Diane's Story

"I was always interested in clay. As a child I made little pots out of clay that I found near my house. My father wanted to encourage me and tried to make a potter's wheel out of a record player but I had no idea how to throw pots and the clay would just fly off the wheel. I took classes in college but really learned when I took some classes from Art Gannett in the winter of 1979. Art was a high school classmate and had moved to the Pepin area in 1973. He was the lead potter at Red Wing Stoneware—a very great potter.

I was very determined and was making and selling pots later that summer. My husband built a gas kiln for me in 1983 and I was in production. We sold my pots at art fairs and in 1991 I decided to become a shopkeeper in Stockholm instead of hauling pots around to art fairs.  I owned and operated Stockholm Pottery in Stockholm, WI for 25 years. I am now semi-retired, but still making pots and selling online and in The Purple Turtle in Stockholm, WI. 

My pottery is designed to be used. Functionality is my goal.  I take special care to make sure they serve their function well by focusing on details like comfortable handles,  smooth bottoms and lid handles that are easy to grasp so you don't drop and break them. All of my work is lead-free, oven proof  and dishwasher safe. 

Enjoy your pots!"

-Diane Millner

 

*Diane has been making pottery from her home studio since 1980 and ran her own pottery store, Stockholm Pottery and Mercantile, in Stockholm, WI for 25 years. She is now "semi-retired" and still enjoys making pottery and working on her native plant gardens.