About Mud to Market

Mud to Market began with Suzanne Gray. She first discovered pottery in college, and the joy of working with clay stayed with her for years. After her husband, Jimmy, passed away, Suzanne found a new purpose for his mechanic shop on their property. With the help of longtime friends Gus Sprague and Winston Taylor, she transformed it into a pottery studio.

Suzanne has said her pottery skills were a little rusty at first. Gus helped her find her rhythm again and get the studio ready for classes. In March 2023, she welcomed her first group of students. One of them was Brad McAlister, who fell in love with pottery and joined Suzanne in building Mud to Market. Before long, they were spending their weekends selling their work at the Pope County Farmers Market.

Pottery also brought Clara Franco into the studio. She began as one of Suzanne’s students and later joined the team. Today, Suzanne continues to lead our beginner classes, Brad brings his love of wheel-throwing and slipcasting to our work, and Clara adds her talents in wheel-throwing and handbuilding.

The first studio is no longer our only one. Brad and his mother, Terry McAlister, gave new life to the mechanic shop that belonged to Brad’s late father, Mike. We love that Jimmy’s and Mike’s spaces are now filled with clay, creativity, and people learning together. Gus has since passed away, too, but we still feel his presence in the studio he helped create. We like to think all three would be smiling to see the joy these spaces hold today.

We’re still learning, always inspired by potters near and far. Wherever we travel, we try to visit a pottery studio. Fellow potters often welcome us behind the scenes, and that generosity reminds us how special this community is.

At Mud to Market, we believe every piece has a story. From mugs and tableware to vases and planters, we make pottery for the everyday moments that make a house feel like home. Whether you take a class, visit us at an event, or bring home something we’ve made, we hope you feel the love that went into it.

Thank you for being part of our story. Follow along for new pieces, upcoming classes, studio glimpses, and the next chapter of Mud to Market.