Today we’d like to introduce you to Corinne Telfer.
Corinne, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started out at UNT as a sculpture major but quickly realized ceramics was what I really wanted to do after taking beginning ceramics as an elective. I immediately fell in love with the medium, the process, and the fact that I didn’t have to give up my sculpture background while still making functional pieces as well. I graduated from UNT with my BFA in ceramics and with great support from my family and friends, I was able to set up a studio in my garage where I now own two throwing wheels and a kiln named ‘Big Eartha’.
Has it been a smooth road?
Like most things, there have been bumps in the road but with the help of family and friends, I was able to overcome all the obstacles thrown at me. I was sick a lot going through school. It seemed like I had strep throat, bronchitis, or something along those lines every couple of months and even had strep and mono at the same time my sophomore year! After years of this, the doctors finally decided to remove my tonsils resulting in a severe infection keeping me out of school for a couple of weeks. I am doing much better overall now, but without my parents, getting through school, sickness and getting everything lined up to where it is today would have been impossible.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Corie’s Ceramics story. Tell us more about the business.
My favorite part about clay is that the possibilities are endless. I currently make mostly functional work, (plates, bowls, mugs) but like to dabble in making sculptures when I am not on a deadline for a sale or making a custom order. A lot of people don’t understand that everything that comes out of Corie’s Ceramics, and all the firing, packaging, basically just getting to the end point, is all done by me. I throw each piece on the wheel, trim it, carve/decorate it, fire it in the kiln, glaze it, and then do the final glaze firing to get a finished piece. Clay is very time consuming and absolutely anything can go wrong at any point in the process!
I have gotten to a point where I am known for making small ceramics slugs. I use the small bits of clay that would usually be tossed in a bucket or forgotten about and I make what I call ‘planter buddies’. I never really thought I would ever be known as the ceramic slug girl, but it’s definitely grown on me!
What makes me most proud is seeing my pieces in their new homes and seeing them being used. People send me pictures of their mug filled with coffee, or a slug on their windowsill and sometimes I have to remind myself that I made that and it is now a part of someone’s life. It is an amazing feeling and I am happy to get to experience it!
The thing that sets me aside from others, or at least what I think does, is I am always willing to work with my customers. I don’t just make things to sell, I want to make things how you picture them. So if a customer sees a mug at one of the sales I attend but they would prefer pink over green, I give them my information and will go and make a mug that fits exactly what they want! I can, and have customized pieces down to putting names on them or dates, anything to make the customer happy!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In the next 5 to 10 years, I see myself moving somewhere with more space for storage and kilns. I don’t ever want to become a production based company and would love to maintain the small family feel of everything. I have an idea for a space to help other artists who haven’t been as fortunate as me with finances and facilities to have access to kilns and wheels post-graduation, but that will come when the time is right!
Contact Info:
- Phone: 5127695078
- Email: corietelfer@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @coriesceramics
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