Odds are if you’re reading this blog, supporting family-based, small businesses and talented artisans is something you enjoy — so let me tell you right now, I’m 100% certain you’re going to want to turn your attention to Kin + Clay. I stumbled upon this awesome business when I received an announcement regarding a holiday popup sale they were having in my favorite clothing store (Madewell in Figarden Village). The announcement featured images of beautiful, handmade ceramics. One of my closest friends and I share a deep love (and slight shopping addiction) for handmade ceramic mugs, so I immediately started researching the company.
I learned that the potter behind Kin + Clay is Gabbi Mecham Saverino, a recent San Diego-to-Fresno transplant, and the potter behind Gabbi is her beloved, late father, Bud Mecham who was a master potter for over 50 years. After his passing in fall of 2021, Gabbi inherited his potter’s wheel which she setup in her garage, just as her father had — and soon began to create her own beautiful and functional pottery under the business name Kin + Clay. “We are honoring him and his work by continuing his legacy, passing on his love of clay to our five-year-old and to our community near and far.”
Gabbi produces small-batch, hand-thrown, and hand-painted pieces that are “unique, modern, conversation starter pieces you can enjoy with friends and family around your dinner table.” The aesthetics of their collections are inspired “by our love of the mountains and the calming earth tone colors of some of our favorite natural landscapes.”
While shopping the Kin + Clay website, I was immediately drawn to the Mountain Mug. These mugs are thrown on the wheel in bone white or bee-mix clay and the mountain scenes are all painted with oxides before firing. Gabbi paints (upside down) directly on the wheel after throwing, a technique she learned from watching her dad all those years. He created his original vibrant, cobalt blue mountain scenes inspired by one of his favorite places, Grand Teton National Park. Gabbi now has options for blue or brown mountains and even takes custom orders inspired by many different national parks. Each mug has a unique sunset and a copper moon.
I purchased one for my friend and a matching one for myself for Christmas, and it immediately became one of my most reached for mugs. (The same can be said for my friend, who’s already sent me multiple pictures of herself using the mug, and even one of her husband who’d stolen the mug from her to use.)
I communicated with Gabbi and partner Ashley online regarding my order, and they were so kind and easy to work with – happy to ship my friend’s mug to her and allow me to pick mine up locally. My friend’s mug and mine were both carefully and securely wrapped, came with a candy cane, and even hand-written notes!
One thing I noticed on the very first use was a small thumb rest on the mug’s handle created by an added piece of clay. It makes the mug so comfortable to hold, and I loved that touch and said so – and learned that’s a detail Gabbi’s Dad always did with his handles, so Gabbi does now too. I really love that.
Gabbi says, “If you asked us a year ago what we would be doing in our new city, I don’t think we could’ve predicted starting a pottery business. It’s honestly been one the most healing and wonderful things for our family. Next up is hopefully moving toward opening a small pottery retail/event space downtown.”
If you love gorgeous handmade ceramics like I do, I hope you’ll check out and support Kin + Clay and follow the company online to keep up with their small-batch releases and future downtown space updates. I’m quite certain you’ll be glad you did, and you’ll also be part of keeping a beautiful family legacy alive.
Gabbi says, “If you asked us a year ago what we would be doing in our new city, I don’t think we could’ve predicted starting a pottery business. It’s honestly been one the most healing and wonderful things for our family. Next up is moving toward opening a small pottery retail/event space downtown.”
If you love gorgeous handmade ceramics like I do, I hope you’ll check out and support Kin + Clay and follow the company online to keep up with their small-batch releases and future downtown space updates. I’m quite certain you’ll be glad you did, and you’ll also be part of keeping a beautiful family legacy alive.
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