LANDIS — Margaret Deadmon discovered pottery by way of a hair salon and turned a hobby into a business.
Deadmon of Landis had been a hairdresser for more than 20 years. She, at one time, co-owned a salon in Kannapolis. She saw a pottery studio at the other owner’s home.
Deadmon asked for lessons and so began one of the things that have given her greatest enjoyment.
She founded her studio — Black Dachshund Pottery — in 2007 and is hosting an open house and pottery demonstration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 15. The public is welcome.
The studio, is named in memory of her black Dachshund, Flip, who died several years ago.
The studio is located at 503 W. Mill St., Landis. The studio used to be an unused storage building behind her house. She and husband, Sam, painted and renovated the space. Deadmon maybe an unconventional potter, throwing clay on the wheel from a standing position and using her left hand as her dominate sculpting hand.
“It’s the most comfortable,” she said.
Traditionally potters sit at a wheel, but after recovering from knee replacement surgery, Deadmon has adapted her work to be done from a standing position.
Deadmon’s specialties include yarn bowls, mugs, lamps and decorative plates.
She began with a shop on eBay and Etsy, where she found success. She also sold pieces in the North Davidson artist district known as NoDa. She wants to be able to offer her pottery to the people locally.
After her initial lessons with the co-owner of the salon, she taught herself techniques from books and online videos.
When she’s awake, she’s looking up information about pottery or making it she said.
“There were nights she would wake up at 3 in the morning with an idea and I would go out to the studio,” Deadmon said.
Her husband Sam supports her hobby-turned-business.
“We’ve been together since 1979. He’s my motivator. He cheers me on. I could not have done this without him,” she said.
In May 1995 when Deadmon got her Dachshund, Flip, she’d already picked the dog out, brought her home and introduced the dog to her husband.
“I said, ‘Her name will be Flip and you’re going to love her,’ “ Deadmon said with a laugh.
Flip would follow Deadmon to the studio and anywhere else she went.
“She inspired me. She listened to me when I was talking at three in the morning,” she said.
Deadmon’s mission is “from my hands and heart to your home,” she said.
Her most challenging piece, which is also her favorite to make is the yarn bowls. There are parts to the bowl that if not done just right could cause it to crack or become thin on one side, but she loves making them.
“It’s a good day when I open the kiln and the piece looks like I envisioned,” she said.
She once made a custom yarn bowl for a woman in Texas that, once complete, weighed 10.5 pounds.
She works with clients to customize pieces. She said if there is a bowl or cup in her shop that isn’t in the color a customer wants, she’ll make them one.
She feels the pieces and imagines them in a house, on a coffee table or with someone’s yarn inside.
“I want them to feel comfortable when they come to the shop,” she said.
Just like Deadmon had a passion for hair, her passion has changed to pottery.
“I used to talk about hair that way,” she said.
For more information about special holiday discounts call 704-433-5564 or, visit www.blackdachshundpottery.com.