Earlier this month, Tim and Eva Bennett of The Beard & The Bun Pottery popped up at the shop for First Friday with a special “In Bloom” collection of their handmade ceramics! The West Virginia-based husband and wife pottery duo creates fun and functional art for everyday use. As they create in small batches, every piece is unique and one of a kind.

Tim and Eva found pottery at different times in their lives. Eva started pottery over 10 years ago, after serving as a surrogate for friends of hers. “ I was on maternity leave with no baby, and lots to process. So I started throwing pottery, something I had always really wanted to try. “

Eventually, she moved to the Mid-Ohio Valley. “Life happened, I married the love of my life and we instantly became a family with his beautiful daughter, my stepdaughter, Ana.”

Last year, Tim and Ana surprised Eva with a pottery class at the Parkersburg Art Center to get her back into something she’s always loved. “He recognized that with my job (being a hospice social worker) I needed an outlet for what I was doing and witnessing every day,” she said. “Tim also (quickly) realized that if I didn’t share what I was making with friends and family, our house would be overrun, so our small business began!”

“To be able to talk about not only ideas but process through how to make something and ultimately see each other succeed in bringing these ideas to life is so fulfilling.”

Tim used to paint, but hadn’t picked up a brush in a while. “I realized that I also needed a creative outlet, a space to express myself that I haven’t had in a long time. Watching Eva not only light up when she’s got a new idea and then bring it to life, but to watch other people light up because this art is functional, this is creativity expressed in your everyday morning coffee, got me inspired,” he said. “Being able to create something 3D that’s functional, with my hands tapped into a different part of me and that has been really cool to explore.”

Tim and Eva agree that sharing a love for ceramics has been an amazing new element to their relationship. “We used to be creative in our own ways, separately,” said Eva. “To be able to talk about not only ideas but process through how to make something and ultimately see each other succeed in bringing these ideas to life is so fulfilling. We’ve been able to share a different side with each other that has made our relationship so much more vulnerable and much stronger.”

Eva throws all of her pottery on the wheel, while Tim hand-builds all of his pieces. The two love collaborating and creating sets of dishes, using the same designs or colors. Tim tends to be a little more playful and wildly creative with his one-off pieces, like the UFO lamp or recent pitcher, while Eva is bound and determined to create everyone’s favorite coffee mug!

The couple is in the process of building their own studio on their home property. “This will not only provide ourselves a one-stop shop to create our pottery at home, but will help us expand our ability to produce inventory,” said Eva. Ultimately, they would love to move into this business full-time and open up their studio to the community, offering micro-classes, date nights, art therapy, and retreat-like experiences. “We are so excited for what the future holds!”

“It has been such an incredible experience to not only step into the small business community but also use this platform to help build community engagement with other small businesses and just a general feeling of supporting one another, no matter the business, trade or service. ”

It’s hard to believe Tim and Eva launched The Beard & The Bun Pottery less than a year ago. Eva said it has been incredible and a testimony to what can happen in such a short amount of time.

“It has been such an incredible experience to not only step into the small business community but also use this platform to help build community engagement with other small businesses and just a general feeling of supporting one another, no matter the business, trade or service. We are all people just trying to live a small part of our dreams,” said Eva. “We have always looked to you for that, as you’ve been such a change agent in this community and you’ve given us the support and encouragement to help further that cause in our own way.”

We cannot wait to see what the future holds for The Beard & The Bun Pottery! You can follow this creative couple on their joint Facebook page and their Instagram accounts: @evathrows and @dahairypotter.

Don’t miss their next event - Simply Kin Market’s Spring Market Pop Up this Saturday, May 11th, from 3:00 to 8:00 pm at Point Park in Parkersburg! Co-hosted by The Beard & The Bun Pottery and SIPS Coffee Truck, this community event features a mix of traditional and non-traditional vendors, tasty food and drink, interactive art, live local music, and more. Tim and Eva will have a spring-inspired collection of new pieces, perfect for gifting Mom (or yourself!) We hope to see you there!

You can also find a collection of their work inside the shop, including mugs, bowls, planters, and more!