhsv
Image Credits
Lauren Zabel Photography