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Got Pots
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: 2018/08 - August
Messing with clay goes back a century or more in Jim Crabtree’s family. After he retired from the pesticide business, he was free to throw a little clay around to see if it still fired him up. It did. He wound up moving to Chimney Rock and setting up a business, Greenhill Pottery.
That was 20 years ago and now he can’t fill orders fast enough.
“Our pottery is what we call farmer pottery,” he says. “In rural areas farmers grew crops and tended livestock in the season. Some occupied themselves with a second vocation in the winter: pottery … purely functional items like pitchers, bowls, mugs, etc. Early in the spring, the green ware was fired.”
Jim was rooted in that culture, so crafting farmer pottery felt second nature. His appealing, durable ceramic ware caught fire. Today he has a team of fellow potters who help with the hand-building, turning, cleaning, glazing, and firing. They turn products around quickly, a boon to his wholesale business. Because his system is so highly refined he’s able to pass along savings to retailers who pass it on to buyers. He is meticulous about keeping prices universally consistent.
Kat Evans of Smitten says, “Jim’s work is popular and sought after. He comes by with a full load of pottery and it’s swept up in a heartbeat by his loyal followers.”
Greenhill Pottery can also be found at the Cashiers Farmers Market in season. Smitten is excited to be hosting Jim, of Greenhill Pottery, for its Third Thursday featured artist event on August 16. The event starts at 5:30 P.M with light refreshments and lasts ‘til the fat lady sings and the cows come home. Call for more information, call (828) 526-9300. Or even better, stop in at 468 Main Street in downtown Highlands.
Smitten’s daily hours are Monday through Saturday from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.; and Sunday from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Their email address is [email protected].
