Jan Pugh's love of clay began the first day she saw a real pot thrown way back in 1970.  That sight changed her life forever. She quickly enrolled in an adult night class at the Toledo Art Museum (at the time, she was only 14) where she learned all about throwing techniques. Jan has worked with clay from that moment on.

She continued her studies at the School for American Craftsmen at the Rochester Institute of Technology and at the Kansas City Art Institute.  In 1979, she was awarded her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from KCAI. That same year, Jan returned to her Midwest roots of Genoa, Ohio to set up a studio.  There she began producing functional art -- tableware.

This was the start of Packer Creek Pottery.  The shop quickly grew out of its cramped one-room studio into a two-building complex.  Her showroom, located at 103 East 8th Street, is a large four-room facility housing hundreds of her colorful creations.  Located exactly 71 steps down the alley from the showroom is her manufacturing facility where all the "fun stuff" is done. Here, Jan does her throwing, her firings and her glazing.

"In all my years as a potter, my goal has been to provide happy, decorative pottery that can be used in a functional way.  I like to think that my playful dishes, with their whimsical designs, lift people's spirits," notes Jan.

"I like to create that 'let's pretend' tea party atmosphere in my work.  I'm a stickler when it comes to great craftsmanship. My work reflects that.  Not only is my work decorative, but it's fabulously functional!

Every piece of Packer Creek pottery is made by Jan and her team of talented artists in the studio in Genoa. The process is slow and intricate, due to the degree of detail and the individual care that goes into each piece. Her dedication to quality and the unique, whimsical, and colorful designs have earned Jan recognition nationally.