LoLo Pottery to host Shed Show in Gray Court on Nov. 15

Holiday shoppers looking for handmade gifts with a local story behind them will have a chance to browse a season’s worth of work when LoLo Pottery hosts its Shed Show on Sunday, Nov. 15, from 1 to 5 p.m. at 57 Cook St. in Gray Court.

The afternoon event will showcase a wide range of wheel-thrown pieces from Laura Cook, the artist behind LoLo Pottery.

Cook describes her work simply as functional housewares, and there will be plenty of it on display. “I’ve got so much to show,” she said with a laugh.

Gifts for every list

Visitors can expect everyday pieces designed to be used and enjoyed at home, along with a selection of Christmas items, including ornaments and pottery trees. Cook will also offer ready-to-give gift sets, pairing mugs with coffee and olive oil dispensers with olive oil, making the show a convenient stop for anyone checking names off a holiday list. Shoppers can preview a selection of her work in the LoLo Pottery gallery.

A class taken for fun

The road to LoLo Pottery began in 1997, when Cook was living in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and signed up for a pottery class with her best friend, Lucy, simply for fun. She quickly discovered a passion for shaping clay on a spinning wheel and bought a wheel of her own around 2000. Over the years that followed, she worked at the craft off and on, often enrolling in classes to gain access to kilns and glazes.

The bowl that started it all

After returning to Clemson in 2009, Cook had largely set her pottery aside. That changed in 2011, when her sister-in-law, Megan, called upset after breaking a favorite berry bowl and asked her to make a new one.

To fill the request, Cook reached out to George Corontzes, a local potter who was also her neighbor, friend and former boss, and asked to fire a replacement bowl in his kiln. She made several extra pieces while she was at it and found she had no desire to stop.

By then, Cook had years of experience at the wheel. What she needed was the knowledge to finish her work on her own, and Corontzes provided it, teaching her how to mix glazes and how to load and fire a kiln. Before long, he told her she was ready to work independently, and LoLo Pottery was born.

Grateful for a mentor

Cook credits both the broken bowl and her mentor for the business she has today, saying she is grateful to Corontzes for sharing his knowledge, encouraging her and pushing her forward. She describes each piece as starting from nothing more than a lump of clay in her hands and becoming something one of a kind.

Shopping beyond the show

Those who cannot make it to the Shed Show still have options. Cook does not keep set hours but welcomes shoppers by appointment.

“I’m very flexible about setting up a shopping visit,” Cook said. “Just call or text me.”

If you go

LoLo Pottery’s Shed Show runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at 57 Cook St., Gray Court, South Carolina. To schedule a shopping visit at another time, call or text Cook at 864-506-1592. LoLo Pottery is a member of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce. More information is available at lolopottery.net.