Hi, I’m Mary - founder, maker, and the hands behind Inside Out Pottery.
At the heart of it all
Inside Out is more than how I throw - it’s how I live and create. I believe beauty shows up in honesty, imperfection, and difference. My work doesn’t match on purpose. It speaks, instead, in stories, surprises, and quiet moments of joy.
I create for those who value soul over symmetry. For people who choose what feels right over what’s trending. For the ones who don’t want more stuff - they want something real.
This is pottery for the curious. For the ones who like their tea a little too strong and their mugs just a tiny bit off-kilter.
Not just pretty. Unapologetically eclectic.
Because not everything beautiful needs to match.
The spark that started it all
I grew up surrounded by handmade things. My mom sewed, quilted, knitted, embroidered - it felt like there was nothing she couldn’t make. I followed along with busy hands and an open heart, always happy to be by her side. But more than any skill, she taught me to see people as they truly are - unique, worthy, whole, and wildly themselves. That belief is woven into everything I make.
My pottery journey started with a friend and a class. I wasn’t a natural, but I was hooked. I joined a local studio and kept showing up, week after week, slowly learning the rhythm of the wheel.
And somewhere along the way, I noticed something: people were drawn to the pieces that weren’t “perfect.” The off-centre, slightly wonky, beautifully unpredictable ones.
So I leaned in. I stopped chasing precision and perfection (most of the time) and started listening to the clay.
How I work
Every piece I make begins with curiosity. I let the clay shape itself. I dip my pieces in glazes meant for brushing. I layer colours and pour too thick on purpose. I follow what feels good in my hands - not what the rules say is right.
What comes out of the kiln is often a surprise - drips, runs, breaks in textures, and tones that couldn’t be repeated if I tried. These are the pieces I call beauties - the ones that feel like they made themselves.
I don’t aim for flawless; I aim for feeling.
Because pottery, like people, is most interesting when it’s real.
Shaped by sky and shore
I work out of a small home studio on the shore of Lake Simcoe, in beautiful Oro-Medonte, Ontario.
The view from my window changes daily - sky shifting, water moving, light constantly playing - and that sense of openness and transformation shapes my work.
My kiln (her name is Jude) is a key collaborator. She’s new, and we’re still getting to know each other.
While I don’t keep regular studio hours, local pickup is always an option. And when the time feels right, I open the digital doors for something more personal - a peek behind the scenes or an invite to choose a one-of-a-kind beauty made just for you.
Thanks for being here
This is a slow art - a quiet one. And I’m glad you’ve found your way here. Whether you’re adding to your collection or simply looking around, I hope something speaks to you. Something that feels like it was made from the inside out - just for you.