About Mercantile Clay Company

Hi, I’m Shawn, the person behind Mercantile Clay Company.

I’ve always enjoyed connecting people and making sure everyone feels included. But if you’d told me years ago that I would open a pottery studio, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. I never considered myself an artsy person!

That changed when I started making handbuilt pottery in the community where I live. As a Realtor, my days can be busy and sometimes stressful, and working with clay became a way to slow down and unwind. I loved making something with my hands and feeling that little bit of accomplishment when it was finished—even when the pot was a little wonky. Just as much, I enjoyed sitting around a table with other people who were having fun creating, too.

After several years, I wanted to share that experience with more people. Our community studio was inside a gated neighborhood, which made it difficult to invite others in. That’s where the idea for Mercantile Clay Company began.

I wanted to create a comfortable, welcoming place for people who are just getting started and those who have been making pottery for years. Somewhere to learn, try things, and enjoy the process without feeling like everything has to turn out perfectly.

The handmade pottery you’ll find here is part of my own ongoing adventure with clay. I still love seeing what a piece becomes, quirks and all. 

Mercantile Clay Company is a working pottery studio with opportunities to shop, learn, and create. We don’t keep regular retail hours, but if you see me in the studio, stop in and say hello! We’ll host pop-up shopping events—join our email list to hear when they’re happening—as well as workshops where you can learn to handbuild with clay. For experienced potters who need a space to work, we also offer studio memberships.

Whether you enjoy working alongside others or settling into your own quiet spot at a table, I hope you’ll feel at home here.

Make Pottery. Find Your Space.

Shawn Baker