Living with the work.

Tableware.

Stoneware tableware from the studio is dishwasher safe, microwave safe, and fired hot enough that it will outlast the dishwasher. Use it. The glaze surface is meant to mark slowly with use — that is the patina, not damage.

Flameware.

Flameware pieces are made specifically to be used over direct flame and to cycle hot and cold without cracking. A few rules keep them happy:

• Bring up the heat slowly the first time you use a piece — a low flame for several minutes before turning the heat up.
• Don't move a hot pot directly onto a cold wet counter; use a trivet or cloth.
• Hand-wash when you can. The dishwasher won't break flameware, but it dulls the slip surfaces faster.

Raku.

Raku pieces are decorative only. The clay body is intentionally porous and the post-firing reduction leaves the surface unsealed — which is what gives raku its color. Don't put raku in the dishwasher, the microwave, or in contact with food or water meant for drinking. Dust with a soft brush; wipe gently with a barely-damp cloth.

Sculpture, vessels, and the wall series.

Decorative work is fired to maturity but is meant to be looked at, not used. Wipe with a soft, dry cloth. If a piece needs more, a barely-damp cloth and patience. Avoid harsh cleaners, especially on matte and crawl glazes.

If something chips or cracks.

Pottery breaks. If a piece you love takes a small chip, kintsugi (gold-seam repair) is a beautiful answer; I can recommend a few people who do it well. If the piece is structural and the crack is fresh, write to me — sometimes I can refire or remake.

— From the studio