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 encouraged to be creative. 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 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 has a mind of her own, and I love her for it. 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.