About Nancy and John
				The first art class I ever took was in clay.  I was seven years old.  I've loved clay ever since.  I love the feel of it.  I love the smell of it.  I love to be able to mold it into all kinds of forms.  It still amazes me that I can take a lump of brown clay and turn it into a usable piece of pottery that someone will eat or drink from, or bake in and feel joy each time they pick it up. I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a teaching certificate from the University of Michigan in 1969.  In addition, I attended pottery classes and workshops in California, Colorado and Texas.  I taught art in the public schools and privately for many years.   John worked in the aircraft industry as a manufacturing engineer and pilot. John and I were married in 1982.  Soon afterward we were able to buy out a production potter and set up our own studio in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
	In 1985 John's work took us from Colorado to Texas.  We bought a mini-farm south of Ft. Worth and moved in with 3 children, 3 horses, 2 dogs, a cat and 2 guinea pigs.  We soon acquired another horse, another dog, 5 goats, chickens and numerous other cats.   I loved it!   I taught horseback riding lessons and had a private art school located in the guest house in our back yard.   Eventually the majority of the classes I taught were in pottery.  I threw all kinds of pots, developed glaze formulas and discovered how to decorate stoneware in Early Americana floral and  animal designs.  We had 5 booths in crafts malls as an outlet for all of the pots I was making.
	John and I started selling our pottery at a small home town art and craft show in 1989.  We loved the personal interaction with our customers and immediately moved on to bigger and better shows.  People were soon buying more of what we made and came back year after year to add to their collection. When John was laid off from the aircraft industry in the summer of 1994 instead of him seeking another position in aircraft which would have meant another move; we made the decision to go full-time with our pottery business. In 1997 we re-located our business to Michigan to be closer to my parents. We have a beautiful home, gallery and studio situated on 5 acres in Osseo, Michigan, a small farming community located in a lovely area with many small lakes and abundant wildlife about 6 miles east of Hillsdale.   We sell our pottery exclusively at fine arts and crafts shows in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Texas and through our gallery. Making and selling pottery is hard work, tiring and challenging.  There are the frustrations of pots that crack during the firing or drying process, kilns misfiring with pots ruined and setting up or taking down displays in storms.  Sometimes after the long hours of the holidays, we talk of going back to regular jobs.  But soon the thrill of designing, creating new pieces and seeing our customers takes over and we're back in the rhythm of making pottery again. We'd like to thank all of you who have bought our pottery over the years.  We hope you enjoy our web site.  If you are near our area please stop by our studio and gallery.  If we are at a show near you please come see us.  We are open Tuesday through Thursday and on weekends when we're home.  Please call in advance, (517) 523-2229 or you cane-mail us at: psp@frontiernet.net
		Prairie Springs Pottery 5240 East Reading Rd.  Osseo, Michigan 49266 (8 miles south east of Hillsdale, Michigan) Phone: (517) 523-2229 e-mail: psp@frontiernet.net