Studio Archives - Clay Coyote

Top 10 most Common Questions

November 9, 2022 By Morgan

These are some questions we get on a daily basis either in the Galery or online.

Can Clay Coyote Flameware be used on a glass top? Clay Coyote Flameware can be used on gas, glass, and electric stovetops. The only stove it won’t work on is an induction stove (those require metal to metal surfaces because they heat using magnets). We sand all of the bottoms of our pots to make sure they’re smooth, but any glass top stover owner knows that you should not drag things across the surface, so we encourage you to lift the pot up.
What temperature can the Bread Baker go to? Bread Bakers are made of stoneware clay, we recommend them at 400F. We have tested them at 450F and 500F and we do not notice a difference in the bread, but the extra temps cause the more stress on the pot which we do not recommend. We ALWAYS recommend putting stoneware pottery in a cold oven and bringing it up to temperature slowly during the preheat process.
Are you sure this is food safe? We make all of our glazes in house and know what goes into everyone of them. We also work with our clay maker to ensure our clay is food safe. Our pots are free from nickel, lead, and cadmium. And when we were developing the Clay Coyote Flameware we sent test pots to Alfred University to be tested.
What is a tagine? The Tagine is a traditional Mediterranean stew pot, the conical lid creates an environment where the lid is continuously basting the food throughout the stovetop cooking process. That’s why the tagine dishes are so tender and juicy (think basting a turkey) and the sauce is thickened (think constant stirring).
How much does the Dutch Oven weigh? Our Dutch Oven weighs 3.5 pounds and hold 3-4 quarts of liquid. Comparatively, the 3.5 qt Le Creuset weighs 8.5 lbs.
Can I use metal utensils on the Clay Coyote Flameware? You can use all utensils in Clay Coyote Flameware, metal, wood, silicon. Because of the hard glazed surface it doesn’t scratch.
Is Clay Coyote Flameware non-stick? Clay Coyote Flameware is extremely stick resistant. There is not a non-stick coating on it. A little oil goes a long way because the glaze is non-porous so oil remains on the surface creating a very unsticky surface.
Can the Beer Can Chicken Baker go on the grill? The Beer Can Chicken Baker is designed for the oven, however if you have a grill that has oven-like properties (i.e. a Big Green Egg) with non-direct heat, then you can use the Beer Can Chicken Baker on it, however we ALWAYS recommend putting stoneware pottery in a cold oven and bringing it up to temperature slowly during the preheat process.
Can you really put that in the dishwasher? All of our Clay Coyote pottery is dishwasher safe.
Can you really put that in the microwave? All of our Clay Coyote pottery is microwave safe.

Do you have more questions to add to the list? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll get back to you asap!

When people ask where I grew up I say, “a pottery farm.” It normally garners a chuckle and a follow up “what’s that?” But it’s my story. In 1994, my mom (Betsy) and her partner (Tom) decided to move our family from the suburbs of Chicago to start what became the Clay Coyote Pottery business on a 60-acre hobby farm in Hutchinson, MN. Their vision was to create a destination where people could come to buy handmade, functional, and affordable pottery in central Minnesota.

I grew up at the Coyote. After school I’d come down to the Studio and tell Mom and Tom all about my day while scraping clay off bats. On weekends I’d travel with them to art shows, often doing homework on the curb behind the booth. And I still have the set they made me when I left to college with my initials on the bottom. Each year, I’d be home for our seasonal Open Houses, Christmas Eve rushes for last minute gifts, and other special occasions.

In 2002, I came home to help open the Gallery. It was a beautiful site, the red gleaming building on the edge of the prairie. And it was a joy to meet the new artists as we began to fill the shelves. Each year since then, Betsy and I have met up annually in Philadelphia to find the new art for the Gallery. Tom and Betsy would always say, “some day it will all be yours.”

In 1998, I went off to college at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls where I studied political science, journalism, Spanish, and art. After graduating I moved to Washington, DC to work for the Center for Public Integrity as a writer and researcher for close to three years. Through a friend at the Center, Ian and I met and we’ve been together ever since.

In 2004, I took a position as a consumer advocate and lobbyist for Consumers Union (the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports). I stayed with Consumer Reports for more than twelve years. First in DC, then in the Austin, TX office, then at Headquarters in Yonkers, NY. While working for Consumer Reports, I went back to school at Columbia University for a Masters in Fundraising and Nonprofit Management.

All the way along, Betsy and Tom have been rootin’ and cheerin’, and helping me reach every milestone that was on the path to coming home.

In 2016, Ian and I made the move from New York to Hutchinson. While Tom retired fully, my mom stayed on to work with me in the Gallery and Studio.

We launched our new Emerging Artists Studio program, where we hire artists to help make our unique pottery. And they are able to hone their skills, have access to more materials and equipment, leverage our buying power to keep their costs down, and get advice as they grow their own small businesses. In 2016, we had two potters, now in 2022 we have grown to eight.

In 2020, we moved the business from the original farm location to a commercial space in downtown Hutchinson, while we miss the farm and the stunning views, we are delighted to be part of the vibrat downtown business and shopping community.

When I’m not working, I’m at home with Ian and our daughter Elle. We love to walk down to the Coyote, or along the river, or over to Below Zero for frozen yogurt.

I serve on a few local committees and boards including:

MN Pottery Festival
MN Citizens for the Arts
Hutchinson Ambassadors
Hutchinson Public Arts Commission

Come visit any time, we’ll put the coffee on (there are still plenty of mugs).

Behind the Bread Scenes: Clay Coyote Pottery Studio

November 26, 2021 By Morgan

Ceramics Monthly Features The Clay Coyote Pottery Incubator Program

January 21, 2017 By Morgan

In the February 2017 issue of Ceramics Monthly, The Clay Coyote’s Pottery Incubator Program is featured. To read the full article, download the PDF here.

Is an Incubator Right for You?

As you are deciding on the right next step in your personal journey, ask a few questions to help determine what you need.

1. Where do I need the most support right now? Is it in the creative process? Technical development? Am I looking for business guidance?

2. What are my personal career goals? Do I want to be a ceramics professor? Do I want to run my own studio? Am I looking at wholesaling? Am I setting up my own brick-and-mortar gallery or store? Am I interested in online retail channels?

3. Do I have the skills needed to run a small business? Am I good at organizing? Am I decisive? Do I have good time-management skills? Am I willing to put in the time, as much as 100 hours a week?”

Originally published in February 2017 issue of Ceramics Monthly, pages 44-47. http://www.ceramicsmonthly.org . Copyright, The American Ceramic Society. Reprinted with permission.