Cleanliness & Safety

Cleanliness & Safety are two peas in a pod . The biggest health threat in a ceramic studio can be airborne silica (breathing in clay & glaze dust). The creation of dust is to be avoided at every step of the way. 

Wipe excess slip off the bat before wiring off thrown piece. Try to trim thrown pieces at a leather hard stage. If piece is dry and creating dust whilst trimming please spritz the piece with water and make sure to wear a mask.

Clean common areas after each use. Clean your wheel, wedging table, work table, tools, & sink after each use. Put tools away in their proper place. Mop the floor around your wheel if there was any spillage. Most ALWAYS clean everything WET. You can gentle sweep trimmings from under wheel. Sweeping a large space will kick up dust which may damage your lungs

Best to clean up clay, glazes, etc before they dry out. Always use a wet sponge to clean up clay, bisque, glaze dust and a mop to clean the floor. No sanding sharp edges indoors. You are required to follow the studio’s cleaning and waste system for proper disposal of clays & glazes. Try to Keep glazes off your towels & aprons. Glazes should always be sponged off tools & surfaces, not wiped off with a towel. This prevents toxic glaze dust from getting into our lungs.

You must leave 15 minutes at the end of each session for cleaning. Clean all tools, surfaces, equipment, and the floor around your workspace before leaving. At no time should Mud Haven studio staff be required to clean up after you. Please clean to a standard you would expect to find the studio when you arrive.

You are advised to wear close-toed shoes in the building. Long hair pulled back when throwing on the wheel, as well as no long necklaces. You use the studio at your own risk and are aware of the inherent hazards of a studio environment, which include but are not limited to: use of sharp tools and sharp edges, exposure to toxic materials, the dangers of using materials and equipment at high temperatures, and the risks associate with breathing silica dust.

Each student who enters Mud Haven Pottery Studio is required to read and follow the health and safety information outlined in these policies. You must comply with the health & safety instructions of staff at all times.

General Studio Rules

Everyone using the studio must cooperate in maintaining the fun, creative energy of Mud Haven by following the procedures outlined in this guide to keep the muddy adventures functioning smoothly.

CLAY: All clay must be purchased through Mud Haven. Besides trying to protect the kiln and equipment, the clay charges contribute to glaze and kiln firing expenses. Any clay pieces that are thicker than 3/4 inch will not be fired.

PLEASE SIGN/LABEL YOUR WORK: All work must be signed. Unidentified pieces will be held back from firing. In process work must be clearly labeled with potter's name on paper.

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR OWN PIECES: Please keep a journal or use ClayLab App to help keep track of your pottery and what stage they are in. Mud Haven is not responsible for missing pieces.

ABANDONED WORK: Any work (finished or unfinished) unclaimed in the Studio after two months will be recycled how Mud Haven sees fit.

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH: Please only handle your own work to prevent accidental breakage; this includes in process, bisque or glaze ware. Work is especially fragile when it is bone dry before bisque firing, it can crumble!

BAT USAGE: Please avoid leaving leather hard or dried work on throwing bats, instead transfer them to a shelf or ware board. This prevents warping and preserves the life of the bats. Studio Manager might remove your pieces if bats are needed.

GLAZES: A minimum of 3 dipping glaze buckets will be available at all times. As well as Speedball underglaze colors. Do NOT alter dipping glazes by adding water without permission from the Studio Manager.  Outside glazes must be labeled, Cone 6, food safe and can only be used with the studio manager's approval, no exceptions. If a shelf is completely broken due to poor glazing by a Mud Member, it will be the financial responsibility of that member to buy a replacement shelf.  Student glazing is monitored by the class instructor. Very small objects should be prepared on cookie/ceramic plate. Also anything glazed with multiple glazes or moving glazes must be on a cookie. All glaze must be removed from the bottom of your pieces. If the glaze is not fully removed from the bottom of your piece, or applied too thickly, they will not be fired. As a general rule, glaze should be wiped 1/4" from the bottom of the piece. Two layers of glaze should be wiped 1/2 " from the bottom of the piece leaving space for glaze to move.

KILN: PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH THE KILN: Only Studio Managers or Instructors will be loading/unloading and firing the Kiln.

KILN USAGE: All firings are included in price, within reason. We are a small studio and can not support a production Potter or fire extremely large pieces.

MUD ROOM SINKS: Absolutely no CLUMPS OF CLAY is to go down the Main room sink drains. Drain excess water in the sink, then pour the clay bits and slip/sludge into the respective reclaim buckets. Once all slurry and clay bits are placed in reclaim buckets, a final rinse can be done using the sink.   

BATHROOM SINKS: ABSOLUTELY NO CLAY SHOULD GO DOWN THE DRAIN. Please pre-wash hands in main mud room before entering bathroom.

VISITORS: Friends & family are welcome to visit the space briefly in a manner that is not disturbing to others working and also in accordance with occupancy for the studio. Members are responsible for any damage caused by their guests. The studio is not responsible for any injuries to guests while visiting the studio.

OTHER: There is no guarantee for the quality or functionality of fired work. Mud Haven will do it’s best to ensure the best possible outcome for your pieces. Mistakes and misfirings do happen and you must not hold Mud Haven responsible for any damage to your work. Don’t fall in love with a piece until it’s safely home on your table.

Mud Haven Pottery Studio is open to Members and Students, Studio Managers and Instructors are not responsible for your valuables.

Mud Haven is a safe space for everyone regardless of gender, race, religion, political, national origin, ability, or sexual orientation. Abuse, violence, and hateful or discriminatory language/action is not tolerated. Please keep Studio conversation light, fun and creative safe haven from the worries of the world. Staff reserves the right to ban anyone based on unacceptable or hateful behavior. We reserve the right to revoke all studio privileges for prohibited behavior and no refund will be given. 

We reserve the right to modify these policies at any time. By continuing to use the space, you agree to be bound by such changes. Each student who enters Mud Haven Pottery Studio is required to read and follow the Basic Studio Rules outlined in these policies. You must comply with the health & safety instructions of staff at all times.Our goal is to make the space a fun, safe, comfortable Mud playground for everyone!

Everyone must read our Cleanliness & Safety, Basic Studio Rules and Studio Waiver. Agree and sign a hard copy at the studio before being able to create in our Mud Playground. Parents can sign for students under the age of 18 in person or by email.

Mud Member Policies

A person can become a Mud Member after taking 2 Rounds of Mud 101 classes. If you have previous clay experience in all the steps to creating ceramics, you must come to the studio for a Mud Session membership assessment. A person will only become a member after signing a membership contract and paying the first months fees. By signing the contract, you are agreeing to follow our studio policies. Membership fees are paid with a direct deposit system. Payments for memberships are not refundable whether or not the member uses the facilities. Membership fees pay for a full month and the month cannot be divided. We prefer to start the Mud Memberships at the beginning of the month. We reserve the right to cancel or suspend a membership at any time for members violating studio policies or otherwise violating the mud love energy of the studio.

Cancellation: Members must give notice of their membership cancellation 3 weeks before the end of that membership month. The membership will continue indefinitely until the member submits a cancellation.

Members are responsible for any damage their work does to kiln equipment. To avoid possible damage, it is asked that you make test tiles for any outside glazes or more experimental glaze applications. Small ceramics discs (“cookies”) will be provided by the studio to catch any dripping and should be placed under all questionable pieces when you leave them on the firing shelves. Ask the studio staff if you are unsure. Don’t be afraid to experiment! Just keep the studio staff in the muddy loop, so we can be sure everything is done safely.

We reserve the right to change Mud Membership rules and or the open studio times for Mud Members. Any schedule changes will be posted on the website.