Peaceflower Pottery embraces community and growth
Abby Roberts took a pottery class at the end of college in 2001. “After graduating, I immediately started working and didn’t really pursue pottery, even though I had fallen in love with it,” she said. “I picked it back up in 2019, and that’s when I decided to start the business out of my home. We invested in the necessary equipment and created a small home studio.”
Right then, Peaceflower Pottery was born. She said that part of the catalyst for this was also that she was pregnant with her fourth child and wanted to be able to spend more time with her kids.
Anything she didn’t learn in the class in college, she worked on teaching herself. “I really wanted to be home more with and for the boys, but still be able to financially contribute to our household,” she said.
Roberts’ husband has always been supportive of her work and her oldest sons help out in the studio sometimes while her youngest prefer playing with the clay and making their own imaginative creations. “They are extremely supportive. My husband, boys, and dear friends Nikki and Desiree are always willing to help me set up/tear down at vendor events and keep me company, too.”
Peaceflower Pottery has a wide variety of items available including vases, mugs, bowls, plates, colanders, incense holders, garlic graters, pitchers, and flower pots. “I’m always trying to make new things, but people seem to like mugs the best,” said Roberts.”Each piece is completely hand-made, fired, glazed and fired again in order to be complete.”
The process from start to finish in making an individual item takes a minimum seven days, but can take up to twelve. Roberts is open to commissions but has to take several factors into consideration (from skill level to time it will take) before accepting them.
You can find her online on Facebook and Instagram. Online is the best way to see the most products she has at any given time but you can shop her products locally as well in Cadiz at B’s Bouquets and Gifts as well as Exquisite Creations by Joel in Wintersville. If you’re willing to travel just a bit farther out, you can find her work at Oglebay Schrader Center and the Artisan Center, both in Wheeling, WV.
Roberts grew up in Harrison County and said her favorite thing about being here during her formative years was “the comfort and security of living in a small town, along with the ease/accessibility of getting out in the woods and countryside. The outdoors has always been a source of peace for me.”
Outdoor inspriation is evident in her work as well, which often includes a rustic look and incorporates elements like trees, leaves, and flowers.
Roberts keeps it local as much as she can with community outreach. “I get asked regularly to donate items or set up for various causes in the community and I’m always happy to do that.” She especially enjoys getting hands on. “A fun one was helping some boy scouts earn badges through learning hands on about the pottery process. I [also] do lots of glazing classes and have done some hand building/pinch pot classes for local schools.”
There is a kids building class coming up in April at the Pukarich Library with a cost of $10 per child and registration is done through the library. Soon she’ll also be busy setting up for various markets and events as spring builds into full force.
While she has no crystal ball to tell the future, Roberts is confident in the future of Peaceflower. “I’m open to wherever this road is going. I have lots of dreams for the business, one of which is having a storefront someday, but as long as there’s growth and learning, I’m happy with that.”
