Pottery Camp 2024

Ammie Williams (aka Ammie Y’all) is an artist and accidental influencer living in Atlanta, Georgia. She has spent the last decade working in the PYOP industry and is full of tips and tricks to paint the best pottery possible. Ammie has designed a line of bisque, silkscreens, and stickers with Bisque Imports and has more amazing products in the works. She has built and fostered an extremely dedicated Instagram audience who love following her life and work through daily updates. The same audience often breaks her website trying to buy finished ceramic pieces. When she’s not posting on Instagram (this is rare), she enjoys reading with a beer or watching Real Housewives. 

Dynamic educator and artist, Bailie Benson, has a passion for “teaching teachers” which makes her role as a dedicated Education Specialist with Mayco a perfect fit. Bailie’s introduction to the Paint Your Own Pottery realm started as a summer job during college. Her subsequent experience managing a studio focused on hands-on art creation, coupled with BA and MA in education, has evolved into a career in which she creates versatile and interesting curricula to serve the ever-changing needs of today’s customers and help inspire a new generation of artists. Amid her teaching journeys with Mayco, she channels her multifaceted creativity into leatherworking, active participation in the Belegarth Medieval Combat Society, and playing the tuba.  

For more than 13 years, Bre has been a standout in the pottery world, bringing innovation and knowledge every step of the way. She started working at the front desk at Chesapeake, then moved to Mayco, and now she’s back at Chesapeake as the General Manager. She doesn’t get to teach as much but still gets to play with clay every once in a while. She has lots of knowledge to share with you about starting clay in your studio. 

Carmen Allen is a full-time ceramic artist who has had an ever-changing role with Mayco for the past 11 years. Beginning in the world of PYOP, she traveled and taught Pottery Camps before receiving her Bachelors Degree in Ceramics and shifting focus on the stoneware market and product testing. You may recognize her popular “Peacock Technique” or seen her on Mayco’s You Tube channel where she reviews in-depth product education for all of Mayco’s wonderful products. She recently shifted her focus to her small business, Shape the Void Studios, but is still a valued member of the Mayco team handling Stoneware Technical and traveling for various events. In her free-time, she loves to travel and spend time hiking with her two dogs! 

Crista Toler entered the ceramics industry in 1997 when she opened her studio, Stroke of Genius, in Wilmington, NC.  During that time she served on the CCSA Board of Directors in a variety of roles including President, Member Benefits Director and Supplier Liaison. She joined Mayco in July 2013 as Studio Market Manager. Crista’s passion and varied experience, from studio owner to bisque supplier and color manufacturer – give her unique insight in the industry. She believes in loving what you do and is thankful to work with the fun and creative people that make up our organization. 

Elizabeth is a graduate of Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences. While her education is in science, her passion is art. She joined the Mayco team as a low-fire designer in 2018 and really enjoys how ceramics is a true combination of science and art.  

Elizabeth and her husband Reed live on a farm in Ohio with their eight-year-old twins, Levi and Paige. In her free time, she enjoys oil painting, gardening, hiking, fishing, and taking care of her many pets.  

Mexican craft ideas are Kathy’s thing! Maker inspiration, recipes, home decor, travel, storytelling, & entrepreneurship! Kathy is an artist, author, and speaker. In addition to sharing craft tutorials, she works in ceramics, create illustrations for greeting cards and stationery items, and more! Kathy is a fourth-gen maker & a third-gen Mexi-chica from Phoenix, AZ. She launched Crafty Chica™ in 2001 as a way to bring Latinocentric crafts to mainstream audiences. 

Liz has had a wonderful career in the pyop industry, with over 20 years of experience under her belt. Originally from San Diego, Liz calls the middle Tennessee area home, where she lives with her husband, two children, and four outrageous pets. Her passion for ceramics shines through in her art, which is known for its vibrant colors and playful style. When she’s not busy creating pottery, Liz can be found indulging in two of her other great loves: eating carbs and having fun!  

Michael Harbridge got started in the ceramic industry at the age of seven as a Cub Scout when he was amazed at the transformation of a glazed item during the firing process. He opened his first pottery studio at the age of 18, a month after graduating from high school. He eventually purchased another pottery studio and a clay manufacturing company. He found little joy in dealing with over 50 employees between the three locations. He sold the stores and clay company after 15 years. He worked for many years as the publisher of pottery publications and then as the educational arts manager for Royal & Langnickel Brush. Today he owns LearnFiredArts.com and loves teaching pottery methods around the world. Michael spends his days (and sometimes nights) creating in his full working studio attached to his home in central Wisconsin where he also teaches specialized workshops.  Check out his hundreds of recorded methods on his Facebook page, YouTube page, and on his website.  

Driven by her passion to build businesses and a life centered around joy, Mimi Striplin empowers female entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams professionally and personally. Entrepreneurship can yield success while business owners find joy and rest, and Mimi’s business approach is the perfect testimonial. Her 15 years of retail expertise and eight years of entrepreneurial experience have produced two successful businesses. Mimi built these brands into retail brick and mortar businesses in downtown Charleston, SC. She founded The Tiny Tassel, creating the namesake accessory in just one color in 2015 and has now surpassed the 7-figure revenue mark all while finding joy in her work.