Most of us use some form of ceramics each day. Whether it’s starting the morning with a favorite coffee mug or gathering at the table with well-loved plates and bowls, ceramics are an art form that’s well woven into our daily lives. What’s also remarkable about ceramics is the story behind them—whether it’s a platter or a pot or a plate, each piece of pottery has gone through a remarkable transformation, one marked by patience and intention at every step.
Steffi and Zach Huberty know the importance of intention. They’re the owners and ceramicists behind Three Jewels Pottery in Ely, where they make handmade pottery for the home. As some of the newest shop owners in Ely, they’re part of a growing number of arts-focused businesses in the town, bringing handmade craft to locals and visitors alike.
Pottery has long had a presence in Steffi’s life: Her grandmother was a potter, and she recalls running around her grandmother’s pottery studio when she was a young child. But it wasn’t until the Ely Folk School opened a community ceramics studio that she was able to dive deeper into the craft. Zach was also taking ceramics classes through the folk school, and on one rainy autumn afternoon they started dreaming of opening their own shop in town. Fast forward to today, and the couple are doing just that—making ceramics out of their studio and welcoming visitors to their adjoining shop, which officially opened its doors in December 2024.
The Process
In essence, all pottery is earth. But in order to become someone’s favorite bowl or coffee mug, these bits of earth must undergo a wild transformation process, one with three essential ingredients—patience, creativity, and heat. Each piece at Three Jewels Pottery starts as a simple lump of clay, sourced from a supplier in Minnesota. The first step is shaping, and then each piece needs to dry before the first firing. This is one of the longest stages, which only time can accomplish—if a piece hasn’t had time to dry evenly, it will explode in the kiln. Once it’s been dried, it’s ready for the first firing, also called the bisque firing. This initial firing hardens each piece and makes it more porous to absorb the glaze.
It’s at this point when color and decoration comes into the picture. Steffi and Zach work both together and independently, drawing inspiration from elements of the natural world, as well as geometric patterns, but with room for growth and experimentation.
“While some aspects of our designs might be consistent or recognizable, we also want to maintain the freedom to try new things and continue letting the creativity flow,” Steffi said.
Once glazed and embellished, the pieces are ready for the final step—the second firing. In the second firing, each piece is heated to at least 2,200 degrees F. The intense heat in this step not only makes each piece incredibly strong, but brings the glaze colors fully and vibrantly to life.
Once completed, each piece of pottery heads to the shop, or into the hands of a client in the case of a custom project. All told, the process takes a week to several weeks, depending on the size of the piece. It’s a slow craft; a practice where patience matters.
“The actual making is about being present and in-the-moment. It can be very grounding, and it’s a mindful process in many ways,” Steffi said.
Opening the Shop
The intention Steffi and Zach practice in the studio has played a key role in another journey of theirs: becoming small business owners. Starting and growing Three Jewels Pottery has been its own step-by-step process, one that began in 2021 when they purchased a property on the main street in Ely, the property that would become their studio and shop. Then came renovations, building initial inventory, and opening an online store. Finally, last year, they opened the in-person shop: a space where visitors can connect with their pottery, and where Steffi and Zach can be part of the growing arts environment in Ely.
“Providing a nice space for folks to come in and experience, and making good connections with people from all over, is something that we truly enjoy,” Steffi said.
This year will be the first summer season that Three Jewels Pottery is open for visitors. You can find them at 206 East Sheridan Street in Ely, or online at:
threejewelspottery.com.
