Starting in 1996 Margaret Ann studied pottery at East Tennessee State University under the direction of Lynn Whitehead. There she learned that she needed a constant education in pottery with the hopes one day of owning her own business. In the spring after her graduation in 1997 she earned a job in Weaverville, North Carolina with Mangum Pottery. Under Rob and Beth Mangum's direction she learned the day in-day out skills needed to run a successful pottery business. In 2000 Ann met her future husband, Sandy, and at the time he showed an interest in pottery, but had never taken a class. He was a very quick study, a hard worker and a natural. Together they built a tiny shed studio in the back of their rental house and started making pottery together. They tried out many ideas and glazes and even made 150 tiny vases with their wedding date on the bottom to give to family and friends on there wedding day. Batton Clayworks started out doing very small, local craft shows to refine their booth and pottery designs. In 2003 they bought a house with a big basement to put in a permanent studio. During all this time Margaret Ann still worked with Mangum Pottery and Sandy with Mountainscapes Landscaping. In 2004 their goal was to wean themselves into the craft industry and make it as self employed potters. With a lot of hard work, help and advice from Rob and Beth Mangum, and moral support from family and friends they reached their goal and have been completely self employed as Batton Clayworks since February of 2005!

www.battonclayworks.com

Asheville, NC

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