hey!
I'm Rachel, the one-person show behind Meadowfoam Pottery. I make everything from my home basement, in Portland, Oregon.
I love making functional things that people use in their daily routines and rituals. I hope that my pottery brings joy and richness to the small (and big) moments in your life.
What's in a name?
Meadowfoam is a wildflower native to Oregon and the Pacific Coast. It is also cultivated as a seed crop for its nourishing oils.
As a lover of the outdoors, I'm continuously inspired by the my natural surroundings. I strive to incorporate locally gathered materials into my pottery, and frequently emulate the colors, patterns, and textures of my environment in my work. The name Meadowfoam represents this connection between place and item.
Plus, it's just really cute!
Community and Tradition
I'm interested in the way that crafts connect (and also define) our societal cultures and history. Pottery is an ancient practice, with some of the oldest known pots dating back to 20,000 years ago. What a wonder it is to be able to continue to participate in that tradition today.
While much of my work is fired in a modern electric kiln, I'm most interested in traditional and alternative firing methods. Some of my work has been fired in a wood-burning kiln. These firings are quite special to me, as they usually require a community of artists to fill and then fire the kiln - sometimes for the better part of a week, with 24/7 attention. These pots would literally not be achievable without a collective effort - different artists with different styles, all working with each other towards a common goal.