Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Allen.
Hi Morgan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I actually started ceramics back in high school. I took to it immediately and did it for all four years. After I graduated I moved on to college and decided I needed a hobby between full time schooling and a full-time job. So naturally, I went full send and bought a pottery wheel with no kiln and sat on that until I was gifted the oldest little kiln in town (still my current kiln, she runs like she’s brand new). From there everything spiraled pretty quickly, I started trial and error firing to figure out how to use the kiln while throwing a variety of different forms to see what vibed with me best.
Then in 2020 after graduating and deciding to leave my restaurant job I thought no better time to open up my own business, so I did just that! I think I chose probably the best month to open, December, because of how many people celebrate the holidays which was an insane confidence boost. Then 2021 quickly comes around and I decide to move out to Utah and find that there are so many small business and ceramic opportunities. That in itself really allowed my business to continue growing into a whole new customer base outside of Indiana. Flash forward to today in 2022, I’ve done over a hand full of craft fairs, been in 3 storefronts, and continue to find new ways to appreciate this hobby I’ve found a passion within.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m not sure I would say smooth but I also wouldn’t say super difficult. I was super lucky in the sense that I got four years to practice and then an additional two outside of high school before I fully committed to wanting to open my own business. I think the biggest difficulty came with the confidence behind wanting to open up a business and the mental blocks that come with that. There are so many people doing so many great things, the ceramic world being one of them. It was really hard to think that my work held any sort of worth compared to the people that had been doing it for so long.
There was also a lot of trial and error figuring out the kiln and the drying process as I had set up my own studio in a very humid climate initially and then moved into a very dry climate. Another struggle I deal with, mostly as a person, would be getting burnt out. There’s a very fine line to walk when having a creative job. There’s the want to create pieces you know are going to sell versus what inspires you and that line can get blurred very easily so I tend to take lots of vacations and mental breaks to try and remedy that!! I think it is a bit unrealistic to think starting any venture on your own is going to be super smooth but all of the little learning moments were just opportunities that allowed for growth!
I think I’m still in the trial and error phase of knowing what my customers love, I would say the two things I’m known for right now are my mushroom ashtrays that feature mushroom carvings within an ashtray and my cactus ring holders which are simply ring holders shaped like cactuses.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have the basic answer that I tell everybody which I will tell you as well. I am Morgan Allen, I am the MA in Ceramics by MA. I make small-batch functional pottery. I hope you find a piece that resonates with you & if not, let me know, and we can create a piece just for you!
For the most part my work features whatever is inspiring me at the time. A lot of my inspo comes from the space where I reset myself, nature! I love the vibe of carved in mushrooms, florals, leaves, etc. Outside of my actual pieces I think the thing I am most proud of is finally taking a leap to actually put myself out there to fail. There was and still is a huge risk that my pieces would be just that, pieces. I feel incredibly lucky to know that they are going to homes with people that will appreciate and honor them as long as they keep them!
What does success mean to you?
Ooooh, love this question! Success is all relative. It depends on what you want your goals and achievements look like, so my definition of success will for sure be different than whoever is editing this and whoever ends up reading it. I will define success as a feeling of contentment. I think a lot of people think about work, and hard work at that, when they think of success. I personally, do not dream to work and it’s okay if you do! I am just not striving for success specifically, I am just trying to feel content with the little life I’m building and for now that includes my sweet little business but isn’t limited to it. If you are here for inspo to start your own biz, I can promise it won’t be the most leisurely task but if it’s something you want to pursue and are just waiting for your sign, take the leap friends, you’ll be great. (-:
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ceramicsbyma
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ceramicsbyma
