I make functional, wood fired pottery intended for everyday use. A wood kiln has many variables. My interest and passion intertwine as I seek to understand the nuances of its response on my pottery. Therefore, I acknowledge the atmosphere of the kiln, using glazes and flashing slips that interact with melting wood ash. My forms encourage subtleties like controlling pooling, encouraging flashing, catching wood ash, or growing crystals. In turn, my pottery reflects an American tradition borrowed from an Asian aesthetic; yet, the wood ash speaks to my place, my home, Chautauqua County.