Pottery in Piedmont NC

Seagrove NC

P
Patty
  • Email address verified
376 reviews
Oct 19 - 20, 2023
Group size: 18 - 26
Pottery in Piedmont NC
Seagrove NC

Patty
  • Email address verified
376 reviews

Oct 19 - 20, 2023
Group size: 18 - 26

About this trip

This is a 2 day/1 night trip to Piedmont NC for an immersive experience with some of the State's highly skilled potters.  We enjoy learning about a variety of styles and the rich heritage of this area that has attracted potters for generations.  From the mid-1700s to present day, the potters of this region have produced an incredible amount of both utilitarian and decorative ware.  

This trip features the studios listed below.  We overnight in nearby Asheboro offering wonderful options for locally owned restaurants for dinner on your own.  

Mark Hewitt Pottery -Born in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Mark is the son and grandson of directors of Spode, the fine china manufacturers.  Mark is known for distinctive functional pots, specializing in very large planters and jars, along with finely made smaller items. He uses local clays and blends the different North Carolinian folk traditions together into a contemporary style that has attracted a sizeable following.

Jugtown Pottery - This is a working pottery, an American Craft Shop and Museum.  Present day  potters demonstrate the love of craft and form handed down from the Jugtown founders with a selection of forms derived from simplicity, a complimentary glaze and occasional decoration. Drawing from the North Carolina tradition, we find pottery in wood fired Salt Glaze and Frogskin, and tablewares in green, blue, brown and gray. Vases, bowls and jars in glazes made with wood ash, local clays, copper reds, greens and iron earth tones, have origins in world clay traditions.

The Triangle Pottery Studio - New on the pottery scene in Seagrove, we meet Kaye Waltman.  Kate opened her pottery studio 2010. Kaye's pots are made with local materials, boldly carved with organic patterns inspired by Art Deco design, and fired in a large wood-burning kiln. Kate shows her pots internationally and has lectured and taught throughout the USA.

Ben Owen Pottery -  Ben Owen III studied pottery as a young apprentice first with his grandfather in the late 1970s-1980s and later at East Carolina University (1989-1993). Like his grandfather, Ben creates pottery that reflects a foundation in traditional early american designs, and incorporates influences from Asia, Europe, and Persia.  Ben has participated in workshops and conferences throughout the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and recently in China. His work can be found in many museums nationwide, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Smithsonian Museum of Art. Ben’s commissions grace the lobby of the Ritz Carlton Tokyo Hotel in Japan and The Umstead Hotel and Spa in NC. Singer/songwriter James Taylor and golfer Arnold Palmer are among the notables whose collections include works by Ben Owen III.

Eck McCanless Pottery - Eck McCanless is a second generation potter and musician/songwriter born in Seagrove.  His Agateware takes you on a journey that conveys how clay travels through every piece of pottery that’s made on the potter’s wheel. Eck's work is made by turning multiple colors of clay on the wheel to create a colorful spiral. He then carves his pots to create beautiful patterns and reveal a cross section of what’s happening inside the walls of the pots. 

Bulldog Pottery - This is a collaborative artist studio.  Bruce Gholson and wife, Samantha Henneke strive to make Functional and Decorative Art, Research Creative Processes and Experiment with Materials.  They enjoy sharing an ever ending exploration of ideas, techniques, clays and glaze formulations.  



**Scroll down to the bottom of the page to read the itinerary







Cancellation Policy

Once final payments have been made on the charter bus and hotel (30 days prior to the trip) refunds can only be made if the participant or trip organizer can resell the trip to another passenger.  

What’s included

  • Transportation
    On a modern comfortable motorcoach
  • Accommodations
    Fairfield Inn & Suites in Asheboro
  • Box Lunch
    On day two in Seagrove
  • Water and snacks
    Throughout the trip on the bus
  • Trip host
    Trip coordinated and hosted by Patty
  • Breakfast
    Complimentary breakfast at the hotel

What’s not included

  • Lunch
    BYOL on Day one as we travel through Piedmont NC
  • Dinner
    Wonderful local choices in Asheboro!

Available Packages

Double Occupancy - 2 people sharing room

This is a per person rate for two people sharing a room featuring two queen beds.  

$246
Single Occupancy

Single room featuring one king or two queen beds

$321


Itinerary

2 Day/1 Night
Pottery in Piedmont NC

Day One - October 19

7:30am - Departure from the Hanover Center at 3501 Oleander Dr.

8am - Departure from Harris Teeter parking lot in Leland at 2021 Olde Regent Way

Approx. 11am - Tour Mark Hewitt Pottery in Pittsboro

1:30pm - Tour Jugtown Pottery

3pm - Tour The Triangle Pottery Studio

20 minute drive to Asheboro for overnight and dinner on own

Day Two - October 20

Breakfast on your own at the hotel followed by a

10am tour of Ben Owen Pottery

1:30pm - Tour of Eck McCanless Studio

3pm - Tour of Bulldog Pottery

Time permitting, stop at the Cafe at StarWorks for a late afternoon snack before departure.  

8pm - Approx. return time



Your Organizer


P
Patty
376 reviews
I love to travel so in my partially retired life I decided to adapt my passion for travel along with 25 years of experience in Travel & Tourism to create Trips by Patty. I received a BA in American History from UNC-Chapel Hill. Not knowing what I was going to do with that degree, I started working as a desk clerk at a hotel in Raleigh. I enjoyed the hotel business and the career path began. Hotel operations and sales, Convention Center operations and marketing, destination marketing with a Convention Visitors Bureau and even a stint as a tour guide. What happened to the history degree? Well, many times when I am escorting my trips I share the history of the destinations we visit. It's a great feeling to take your career skills and adapt them to your own small business. I love what I do and hope you'll join me on a trip one day!

Reviews

Patty is absolutely the best when it comes to planning and managing trips. She takes care of everything, is a great communicator, and is just a really nice person. Denise and I highly recommend taking trips with Patty.
By Michael G for Charleston South Carolina on Nov 22, 2024
We all had a great time!! Patty is an amazing host and was so much fun and well organized!! Lots of fascinating tours and excursions in Charleston!! I can’t wait for my next Trips with Patty!! Thank you
By Cheryl G for Charleston South Carolina on Nov 22, 2024
We had a great time. Pattys trips are always worth going on nice people and accommodations were great
By Judy C for Charleston South Carolina on Nov 21, 2024
Another awesome trip with Patty. The accommodations were excellent. Enjoyed the tour activities. We had a great time.
By Elaine D for Charleston South Carolina on Nov 18, 2024
We had a fantastic time! Accommodations were awesome.
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