What to expect

802 N. Coast Hwy 101

Encinitas, CA 92024

HOURS OF OPERATION:

STUDIO HOURS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY | 7 DAYS A WEEK

PICKUP HOURS :

You may pick up work DAILY 10:00am - 4:00pm or by studio appointment. Please note- if only one person in your party was notified that their work is ready, that does not guarantee the whole group’s work is ready- work is processed as it is ready and some pieces may take longer than others. Your patience is appreciated!

We will be happy to assist you with your pickup as long as we are not in a lesson. It's always safest to call ahead :)

PERSONAL PREP:

Although clay easily washes out of your clothes, please arrive in clothing you’re prepared to get messy! Aprons are not provided but are available to rent for $5.

If you have long hair, please make sure to bring something to tie it up with.

It is possible to do ceramics with long nails, but it is extremely challenging (trust us). We highly suggest cutting your nails down prior to your class.

PARKING:

You may park in our lot, find street parking or across the street by the train tracks.

CLEANING:

The 90 minute lesson includes clean-up. A staff member will give you a 10-15 minute heads up when it’s time to start wrapping up your work and you will have 10-15 minutes to clean up and fill out your wheel form / glaze selection.

Please be mindful of timing as there may be a class booked after yours.

When will my pottery be ready?

We trim and glaze all studio work, unless you already know how to do it and would like to trim and glaze your work yourself. You can book a follow up Wheel Time appointment for trimming and DIY Glazing to glaze your own work.

The process from start to finish takes about 3-5 weeks. (See more information under FAQ).

While we understand that life happens, we require 24hrs notice to cancel or reschedule appointments. This policy is firmly enforced as we may not be able to back-fill the time slot of your booking with less than 24hrs notice. We require 48hrs notice for private parties.

Reschedules: One reschedule may be permitted within the 24-hour limit for illness or other approved circumstances. If the rescheduled Class is cancelled or missed, no refund or further reschedule will be provided.

Please note that you will be charged the full appointment fee if you miss your scheduled appointment.

If you are 30 or more minutes late to your appointment, your appointment will be cancelled and you will be charged the full appointment fee.

Please reach out if you have questions or concerns.

ALL CLAY AND GLAZES MUST BE CONE 5/6

For information regarding outside firing, please email info@themuddhousestudio.com

*The Mudd House is not liable for any explosions / damages*

What is clay?

Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals. Clays develop plasticity when wet, due to a molecular film of water surrounding the clay particles, but become hard, brittle and non–plastic upon drying or firing.

Clay is the oldest known ceramic material. Prehistoric humans discovered the useful properties of clay and used it for making pottery. Some of the earliest pottery shards have been dated to around 14,000 BC, and clay tablets were the first known writing medium.

What kind of clay is used at the studio?

We use B-Mix 5, Speckled Buff and in-house recycled clay.

B-Mix is a stoneware body with a porcelain feel. B-Mix is soft, creamy and dreamy to throw. It fires gray/white in reduction and lighter in oxidation. Avg. shrinkage is approx. 12%.

Speckled Buff is a medium texture tan/buff color stoneware with brown and black specks in oxidation. It’s texture is slightly sandy and is lovely to throw with. Avg. shrinkage is approx. 12%.

What materials are provided at the studio?

We provide the clay, tools and glazes. One of our team members will trim & glaze your unless you have the knowledge and desire to do it yourself! If so, let us know! If you would like to learn, we’re happy to teach you in our Multi-Week Pottery Course or a private lesson.

How long does it take to get my pottery back?

It takes between 3-5 weeks for your pottery to go through a process to completion. After you throw your clay, it needs to dry enough to be considered “leather hard” so it can be trimmed. Trimming removes excess clay and allows a second opportunity to shape, add texture or clean up your piece. Once it has been trimmed, it needs to dry enough to be considered “bone dry” so it can be bisque fired. Once it has been bisqued, your piece will be glazed and then returns to the kiln for a second firing at a higher temperature.

Why do cracks or explosions sometimes happen during the pottery process?
Clay is a natural material that goes through several delicate stages before becoming finished pottery. As pieces dry and are fired in the kiln, any uneven thickness, trapped air pockets, or excess moisture can create stress in the clay. If a piece is too thick, moisture or air inside may expand and cause an explosion. If a piece is too thin, it may become fragile and crack. Even well-made pottery can change, warp, or develop small cracks during the firing process due to the extreme temperatures involved. These outcomes are a normal part of working with clay and part of what makes handmade ceramics unique. At The Mudd House, we take great care with your work, but we cannot guarantee that every piece will survive the firing process.